Why leadership alignment starts with rewriting the inner narrative, not just chasing better outcomes.
Have you ever driven for miles on the highway and suddenly realized you don’t remember the last several exits?
You weren’t asleep at the wheel—you were just following a route so familiar, you stopped noticing the scenery—no need to question the path. You’ve taken it so many times, it runs on autopilot.
More leaders than I can count experience the same thing professionally.
Sometimes it sounds like this:
“It used to feel urgent, but I’m just not sure anymore.”
That’s what Daniel said as we reviewed his quarterly plan.
His strategy was solid. His goals were clear. But the language he used told another story.
Words like “should,” “supposed to,” and “at this stage I probably need to” kept slipping in. That’s where the real issue was hiding—not in the goals, but in the story driving them.
His entire plan was a rinse-and-repeat version of the past few years.
Sure, there were tweaks. Minor adjustments made under the banner of “strategic planning.”
But in reality? It was another annual sales plan, built to deliver a year-over-year increase just high enough to keep the board satisfied. A story written years ago. One that may have served him then, but hadn’t been updated in a long time.
And that’s what derails even the most accomplished leaders:
They are operating on outdated assumptions and beliefs that haven’t evolved, so the goals feel stagnant.
Once Daniel named the story he was still operating from, everything shifted. He didn’t throw out the goals. He rewrote the reason behind them. What followed was a leaner, more intentional plan that reflected not just what the board thought he “should” do, but what he genuinely wanted to build next.
The Neuroscience of Leadership Autopilot: Why We Stick to Old Stories
If Daniel’s story sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not lazy or unmotivated. You’re just human. The brain is wired to default to what’s worked before, especially when you’re tired or under pressure.
Neuroscience calls this “fast brain” mode — the part of your mind that runs on instinct, repetition, and shortcuts. It helps you move quickly in high-stakes situations. But it also has a downside: it builds patterns. It locks in old assumptions. It doesn’t ask, Is this still true?
Even business-savvy leaders with great plans can find themselves running the same internal scripts.
Push for growth.
Make the board happy.
Stay visible.
Don’t slow down.
Over time, the story becomes automatic. The goals stay on repeat. And the question — Is this still true? — gets drowned out by urgency. Instead of pausing to question the deeper purpose, leaders stay reactive. They default to old playbooks, outworn benchmarks, and language like “we’ve always done it this way.”
Have you experienced this in your organization?
Research from Psychology Today and TripleGoal both point to the same risk: when leaders operate from this autopilot mode for too long, strategy becomes reactive. Performance replaces purpose. The story never updates.
And what starts as a season of momentum slowly becomes a cycle of disconnect.
How to Recognize When You’re Leading from an Outdated Story
Our stories can become as familiar and comfortable as a well-worn pair of shoes. Sure, they’re outdated, but we don’t want to let them go. Here are three signals you might be operating from a narrative that needs updating:
- You’re achieving more, but enjoying it less.
You’re hitting the numbers, but the work feels hollow. Milestones don’t feel like progress. They are just boxes you check.
- Your calendar is full, but your focus is thin.
When everything feels urgent, you say yes to too much. You’re busy, but not necessarily focused on what matters most.
- You frequently hear yourself say what you’re supposed to, have to, or should do.
Those assumptions are a key sign that your current story is inherited rather than intentional. If you notice this in your language, it’s a sign to pause, check in, and ask: Is the story I’m telling myself still true? Am I directing my path, or following someone else’s plan for me?
Build from the Story You Believe Now
When the story evolves, the strategy will finally make sense. The goals start to feel like momentum again—not pressure. You move forward with integrity, not just velocity.
So if your goals feel flat, don’t just rework the plan. Revisit the narrative.
Because sustainable leadership starts with alignment, execution follows.
And alignment begins with a true story you believe now. What would it look like to create goals that reflect who you are now, what you choose to do, and where you want to go?
Let’s explore whether the story you’re leading from still fits the season you’re in. If it’s time for a new narrative, I’d love to help you think it through. Book a strategy session today.