Hacking Habits for High-Performance Leadership, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD

The HCL Review Podcast

Abstract: This article discusses how leaders can continuously improve their skills and effectiveness through habit hacking. It explores how reframing mindsets, building supportive systems, and committing to small daily optimizations can strengthen areas of weakness over time. Specifically, the article recommends practicing self-compassion and adopting a growth mindset. It also suggests implementing daily rituals like morning reflection and scheduled time for skill-building. Leaders are encouraged to do micro-optimizations like extending exercise routines slightly each day. Recognizing even small milestones is important for maintaining motivation. Real-world examples demonstrate how specific leaders hacked habits like prioritizing tasks, scheduling device-free breaks, and sharing mistakes to boost various outcomes like productivity, creativity, morale and innovation. The conclusion emphasizes that viewing routines through a growth lens and hacking habits through small tweaks can significantly enhance leadership abilities and fulfillment as part of an ongoing development process.