Stop Leading on Autopilot

It's easy to fall into the habit of doing. We are productive. We're moving. We're checking the boxes. It feels good, doesn't it? The busyness gives us a sense of accomplishment.

But here's the hard truth: Not all motion is meaningful.

Leaders often find themselves in the grind - sending emails, assigning tasks, pushing the strategy forward. But despite all of this movement, something's missing. The connection with the team is fading. And when that happens, no amount of activity will ever bring the needed results.

Inside the C.H.A.N.G.E.S. Framework, A = Act and N = Notice. In times of change, these two steps must go hand-in-hand. Because what good is action if there's no notice of what's working... and what isn't? What's the point of a plan if no one is truly engaged in it?

In meetings, it's easy to get lost in presenting slides, delegating tasks, and pushing the team forward. But when you look around the room, you might see crossed arms, forced smiles, and polite nods.

It's like they're saying, "Yes..." but their body language says, "Not really." The energy is drained. They avoid eye contact. They stop offering feedback. They go quiet.

This isn't resistance. It's a disconnect. And more often than not, it's not about doing the wrong things - it's about acting without noticing. 

Noticing is where leadership deepens. It's when you pause to:

• Read the room - not just for what's said, but for what's not said.

• Tune into the silence - the energy shifts, the body language, the unspoken resistance.

• Ask yourself - "Are we still aligned, or are we just executing because it's the next task on the list?"

When you notice, action becomes clearer. It's more intentional. It brings back the humanity and alignment that drives true engagement and momentum. 

So the next time you feel like you're leading on autopilot, ask yourself:

Where might you be acting...but not noticing?