How to Make Leadership Changes Stick

Turning Short-Term Wins into Lasting Transformation

I’ve seen it happen time and time again:

✅ A company rolls out a new initiative.
✅ Employees are excited. Momentum builds.
✅ A few weeks later? Things slip back to the way they were.

Why? Because real change isn’t just about starting something new—it’s about reinforcing it until it becomes part of your team environment.

So if you’ve been working on innovation, accountability, or adaptability this week, the question is:

👉 How do you make sure your team doesn’t slip back into old habits?

The best leaders don’t just push for change. They build the systems that keep change alive.

Why Change Doesn’t Stick

🚫 The excitement fades. People initially engage, but without reinforcement, old routines take over.

🚫 Leaders move on too quickly. If you don’t consistently reinforce the change, your team assumes it wasn’t a priority.

🚫 There’s no accountability. If new behaviors aren’t measured or recognized, people default to what’s familiar.

🚫 People don’t see real impact. If early results aren’t visible, skepticism grows, and momentum dies.

How to Make Change Last

✔ Repeat the Message, Over and Over
– If you feel like you’re saying the same thing too much, you’re probably saying it just enough. Reinforce your vision constantly.

✔ Tie Changes to Daily Work
– If an initiative feels separate from daily tasks, it will fade. Make new behaviors part of how work gets done.

✔ Hold Yourself and Others Accountable
– Check in regularly: “Are we still following through?” Behavior shifts when leaders make accountability non-negotiable.

✔ Celebrate Progress, Not Just Results
– Long-term change happens in stages. Recognize small wins so your team sees that sticking with it is worth it.

✔ Ask “What’s Next?”
– Sustainable leadership is about evolution, not just execution. Keep refining, improving, and reinforcing what’s working.

Try This Today: The “Keep, Stop, Start” Exercise

At your next team check-in, ask three simple questions:

👉 What’s one change we should KEEP doing because it’s working?
👉 What’s one thing we should STOP doing because it’s holding us back?
👉 What’s one thing we should START doing to keep improving?

This keeps your leadership momentum going—without losing sight of what’s important.

Lead Forward by Building Change That Lasts

Leadership isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about creating environments where success isn’t just achieved, but sustained. The best leaders don’t just introduce change. They reinforce it until it becomes how things are done.

In Lead Forward!, I break down how to turn leadership shifts into lasting habits that transform teams, culture, and results.

That’s a wrap on this week! Next Monday, we’ll shift our focus to a critical leadership challenge: managing energy, preventing burnout, and leading teams with sustainable momentum. Because leadership isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about knowing when to recharge, recalibrate, and refocus.

Enjoy your weekend, and I’ll see you Monday! 🚀