## Introduction: The Power of Habits in Leadership Hello and welcome. My name is Martin Lanik, and I am the author of "The Leader Habit: Master the Skills You Need to Lead—In Just Minutes a Day." In this book, I argue that great leaders are not born, but made, through the development of specific habits. Leadership is more about skills than knowledge, and these skills can be honed through deliberate, sustained practice. As an organizational psychologist and the CEO of Pinsight, a global leadership development company, I have spent years researching and developing a method to help anyone become a better leader. This method is called the Leader Habit Formula, and it is built on simple, research-based exercises that can be completed in just five minutes a day. ## Why Most Leadership Development Programs Fail Most leadership development programs fail because they focus on the acquisition of knowledge rather than the development of skills and habits. Knowledge-based instruction is not effective in developing the skills that are essential for leadership. Skills can only be developed by practicing the behaviors that make up those skills. For instance, playing the piano is not just about knowing the notes; it is about practicing those notes until they become second nature. Similarly, leadership is about turning specific behaviors into everyday habits. As Aristotle said, "Excellence is not an act, but a habit." ## The Leader Habit Formula In developing the Leader Habit Formula, my team and I identified 22 core skills that are most common among successful leaders. These skills are divided into two categories: "getting things done" and "focusing on people." ### Getting Things Done Half of the skills fall under the category of "getting things done." These include skills such as Manage Priorities, Make Good Decisions, Sell the Vision, Innovate, and Manage Risk. For example, the skill of Selling the Vision involves breaking down the vision into smaller, actionable steps and communicating it clearly to the team. This skill is crucial because it helps align the team towards a common goal and motivates them to work towards it. ### Focusing on People The other half of the skills focus on people-oriented leadership. These include skills such as Persuasion and Influence, Growing People and Teams, and Interpersonal Skills. For instance, the skill of Influencing Others involves understanding the motivations and needs of your team members and using that understanding to guide them towards achieving the team's goals. ## How to Develop Leadership Habits To develop these leadership habits, you need to link specific leadership actions to micro-behaviors and practice them consistently. Here’s how you can do it: ### Identifying Your Skills Gap First, you need to identify which skills you need to work on. The book includes self-tests that help you determine your personality traits and which skills would be most beneficial for you to develop. ### Practicing Micro-Behaviors Each skill is broken down into micro-behaviors that can be practiced in everyday situations. For example, if you want to improve your decision-making skills, you might practice making quick decisions in low-stakes situations. Over time, these micro-behaviors become habits that you can rely on in more critical situations. ### Five-Minute Exercises The Leader Habit Formula includes five-minute exercises for each skill. These exercises are designed to be easy and undemanding, making it possible to practice even on days when your motivation is low. For instance, if you want to improve your negotiation skills, you might spend five minutes each day practicing active listening and responding thoughtfully to others. ## Implementing the Leader Habit Formula The Leader Habit Formula can be implemented in various contexts, from informal one-on-one settings to formal leadership development programs. ### Support and Accountability It is important to have support and accountability as you work on developing your leadership habits. This can come from coaches, managers, or HR professionals who can guide you through the process and provide feedback. ### Deliberate, Sustained Practice Deliberate, sustained practice is key to developing leadership habits. This means planning to practice your skills even on days when you feel tired or unmotivated. By minimizing effort and focusing on one skill at a time, you can build the "muscle memory" needed to turn these skills into consistent behaviors. ## Real-World Examples and Applications Let's look at some real-world examples of how the Leader Habit Formula can be applied. ### The Pizza Delivery Team Imagine a pizza delivery team that is struggling with punctuality. By practicing the skill of Managing Priorities, the team leader can ensure that deliveries are made on time. This involves breaking down the delivery process into smaller tasks, prioritizing them, and communicating the priorities clearly to the team. ### The Grumpy Customer When dealing with a grumpy customer, a leader who has practiced the skill of Overcoming Individual Resistance can respond more effectively. This involves understanding the customer's concerns, empathizing with them, and finding a solution that meets their needs. ### The Poorly Performing Team If a team is performing poorly, the leader can use the skill of Building Team Spirit to improve morale and coordination. This involves recognizing and rewarding team members, fostering open communication, and creating a positive team culture. ## Conclusion: Becoming a Better Leader Becoming a better leader is not about reading books or attending seminars; it is about developing the right habits through deliberate practice. By using the Leader Habit Formula, you can turn leadership skills into everyday habits that will help you achieve your goals and become a more effective leader. Remember, excellence is not an act, but a habit. With just five minutes of practice each day, you can develop the skills you need to lead successfully. So, start today, and watch how these small changes can lead to significant and lasting improvements in your leadership abilities. Thank you for listening.

Here are the key insights from "The Leader Habit: Master the Skills You Need to Lead—In Just Minutes a Day" by Martin Lanik: ## Leadership is About Habits, Not Knowledge Leadership is more about developing specific habits and skills rather than acquiring knowledge. Great leaders are made through the development of these habits[1][4][5]. ## Why Most Leadership Development Programs Fail Most programs fail because they focus on knowledge acquisition rather than skill and habit development. Skills can only be developed by practicing the behaviors that make up those skills[1][4][5]. ## The Leader Habit Formula This formula identifies 22 core skills common among successful leaders, divided into "getting things done" and "focusing on people." These skills include managing priorities, making good decisions, selling the vision, and influencing others[1][4][5]. ## Identifying and Practicing Micro-Behaviors To develop leadership habits, link specific leadership actions to micro-behaviors and practice them consistently. Self-tests help identify which skills to focus on, and each skill is broken down into manageable micro-behaviors[1][4][5]. ## Five-Minute Exercises The formula includes five-minute daily exercises that are easy and undemanding, making it possible to practice even on low-motivation days. This helps build "muscle memory" for leadership skills[1][4][5]. ## Importance of Deliberate, Sustained Practice Deliberate, sustained practice is crucial. Plan to practice skills even on days when motivation is low, and focus on one skill at a time to build consistent behaviors[1][4][5]. ## Support and Accountability Having support and accountability from coaches, managers, or HR professionals is essential for guiding you through the process and providing feedback[1][4][5]. ## Real-World Applications The Leader Habit Formula can be applied in various real-world scenarios, such as improving a pizza delivery team's punctuality, handling grumpy customers, and enhancing a poorly performing team's morale and coordination[1][4]. ## Building Team Spirit and Interpersonal Skills Skills like building team spirit involve recognizing and rewarding team members, fostering open communication, and creating a positive team culture. Interpersonal skills include persuasion, influence, and understanding team members' motivations[1][4]. ## Excellence as a Habit As Aristotle said, "Excellence is not an act, but a habit." Developing the right habits through deliberate practice can lead to significant and lasting improvements in leadership abilities[1][4][5].