Reposted from Abigail G Manning

Autopilot Leadership Audit

January was about choosing the road less traveled.

February is about noticing when you’ve stopped making choices and end up on autopilot.

Sometimes, autopilot is great. There are contexts where it keeps you and your team safe. Operational autopilot can allow you to rely on training, repetition, and disciplined safety protocols. Allowing muscle memory to take over when there is no room for hesitation or second-guessing. Just like the trust I was able to have in the jumpmaster who kept me safe on my tandem skydive back in 2022.

However, there is a difference between operational autopilot and leadership on autopilot. The nuance is important to understand.

Autopilot leadership is insidious. It settles in quietly, when routines replace reflection, when decisions are delayed instead of made, and when “this is how it’s always been done” feels easier than questioning what no longer fits. If left unchecked, the effects are lasting. Most leaders I work with aren’t stuck because they lack capability. They’re stuck because habits that once served them are still running the show. The most successful and exceptional leaders are the ones who continually develop their skills and remain open to growth. Keep reading below for a short insight guide to increase your awareness of autopilot leadership, how to combat it using my ThinkSayDo skills, and download my free worksheet, The Autopilot Audit.

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