Summer Reflections by Barb Barkley

It was particularly appropriate with these new habits of walking and listening to be reconnecting with the work of James Clear. He provides useful reminders, insights and techniques for shifting behaviours, one step at a time.

James shares with us that there are three layers of behavioural change:

1. To start with, set your outcomes and goals. What is it that you want to move towards? In my case it was to walk 10,000 steps a day, and boost my reflections.
2. The second is about our processes; what we do to get us there? James talks extensively about the power of tiny habits that we put into regular practice on a day-to-day basis which have a significant impact on our ability to achieve our outcomes. E.g. the process of getting up, choosing a walking route, tuning into a book.
3. The third is the deepest layer and that is about changing our identity. Identity is about who we believe we are and who we wish to become. The more pride we have in aspects of our identity, the more motivated we are to maintain the habits associated with it. True behaviour change is identity change. I am now a person who lusciously tunes into positive reflections and walks every day.

The invitation from Atomic Habits in terms of leadership is to identify our goals, refine our focus into behaviour change, and then repeat these small and achievable habits over and again in ways that reinforce the identity of who we are and move us towards the identity of who we wish to become.

This is a wonderful and accessible handbook that should be tucked into every leader’s toolkit.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones