Many leaders want to change self-defeating behaviors and beliefs, but desire isn’t enough. Here are 10 ways to ensure positive changes stick:

10 Steps to Make Changes Stick

1) Hire a coach or consult a mentor to help you locate and define the change you wish to make;

2) Brainstorm potential barriers;

3) Plan counter-moves for each potential barrier;

4) Break the steps down in doable, incremental parts;

5) Draft a contract. Write down what you will change, how, and why;

6) Create a reward system that incents you to change;

7) Create a negative incentive that will force you to follow through;

8) Include your team on the change you want to make and ask them to hold you to it;

9) Put the change in your path (Don’t avoid it!);

10) Schedule check-ins with your coach or mentor to reflect on the progress you’ve made.

About the Author

As President and Co-founder of ACI Telecentrics, Inc., Gary Cohen grew the company from two people to 2,200 employees. Currently, he is Managing Partner of CO2 Partners, LCC, operating as an executive coach and consultant. He is the author of Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions (McGraw Hill). Gary B. Cohen Full Bio