From States to Traits - The Cultivation of Leadership

Read Time: (4 minutes)

In this issue, I’m going to break down the differences between states and traits, and how it relates to growing in your leadership.

Understanding the difference between these two concepts while appreciating how they’re related is critical to living and leading well.

States are temporary conditions or experiences. These are real-time representations of what’s possible. Instant feedback for calibrating our perceptions to reality and adjusting accordingly.

Traits are different. They’re a real-time representation of what’s probable. A composition of our personal inclinations to behave in certain ways in certain instances. Traits aren’t fixed, but they’re enduring. Meaning without intervention they’ll stay relatively stable over time. 

Appreciating these nuances gives you agency. Empowering you to take the necessary steps towards meaningful progress.

Unfortunately, most people don’t and thus they settle for, “meh!” 

There’s a name for this feeling. It’s called languishing. 

We define languishing as, “failing to make progress.” 

Predictable Trajectories

Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior! 

This statement sheds some light on why we so often do the same despite knowing better.

When it comes to doing something different, knowing better is not going to move the needle much. (Romans 7:19) But, knowing how gives you a fighting chance.

Generally speaking, states repeated intentionally over time become traits. Meaning, if you want to exhibit attitudes and behaviors in everyday life you need to engender those attitudes and behaviors frequently through intentional practice. 

States are powerful because they heavily influence our responses by altering our neurophysiology. 

What this means is our body prefers certain behaviors when in certain states. In extreme cases our body will choose our response for us.

This deeper understanding reveals a process for guiding our behavior towards our preference.

If you want to behave in a certain way, start by getting into a state where that type of behavior is the norm.

No Exceptions

Now when it comes to states we like to simplify it even further into 2 broad categories.

I mentioned one earlier, which was languishing.  On the other side, we are flourishing. Which we define as, existing in one highest state.

When we’re flourishing our energy is being directed towards growth. We’re trending positively in our thinking, feeling, and behavior.

When we’re languishing our energy is being directed towards atrophy. We’re trending negatively in our thinking, feeling, and behavior.

At any given moment, we’re either languishing or flourishing. Drifting away from our intentions or driving forward with purpose. 

When we lay this over the 5 modes of leadership we discussed here. We can better appreciate what’s going on internally when these modes are present.

As leaders, we must recognize that there are no exceptions to this rule. When you see behaviors that don’t align with the standards. Don’t criticize the person. Empathize with their state. Equip them with a means to better control their state and with repetition the desired traits will begin to emerge. 

Next week we’ll share an equation that can help guide this type of personal growth.

For the rest of this week pay more attention to your states. What variables are most influencing your state?

Stay The Course,