Execute the Habits Change Process and develop yourself into an inspiring leader.

Step 1: Assess your current habits

• List your Habits inventory.
• Evaluate each of your leader habits (habitual actions demonstrating your caring, commitment, competence and courage) to determine which habits must change.
• Highlight those habits you intend to eliminate or replace.

Step 2: Prioritize the habits to change.

• Review your Habits Inventory.
• Build a prioritized list of habits to eliminate.

Step 3: Produce a Habit Cycle sketch for the habit you intend to change.

• Sketch, actually draw out, the Habit Cycle for the habit.
• Identify the "Cue" / "Trigger" (the stimulus initiating a habit cycle).
• Identify the "Craving" / "Desire" (a feeling).
• Describe the "Routine" (the state or mood (for a feeling habit cycle) or the thought pattern (for a thinking habit cycle) or the action sequence (for an action habit cycle) that is the heart of the habit process).
• Identify the "Reward" (that something, which ultimately is a feeling).

Step 4: Select a new action routine to replace the bad habit.

• Select new habits to adopt. Specify the new action routine, the new habit.
• Test the new routine. How does it feel? Does the new routine generate a positive outcome? Describe the outcome in detail.
• Write out a vision statement for this new habit. What will life be like once you adopt the new habit routine? What are you intending to achieve? Focus on and stress "WHY", what motivates you about this change.
• Build toward adopting high performance leader habits.

Step 5: Develop a specific change plan.

• You've identified the habit to change and sketched out the Habit Cycle for that habit. You've selected a new routine, tested it, and envisioned a new you after adopting the routine. You have a clear goal and vision statement written out.
• Select a new habit implementation start date (when you are going to start).
• Specify the length of time you will focus on adopting the new habit routine. This could range from one week to 90 days.
• Think through and write down what you are going to do when you relapse; that is when you fall into your old habit routine. This is a means of starting again, not abandoning the effort.
• Determine who specifically you are going to enlist to help you through this change process.

Step 6: Run another test and refine the routine.

• Get familiar with the new habit routine. Believe you can change.

Step 7: Enlist support.

• Get your family members, friends and coworkers on board.

Step 8: Execute.

• Implement the plan.

Step by step, habit by habit, become an inspiring leader.