Reinforcing Leadership Habits for Sustainable Growth in 2025

Starting the Year Right #5

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the final installment of our Starting the Year Right series! We’ve reflected on 2024, set a vision for 2025, and energized our teams to hit the ground running. Now, it’s time to focus on the habits that will sustain long-term success.

Great leadership isn’t built on one-time efforts—it’s the result of daily, intentional actions. By reinforcing effective habits early in the year, you set the foundation for consistent growth, both for yourself and your team.

Why Leadership Habits Matter

High-performing leaders don’t rely on motivation alone; they build systems and habits that drive results. Habits shape your daily decisions, how you manage time, and how you lead others.

Ask yourself:

• What leadership habit would I like to strengthen in 2025?

• What small, daily change could help me improve this habit?

Key Leadership Habits for Sustainable Growth

1. Prioritizing High-Impact Work:
   Avoid getting caught up in busywork. Use frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix to focus on tasks that truly move the needle.

2. Consistent and Clear Communication:
   Make it a habit to check in with your team regularly, clarify expectations, and foster an open feedback culture.

3. Practicing Self-Reflection:
   Dedicate time each week to assess your progress, learn from challenges, and adjust your approach.

4. Time Management and Delegation:
   Successful leaders know what to handle personally and what to delegate. Optimize your workload to maximize efficiency.

5. Continuous Learning and Adaptability:
   The best leaders stay curious and open to new ideas. Commit to reading, learning, and staying ahead of industry trends.

Personal Story

A few years ago, I realized that despite setting ambitious goals, I often got sidetracked by daily distractions. Meetings, emails, and small tasks took up most of my time, leaving little room for strategic thinking.

To change this, I developed the habit of time blocking—setting aside dedicated hours for deep work and leadership development. Within months, I noticed a dramatic shift in productivity and clarity. More importantly, this habit allowed me to focus on what truly mattered: mentoring my team, making high-impact decisions, and executing long-term strategies.

Small changes, when consistently applied, lead to significant results.

Survey Questions

At the end of this newsletter, I’d love your thoughts:

Your responses help shape the ongoing discussions in The Storyteller!

Recommended Reading

• Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

Join the Conversation

What leadership habits have made the biggest difference in your career? How do you stay consistent with them? Share your experiences in the comments or reply to this email—we’d love to hear from you.

Connect with Me

If you’d like to build better leadership habits and stay accountable in 2025, let’s connect. Schedule a 15-minute intro call via www.demalo-ent.com.

Let’s make this year a powerful one by leading with consistency, focus, and purpose.

Founder of The Storyteller Newsletter
DeWayne Allen 
www.demalo-ent.com
I guide leaders and STEM professionals to succeed and innovate.