Disconnecting Our “Autopilot”: Waking up to

Courageous Leadership

Dr. Rick Thomas Christina Sestan

Please, Don’t Eat the Raisins !

Settling In …

What had you sign up for this session?

What was it about the title and description that got your attention?

What is Autopilot?

When you do something without realizing what you’re doing.

Your body is going through the motions, your mind is gone.

Urban Dictionary

What are the Costs? Forgetting things

Making poor choices

Disengagement – self and others

Not really listening to others

Lackluster partnerships, relationships and teams

Decreased innovation and creativity

Wasted time

Living life by default not design

Why do we go on Autopilot?

Overwhelmed and busy

Trauma

Comfort zones – avoid pain

Why do we go on Autopilot:Neuroscience

• Evidence showed that everyday behaviour is not the result of conscious decision-making or deliberate choice

• Brain unconsciously processes information; “automaticity” takes over

• Respond without conscious awareness• We are “creatures of habit”

“The Unbearable Automaticity of Being”

American Psychologist (1999)

Why do we go on Autopilot:Neuroscience

“Automaticity” …… The ability to perform a task without having to focus on its every detail

• 43-47% of behaviour is habitual (processed automatically)

• Brain refines its mental model by cutting out unnecessary processes and eliminating energy waste

• Skills are developed through deliberate practice.

The Leader Habit: Master the Skills You Need to Lead” Martin Lanik (2018)

The Unconscious Intent to Control• Trying to appear more “together” than you really

feel.• Lying to protect someone’s feelings. • Being nice or agreeable to avoid a hassle.• Keeping silent to avoid conflict.• Making up stories / assumptions instead of living

with the uncertainty of a situation. Saying What’s Real, Susan Campbell (2005)

Why do we go on Autopilot:Psychology

“Over the course of a lifetime, this adds up to 70,000 occasions in which we commit our time to something that isn’t necessarily aligned with what we are committed to.”

WHY?47% - loathe to let people down37% - saying yes is simply easier than saying no

The Hidden Cost of Operating on Autopilot, Forbes 2017

What are the benefits of being present?

• Clearer, focused decision-making

• Increased confidence and risk-taking

• Engaging leadership

• Living with more purpose and intentionality

“My mind is completely engaged and appreciatively connecting with whatever my body is doing at that point.”

Walking meetings, quiet think time, mindfulness and

deep breathing practice with your team, say “I don’t

know” more often, book reflection time for 5 minutes

every hour, cut down on caffeine during the day, drop

the ‘looking good’ thing, start meetings with a

connection exercise, put your ear buds on and listen

to a beautiful piece of music, stick your head outside

at lunchtime, stretch, tell jokes, be grateful!

Techniques for Disconnecting our Autopilot

Set ‘Alarm Clocks’ to wake yourself up!

The 5-Second Rule

5 Elements:First – “The moment you have an instinct

Second – to act on a goal

Third – you must push yourself

Fourth – to move within 5 seconds

Fifth – or your brain will kill it”

The 5-Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work and Confidence with Everyday Courage

Mel Robbins (2017)

Techniques for Disconnecting our Autopilot

Habit BuildingRepeatedly pairing the same cue with the same

behaviour through deliberate practice.

CUE

BEHAVIOUR

REWARD

Techniques for Disconnecting our Autopilot

Habit Building, cont’d …

Simple behaviours vs. complexIndividual behavioursConsistent behaviours

“If you want to build a new habit, you must look for a naturally occurring, embedded cue to pair it with.”

The Leader Habit: Master the Skills you need to Lead, Martin Lanik (2018)

Courageous Leadership is Conscious Leadership

What are you committed to?Write it down and leave it behind with your email and we will follow up with you in one month to see

how it’s going!