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How Leaders Can Sustain Meaningful Behavior Change
Leaders are in the business of behavior change.
John Eades
18 Sep
If someone depends on you, you are a leader. A pattern has emerged in my coaching: the best leaders turn losing behavior into winning behavior.
That means when a behavior isn’t serving the team or the organization, it has to change, either in their own behavior or in others’. If it doesn’t, the consequences are clear: either the behavior changes, or the person will.
So if you care about behavior change, this week is for you.
I. Starting a behavior change is easy. Sustaining it is hard.
What it means:
Most people can take the first step. Anyone can commit to a new diet for a day, show up to the gym on January 1st, or start holding one-on-one meetings with their team for a week. These are all behavior changes. They shift how we act, think, or lead. However, when novelty fades, the excuses begin.
That’s why leaders can’t settle for temporary bursts of effort. A few days of intensity aren’t enough. Small actions, consistently repeated, create transformation.
II. The best leaders turn losing behavior into winning behavior.
What it means:
Every team has patterns that don’t serve performance. Things like avoiding conflict, skipping preparation, or tolerating complacency. Leaders don’t get the luxury of ignoring these behaviors.
It’s your obligation to step in to replace these losing behaviors with winning patterns. This means you have to be in the business of behavior change.
III. All meaningful change begins in the mind.
What it means:
Behavior won’t shift unless beliefs do. The labels people carry, “I’m too busy for one-on-ones,” “I’m not good with conflict,” “I’m a perfectionist,” they become self-fulfilling.
Executive Coach Scott Cornwell on this week’s John Eades podcast episode said, “To achieve significant and sustainable change requires you to look beyond the behavior to the belief systems that behavior is built upon.”
Use your gifts,
John Eades
CEO | LearnLoft | The Sales Infrastructure
P.S. I’m excited to share something new. I’m opening up a free coaching spot each week called Breakthrough Corner. Real coaching. Real breakthroughs. If you’d like to be coached by me (and help others learn from it too), you can apply here.
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Why Your Identity Shapes Every Result You Get (Podcast)
The Breakthrough Corner - Real Coaching. Real Breakthroughs.
In this episode of The John Eades Podcast, I sit down with my friend Scott Cornwell, author of The Present Executive and President of the Center for Intentional Leadership. Scott shares powerful insights on identity, presence, leadership, and sustaining meaningful behavior change. We discuss:
Why presence matters more than the title of “executive”
The role of identity and how “I am” statements shape your behaviors and results
The power of codes, core values, and mantras in leadership
Balancing short-term execution with long-term purpose
How to create lasting behavior change through mindset, structure, and practice
The Breakthrough Corner
The Breakthrough Corner - Real Coaching. Real Breakthroughs.
Each week, I’ll feature one reader for a free 15 to 30-minute coaching session. These coaching sessions are designed to create clarity, unlock growth, and help you break through the challenges holding you back in your leadership or career.
How it works:
Apply with a short form (link below).
If selected, we’ll schedule a Zoom session.
With your permission, I’ll record the conversation so others can learn from it too.
These aren’t hypothetical discussions. They’re real free coaching sessions that lead to real breakthroughs.
Here Are Some Ways We Could Partner:
Customized Leadership Development Programs: Bring the Accelerate Leadership Program or Catalyst for Growth Program in-house for a customized experience for your team members. Programs include virtual or in-person instructor-led training, a Leadership Growth Plan, and group coaching to ensure real-world mastery.
1:1 Coaching: Work 1-on-1 with me or one of our certified coaches to achieve your goals, strengthen critical skills, and address your most pressing challenges. This 6-month program focuses on mindset and execution for tangible, lasting outcomes. Show me more
Speaking: We are now booking keynotes for the fall of 2025 and early 2026. John’s new keynote, “The Teamwork Advantage” has been a hit for organizations. Hit reply on this note, or check out some of our recent talks here.
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