Leadership, at its core, is about movement. Whether it’s leading a team, launching an initiative, or pushing for personal growth, the hardest part is always the beginning. It’s about transforming ideas into tangible actions and making a commitment to move from a state of hoping to one of doing.
Momentum is a force unlike any other. It keeps us going long after our initial motivation wears off. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about that power—how it builds, sustains, and transforms.
I closed all three rings on my Apple Watch for the 739th consecutive day. It started as a simple New Year’s Eve challenge in 2022, just try to close the rings for one month. That small goal turned into a streak that now defines a part of my daily routine.
Was it easy? Not a chance. I’ve walked three miles in freezing temperatures while fighting food poisoning. Paced around West Texas gas stations to keep progress on long road trips. Changed clothes to walk laps in airports and trekked through parking garages to stay out of rainstorms.
The rational part of me knows this is ridiculous. The watch barely holds a charge. The “New Record” alert is unimpressive. And yet, I keep counting, because once you have momentum, stopping feels impossible. That’s leadership in a nutshell.
The Hardest Part
One of the biggest barriers leaders face is taking the first step. Stepping into a new role, launching a project, or embracing a more visible position often comes with hesitation and doubt. The fear of not being ready, failing, or not meeting expectations can keep even the most capable individuals from taking action. However, progress begins the moment that the first step is taken.
A clear example of this comes from someone who was allowed to speak at Harvard Medical School at just 23 years old. With little speaking experience, standing in front of a high-profile audience was overwhelming. Yet, by taking that first step, a decades-long career of speaking engagements and leadership opportunities unfolded. This illustrates a key truth: action builds confidence, not the other way around.
Leadership is not just about making decisions, it’s about creating movement. It requires stepping forward even when conditions aren’t perfect. Many leaders delay putting themselves out there, whether by avoiding content creation, public speaking, or engaging with their teams at a deeper level. This hesitation can lead to stagnation, reinforcing the cycle of inaction. Overcoming this inertia is key to leadership growth.
Developing the Leadership Mindset
Getting into the right mindset for leadership growth isn’t about waiting for confidence, it’s about building it through action. Several strategies can help strengthen a leadership mindset and maintain momentum:
Embrace Imperfection: Leaders don’t wait until they feel 100% ready. They act. Accepting that the first efforts won’t be perfect is critical for long-term success.
Commit to Small, Consistent Actions: Just like maintaining a daily fitness streak, leadership habits build over time. Writing one LinkedIn post a week, scheduling regular team meetings, or engaging in strategic conversations are all small steps that accumulate.
Stack Habits for Growth: The concept of habit stacking applies to leadership. For example, if a leader already holds a weekly team meeting, they can use it as an opportunity to mentor an emerging leader. If they send daily updates, they can incorporate leadership insights into those messages.
Reframe Fear as Fuel: Instead of seeing fear as a stop sign, leaders should recognize it as a sign of growth. Stepping into visibility may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary for building influence and trust.
Surround Yourself with Accountability: Mentors, mastermind groups, and trusted teams help leaders stay committed to their growth, making leadership development feel more natural and sustainable.
The Secret to Sticking With Big Goals
The key to leadership growth is consistency. The focus should be on maintaining momentum in daily actions rather than chasing perfection.
Like any habit, leadership is built on repetition. It’s not about an overnight transformation but about maintaining a steady rhythm of action. Momentum is powerful—once it begins, stopping feels harder than continuing.
What’s one action that can build leadership momentum today? Because once the first step is taken, everything else starts to fall into place.
For those considering pausing their progress, the key is to focus on just one more day. One more repetition. One more step forward in the leadership journey.