“Caught in an endless loop, her thoughts wore a path to an inevitable outcome.”

 10 minute read

Do you find yourself caught in a loop, repeating past mistakes? Do you kick yourself and wondered how on earth you managed to end up in this situation again?

From early childhood, we form neurological pathways that shape how we think, act, and respond. Over time, these pathways become so ingrained they feel like part of our identity - even when they are no longer serving us. In leadership, these ingrained pathways often lead to repetitive behaviors—like micromanagement or dismissing team input—that hinder growth and effectiveness.

The good news? Neuroscience shows that these pathways aren’t fixed. With intentional practices like reflection and behavior alignment, you can rewire your brain, fostering better leadership habits and outcomes. It starts with understanding the science behind these loops—and how to break free.

This work takes commitment, but if you are willing to invest in yourself with a consistent practice you can create lasting transformation leading to tangible business outcomes.

Three steps to rewire your thoughts

1. Spot the patterns

The first step is awareness. Reflect on recurring situations where you feel stuck. Ask yourself:

•  What thoughts or beliefs keep showing up? 
•  How do they shape my decisions and outcomes? 

For example you might think “If I don’t do it myself, it won’t be done right.” This belief can lead to micromanagement, overwork, and a lack of trust in your team. It often stems from a fear of losing control or being seen as ineffective. Over time, this pattern erodes team morale and productivity, creating a cycle where the leader feels increasingly frustrated with the team and compelled to take on even more responsibility.

Or perhaps you think "They don’t understand the bigger picture like I do.”. This belief can mean you dismiss valuable insights from people in your team leading to missed opportunities for growth, alienation of team members, and poor decision-making. It may be driven by a fear of missing targets and opportunities. In the end team members stop offering constructive feedback and feel undervalued. The result can be stagnation in leadership effectiveness and organizational adaptability.

The fact is that the clearer you can be about what your challenge is, the easier it will be to fix it. We wonder if we recruited the wrong staff, if our budget was too low to get motivated people. Do our processes need an overhaul? Should we hire a NED board? 

Here’s the thing… the same thinking patterns will lead to same behaviours and the same outcomes. We can easily look outside of ourselves at what is going on…but, we will do almost anything to avoid looking within.

You can make many changes to a workplace, but if the problem is your leadership style you will find yourself and your team repeat the same mistakes over and over.

How to spot the patterns

Spotting the pattern can be the hardest part. Once it’s revealed, you can’t unsee it… So, this process takes bravery… but, the more you understand your own leadership style and behaviours, the more you can impact outcomes.

My coaching provides a guided framework to explore patterns with expert support. I also recommend journalling and meditation as a regular practice.

One person I worked with was self-sabotaging his health - he knew this and understood it but seemed powerless to change his behaviours. Through journalling and regular meetings with careful, intentional questions, we uncovered the fear driving his behavior —a fear of losing his identity as a father figure and role model to his kids. Naming this fear created an inevitable shift - allowing him to challenge the belief and prioritize his well-being.

That session marked the beginning of real change—it may even have saved his life. These moments are transformative, sparking lasting changes in behavior, relationships, and environments.

2. Disrupt unhelpful beliefs with reflective practice  

Once you recognize the pattern, you need to disrupt it. Research shows that reflective practices like journaling and meditation can reduce repetitive thought loops by calming the brain’s default mode network (Davidson & Lutz, 2008). Even 10 minutes a day can help you pause, reset, and consciously choose a new response when old patterns arise.

My story

In 2016, it felt like I was repeating my past mistakes in an endless loop. I’d had an accident a few years earlier - which led to a number of surgeries and complications. Eventually I had to leave work.

My recovery was long and exhausting, leaving me at the lowest point of my life—physically, emotionally, and financially. My thoughts went to dark places and it was a struggle to believe that I could ever get my life back on track after this low point.

I desperately needed to change my beliefs if I was going to change my outcomes. For some reason, I decided to meditate... and it was a breakthrough experience.

After the meditation there were significant shifts. My thinking changed and I started to get inspirational results really fast. I had disrupted my patterns and was creating a new future. A year later my life was almost unrecognisable.

Over time, I integrated reflective practices, such as journaling and breath work, into my life and my coaching work. These tools have become the cornerstone of the transformative results I now share with my clients.

3. Set a vision and build new connections with intentional actions

The final step in rewiring your thoughts is to set a clear vision for the leader you aspire to be and align your actions with this vision. Without a defined destination, it’s easy to revert to old habits or feel directionless in your efforts.

Start by asking yourself:

•  What kind of leader do I want to become?

•  What values and behaviors define this vision of leadership?

•  How can my leadership positively impact my team and organization?

Once you’ve established this vision, you need to build new connections—both neurologically and interpersonally—by aligning your actions with your goals.

For example, replace the belief, “I need to have all the answers,” with a new mindset: “I’ll focus on asking the right questions.” Put this into action by seeking input from your team during a meeting or co-creating solutions. Each time you practice intentional behaviors, you strengthen new neurological pathways and foster growth-oriented habits.

Research shows that pairing a clear vision with intentional behaviors creates stronger and more lasting neurological pathways. Each time you act in alignment with your vision, you reinforce these connections, making it easier to sustain new habits over time.

Strengthening neurological pathways through intentional actions not only rewires thought patterns but also creates tangible results. One of my clients, for instance, a leader overwhelmed by daily operations and struggling to develop new skills, saw profound changes by aligning his actions with a clear vision.

We worked through his challenge to identify where change was needed to create a clear vision of of where he was headed. We developed a simple action plan that balanced his operational duties with personal growth. With a framework and accountability, he was easily able to meet his goals.

Leadership transformation is about aligning your actions with the future you want to create. By committing to intentional behaviors, you move closer to becoming the leader you aspire to be.

By setting a clear vision and intentionally building the connections that support it, you create a roadmap for sustained growth and success. Leadership transformation is not just about what you do—it's about who you are becoming.

Why This Matters

By committing to identifying patterns, disrupting unhelpful beliefs, and setting a clear vision, you create the foundation for sustained growth. This framework empowers you to align your leadership style with your goals, unlocking potential for yourself and your organization.

Breaking free from old patterns is not easy, but the rewards are transformative—for you, your team, and your organization. This process doesn’t just change how you lead; it changes how you approach challenges, inspire others, and achieve sustainable success.

Here’s the roadmap:

1. Spot the patterns: Gain awareness of recurring thoughts and behaviors that hold you back.
2.  Disrupt unhelpful beliefs: Use reflective practices to shift your mindset and create space for new possibilities.
3.  Set a vision and take intentional action: Define the leader you want to become and align your actions to achieve your goals.

Neuroscience shows us that change is possible at any stage of life. By rewiring your brain and reinforcing new behaviors, you can unlock the adaptability and creativity needed to lead in today’s fast-changing world.

The question is: What’s the first step you’re willing to take today to become the leader—and build the future—you envision?

Your transformation begins now.

How I can help you

Whether you're an SME leader adapting to new challenges or a corporate professional seeking growth, my tailored coaching and short courses are designed to provide actionable strategies backed by proven frameworks.

My work as a design research and business analyst has given me the tool kit to guide people to develop plans for their own personal development and their business. So, when I am coaching clients I start each session with a goal, and end with a plan of action.

I have 12 case studies and short courses in the pipeline. Each demonstrate how leadership style can be adapted to better manage specific business challenges. These are backed up by the work of academic experts and thought leaders like Daniel Goleman, Paul Hersey, Ken Blanchard and Mary Uhl-Bien. 

This knowledge-base helps leaders and professionals to fill gaps in their knowledge needed to solve their unique business challenges. Worksheets and planning guides help readers to adapt what they learn to their own business needs.

I am launching a series of short-courses the first quarter of 2025. These are accompanied by more in-depth workbooks that guide you to create your own continuing personal and professional development plan (CPD plan).

If you work for an SME or large corporate you may be able to use your training budget to purchase my products.

Ready to take the first step?

If you’re ready to break free from old patterns and become a more effective leader, I’d love to help.

Your transformation starts with a single step. Let’s uncover what’s holding you back and build a clear path to success.

Alternatively you can stay connected by signing up for my newsletter and wait for the launch of my case studies and short courses in early 2025.

Your brain is built for change. Let’s put that to work.