In a world of constant disruption, shifting priorities, and increasingly complex challenges, the leaders who thrive aren’t just smart, they’re intentional. It’s not their titles or qualifications that set them apart, but their habits.
The world’s best leaders don’t simply react to change, they create the conditions to meet it with clarity, energy, and purpose. And they do it consistently, not through luck or hustle, but by developing habits that power them forward.
At Natural Direction, we believe that leadership starts with how you lead yourself first, your mindset, your choices, and your energy. That belief sits at the heart of our Power Up Programme, which supports leaders to develop the core habits and capabilities that enable them to show up at their best.
Let’s explore five of those essential habits, and how they’re supported by the Seven Natural Powers at the heart of Power Up.
1. Lead with vision and purpose
The best leaders don’t try to do it all. They focus on what matters, and communicate it clearly to others.
Whether you’re navigating change or scaling performance, clarity acts as a filter. It helps leaders prioritise their time and energy, make effective decisions, and keep their teams aligned, even when things feel uncertain.
But clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It requires time to zoom out and reflect. In the Power Up Programme, we support leaders to define their own vision of success, so they can lead with intention, not just momentum.
This habit draws on Vision Power, identifying what matters and setting compelling personal and professional goals, and Belief Power, which helps leaders break through the limiting assumptions that hold them back.
Habit to try:
Start your week by asking, what matters most right now and is that in alignment with how me and my team are spending their time? Keep that at the centre of your focus.
2. Fuel your energy, sustain your momentum
Leadership is demanding. And the best leaders don’t just power through, they power up.
They understand that how they manage their energy has a direct impact on how they lead. They know their state influences every meeting, decision, and relationship. Rather than running on empty, they build sustainable habits that allow them to recharge and respond, not react.
In the Power Up Programme, we help leaders reflect on what fuels them, what drains them, and how to spot the warning signs of burnout. We explore personal energy patterns and support leaders to shift out of survival mode and into sustainable performance.
This habit is supported by Physiological Power, which focuses on using the body to boost wellbeing, and Emotional Power, which helps leaders manage stress, stay calm under pressure, and face challenges with resilience.
Habit to try:
Start tracking your energy highs and lows throughout the day. What are you doing when you feel most focused? When do you need a reset? Be mindful of when you need to step away and reset to refocus your energy.
3. Stay agile and keep growing
Top-performing leaders share a mindset of curiosity. They don’t assume they have all the answers, they stay open to learning and growth.
Whether it’s developing their communication skills, building emotional intelligence, or learning how to lead through complexity, the best leaders are always evolving. They invest in their development, not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
Our Power Up Programme builds this growth mindset by helping leaders identify their strengths, skill gaps, and development areas. We blend neuroscience, psychology, and real-world business challenges to support meaningful growth that sticks.
Here, leaders tap into Growth Power to learn faster and adapt more effectively, and strengthen Mind Power, which supports confidence, mindset shifts, and inner resilience. One of the ways we do this is to encourage leaders to use a Win-Learn-Change approach to reflect on their performance:
Wins: what went well?
Learn: what went less well, what did I learn from that?
Change: how will I change my approach next time?
Habit to try:
Ask for feedback once a week. Try: What’s it like to be on the receiving end of my leadership? What’s one thing I could do to improve next time?
4. Build a leadership brand that stands out
Leadership isn’t just about what you do, it’s about how others experience you. The best leaders understand the impact they have on others and are intentional about leading with authenticity.
They have a clear leadership philosophy, and understand that their reputation is a reflection of their values, and they align their actions with the kind of leader they want to be. It’s about trust, consistency, and impact.
In Power Up, we explore Brand Power, helping leaders define a meaningful personal brand that reflects their strengths and increases their influence across teams, organisations, and industries.
Habit to try:
Ask yourself: What do I want to be known for, and what do I need to start doing differently to show up in that way?
5. Create systems that support the leader you want to be
Leadership habits don’t live in a vacuum. The best leaders create systems and routines that support their intentions. They know that willpower is limited, but a great system is repeatable.
The Power Up Programme helps leaders build those systems. From scheduling strategic thinking time to creating space for recovery, we guide leaders to turn insight into action, and action into habit.
By weaving together all Seven Natural Powers, leaders embed lasting change that supports high performance, deep resilience, and a strong sense of self-leadership.
Habit to try:
Choose one small leadership habit to practise daily for the next two weeks. Then reflect: What impact did it have? Use the Win-Learn-Change approach to review your progress and reflect.
Ready to Power Up your leadership?
The habits we’ve explored, clarity, energy, capability, perspective, and presence, are all part of what makes great leaders truly effective. But developing these habits doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need to overhaul your life or work. You just need a starting point, a system, and support.
That’s exactly what the Power Up Programme is designed to provide.Whether you want to increase your influence, improve your impact, or simply lead yourself more effectively, we’ll help you power up from the inside out.
Find out more about our Power Up Programme for you and your team here.
