Senior leadership comes with its own set of challenges. Whether you’re leading a team, presenting in the boardroom, or trying to secure new clients, you may face moments of self-doubt. In fact, many senior leaders struggle with confidence—especially in high-pressure situations. That nagging feeling of “Am I good enough?” or the burden of impostor syndrome can hinder performance and even impact personal lives. We’re diving into the 5 habits that every senior leader needs to be successful.
It’s no surprise that these pressures often lead to neglecting your health, habits, or home life. You might find yourself feeling frustrated or anxious, snapping at loved ones because of the stress you’re carrying. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. By adopting some key habits, you can regain control, boost your confidence, and improve both your personal and professional life.
Let’s dive into the five essential habits every senior leader needs to thrive. To watch this as a video, click here.
Habits Every Senior Leader Needs
1. Make Decisive Decisions
One of the most critical habits senior leaders need is decision-making. Every decision you make—big or small—affects the trajectory of your leadership and business. Even indecision is a decision, one that can waste time and energy.
Picture this: you’re sitting at home debating whether or not to go to the gym. The indecision itself drains you, and regardless of whether you end up going or staying, you’ve already spent valuable time waffling. The key takeaway is that every decision has weight, but you only know if it’s “right” or “wrong” in hindsight.
Consider sports as an example. A football coach’s decisions can either make them a genius or the target of criticism depending on the outcome. As a leader, it’s vital to strengthen your decision-making muscles so you can make faster, more informed choices with confidence. The faster you can act with clarity, the fewer mistakes you’ll make in the long run.
2. Learn to Read the Room
A highly underrated skill in leadership is the ability to read the room. Being able to sense the energy, emotions, and engagement levels of your team or audience is key to successful communication. Unfortunately, common sense isn’t always so common when it comes to understanding others.
Increasing your sensory awareness is essential here. Are people disengaged during a meeting? Do they seem uncomfortable? These are signs that you need to pivot. Rather than droning on for 40 minutes, mix things up—ask questions, encourage participation, or request input before meetings to make everyone feel more involved.
The better you get at reading social cues and body language, the more effectively you’ll connect with your team and inspire engagement.
3. Commit to Continuous Growth
If you’re not growing, you’re stagnating—or worse, declining. Growth isn’t just about scaling your business or advancing your career. It’s about continuous self-improvement, whether it’s emotional, spiritual, or physical.
Start with small habits that will compound over time. Drink more water. Spend more time outdoors. Eat healthier. In 90 days, these small changes will make a noticeable difference in how you feel and perform. Growth doesn’t happen overnight, but a commitment to being 1% better each day will add up.
Investing in yourself is crucial to this process. This could be hiring a coach, reading a transformative book, or trying out practices like meditation. The best leaders are those who never stop learning and improving and this is a habit every senior leader needs.
4. Set and Enforce Boundaries
One of the biggest challenges senior leaders face is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. This is where the habit of setting boundaries becomes essential. You teach people how to treat you, and that starts by setting clear expectations about what is and isn’t acceptable—both at work and at home.
For example, if your partner is feeling stressed and begins to act erratically, calmly communicate that you won’t engage in negative behaviour. Similarly, in your professional life, don’t let your calendar be dictated by others. Carve out time for yourself and make it non-negotiable. Setting boundaries protects your mental and emotional energy, helping you avoid burnout.
5. Build Confidence by Keeping Promises to Yourself
Confidence is the foundation of great leadership, and the best way to build it is by consistently keeping promises to yourself. Start small. Commit to something realistic, like going to the gym tomorrow, and then do it. Each time you follow through on a promise, you build trust in yourself and strengthen your confidence.
The key here is not to overpromise. Set achievable goals and hit them. As you build momentum, you’ll see that your confidence will naturally increase. Remember, leadership isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about small, consistent actions that lead to big results.
Why Coaching Matters
Even the best athletes in the world—people like LeBron James or Lionel Messi—work with coaches. Why? Because having someone outside of your immediate circle to push you, hold you accountable, and provide fresh perspective is invaluable. The same goes for senior leaders.
If you’re serious about stepping up your leadership game, adopting these five habits is a great start. But having the right support along the way will accelerate your progress.
So, are you ready to level up and take charge of your growth?
If you are, contact us today and let’s get started.
P.S. For more tips on personal and professional development, head over to our YouTube channel, where we dive deeper into topics like mindset, resilience, and leadership.
Adam Smith
Mindset Coach and Co-Founder
