In his book, The Leadership Dojo: Build Your Foundation as an Exemplary Leader, by Richard Strozzi-Heckler, he states “If we want to introduce new leadership behaviors in our lives, it is necessary to practice. We also know that to achieve mastery it is necessary to go beyond our comfort zone.”
When we think about what it takes to master something, we can all agree that it takes practice. Yet, we were stunned when in Heckler’s book he states “Researchers say 300 repetitions produce body memory, which is the ability to enact the correct movement, technique or conversation by memory.” This is what it would take to create a new habit.
But wait … what if we want to not just build habit but a new automatic, habitual neuro-pathway to replace old ingrained patterns? “It takes 3,000 repetitions to create embodiments, which is not having to think about doing the activity — it’s simply part of who we are.”
That’s a lot of repetitions and we doubt any of us would spend the time counting the number of repetitions yet what this does suggest is that it takes a lot of practice and an even greater amount of intention to create change in ourselves.
What is one thing you really want to change about yourself? Start today with defining the new “practice” you will undertake and why making this change matters. Then begin to do the practice daily … you will create the change you want if you keep reminding yourself “why” the change matters and then do the practice every day or even every moment until, one day your new embodied movement, technique, belief or behavior is the “new normal.”
