Strong daily routine key for leadership skill

The thought of reviewing goals and expectations for a new year typically happens after the first quarter comes to an end. But instead of simply reviewing goals, what if we took a closer look at our personal routines as leaders?

A routine consists of activities performed consistently and intentionally each day. Routines can provide a powerful way to wake up and approach each day with a spirit of gratitude, a commitment to core values, and a motivation to live with courage. When we examine our routines according to this definition, we can easily see how having a robust and disciplined life is especially valuable and necessary during times of change and uncertainty.

The ideal daily routine can vary from person to person. Still, an effective routine provides a core foundation that can help us face each day’s issues, enabling us to pursue our particular mission or vision and helping us stay on our “A-game.” It provides a means for us to search what is in our hearts and minds and to begin the day with gratitude. 

The core components of a daily routine should include reflection time in prayer, the study of God’s Word, or attending daily Mass. Another component should be an activity to stimulate the physical body, such as weight training, running, or walking. Another typical component of a solid routine is to journal with the intention of identifying and evaluating top goals, recording wins, and contemplating issues or concerns that make us uncomfortable or that need to be addressed with prayer. 

Whatever a leader’s daily routine entails, a key follow-up piece involves the investment of time. A commitment to time for self-development is an essential asset of any daily routine. Leaders need to recognize the need for a daily routine in order to ensure they lead in a way that is consistent and driven by energy grounded in strong Catholic values. 

A daily routine is a great way to monitor one’s progress as part of a health-and-wellness program. Its impact can be tracked scientifically by examining quality of sleep, variations in heart rate, calories expended, and the amount of strain put on one’s body due to diet, hydration, and activity. This information gives us a point of reference for evaluating where we are at a particular time and how we might be able to improve. 

In addition, the rewards of a leader having a daily routine can be seen in our interactions within our work and home relationships. Routines can teach us mindfulness, which reaps visible benefits through how we respect other people, how we communicate and act upon issues, and how we create a safe and supportive culture in the workplace and the family. As influential leaders, we can become better coaches as we see the value in coaching the people around us. That kind of leadership requires a strong foundation of values and a level of strength and fitness that can be nurtured and maximized through the practice of a solid daily routine. 

As we examine the progress of our goals and expectations in the new year, let’s also consider looking more closely at our daily routines and how we might refine and improve them as a catalyst for developing our leadership skills. This self-examination could make all the difference for us in our professional and personal lives in 2024.