Posted on: 14/03/2025

Thought Leadership

When was the last time you stopped to think about how your habits shape your leadership? Leadership isn’t just about strategy, decision-making, or managing people—it’s about the daily habits that drive energy, focus, and performance for both you and your team.

By Kat Thorn – The Morning Game Changer

In today’s fast-paced world, leaders are expected to be always on, navigating constant change while keeping their teams engaged and productive. But with endless demands, meetings, and digital distractions, many leaders find themselves overwhelmed, reactive, and running on empty. What if the answer to thriving as a leader wasn’t about doing more, but about changing just one small habit?

The Leadership Habit Gap

In every keynote I deliver, I ask leaders one question: “Which habits are holding you back?” The answers are nearly always the same:

• Reactive mornings – Checking emails first thing.
• Non-stop meetings – Little time to think, reflect, or connect.
• Always connected – A phone that never stops buzzing.

These small but powerful habits shape how we lead—draining energy, increasing stress, and making it harder to focus on what really matters.

The Power of One Small Shift

Let me share a quick story. Emma, a senior leader in a fast-paced company, was always busy.

From the moment she woke up, her day was dictated by emails, online messages, and urgent requests. By the time she got home, she had nothing left to give to her family.

She realised that her energy—not just her time—was her biggest leadership asset. So, she made one small change: she gave herself 10 minutes of “thinking time” before opening her inbox.

That small habit shift created a ripple effect: She felt more in control rather than reactive. She communicated more intentionally, instead of rushing responses.

She led with clarity, not stress, making better decisions. It gave her time to jot down her top priorities for the day. The result? Her team felt the shift, and their performance improved, too. (Her husband also commented on how she was calmer and nicer to be around!)

Leading with Habits, Not Just Strategy

Leadership isn’t just about what we do—it’s about how we perform. And that starts with the habits we build every day.

The Future of Work is Employee Wellbeing

As workplaces continue to evolve, the most successful leaders won’t be the ones who do more—but the ones who manage their energy sustainably, and create a culture where small, intentional habits drive performance, resilience, and wellbeing.

We are always keen on your views, please email our team at info@wmemployers.org.uk with any suggestions or feedback.