The habits that got you here might be holding you back

The very behaviors that drove your early career success can become obstacles at senior levels. Recognizing and evolving past these habits is essential for continued growth.

The very routines and instincts that propelled you into the C-suite are now the invisible ceiling quietly capping your impact, your team’s potential, and your organization’s future.

Breaking free from the grip of old habits

Key takeaways

• Leaders who cling to old habits risk confusing their unchanging character with flexible behaviors, missing crucial opportunities for growth and adaptation at the top.
• You don’t need to abandon your core values to evolve—updating your habits is about replacing what no longer serves you, not rejecting who you are.
• Asking trusted peers which of your habits have outlived their usefulness can reveal blind spots that are holding you and your organization back from the next level.

Old habits—whether helpful or harmful—can cling to us like a second skin. Over time, they become part of our identity. We declare, "This is just who I am!" But what we’re really saying is, "Don’t expect me to change."

That belief is a trap. It confuses character with behavior. Our character is relatively constant. But our habits? They are flexible, adaptable, and transformable. And that transformation is essential for our growth.

The challenge is that some habits were once useful. They helped us get started, build momentum, even succeed. But what helped us then might now be holding us back. We keep doing what’s familiar because it worked once—even if it no longer serves us.

Success, paradoxically, can make us blind. We assume we succeeded because of our habits, when in reality, we may have succeeded despite them.

From improvisation to intentionality

In my case, I relied heavily on improvisation and creative spontaneity—great qualities for launching ventures. They helped me found three startups. But as those businesses grew, my old habit started causing friction: too little structure, too much unpredictability. It created chaos and confusion for the people around me.

So, I adapted. I started planning more. Bringing order to the chaos didn’t change who I was—it simply replaced an outdated habit with a more sustainable one. My core values stayed the same, but my way of working evolved to better serve my team and clients.

Letting go, moving forward

Accepting this paradox is the first step to personal leadership. It’s not about rejecting your past—it’s about discerning what still works and what’s now in the way.

That’s where coaching can help. A trusted outside perspective can clarify which habits you want to keep—and which ones you’re ready to change.

So here’s a reflection for you: A. Which of your habits have outlived their usefulness? Ask three people that you trust to give you feedback too. B. What might become possible if you dared to let them go?

'Enlightenment is when a wave realizes it's the ocean.' — Thich Nhat Hanh

Let’s keep the conversation going. Which old habit are you ready to release this year? Share your thoughts—or let’s talk in confidence.

Over to you.