Read to Lead: Atomic Habits - Small Changes, Remarkable Results

linnearader
May 21
6 min read

Atomic Habits by James Clear — *Atomic Habits - reading on the beach*

Introduction: Books That Transform Leaders

Ever wondered which books truly make a difference in leadership or life? Let's dive into the ones that do. Welcome to Read to Lead, a blog series where I dive into the best leadership, business, and self-help books.

As a passionate reader and leader, I’m always looking for fresh insights to fuel both Lead with Linnea and my own personal growth. In this series, I’ll share my honest, no-holds-barred reviews of the books I’m reading, highlighting the gems that can help you level up in both your career and life. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or simply looking for ways to grow, this series will help you find the best books to add to your reading list. Let’s read, learn, and lead together!

Why I Chose James Clear’s Atomic Habits

I was walking in my favorite little bookstore looking for my next book to read. Books on Pages in Paw Paw, Michigan is a small corner bookstore with more books than you could imagine. Their selection is perfect. Not to the point of overwhelming like the giant bookstores, but the perfect amount to make sure you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

So, back to my visit. I was walking around browsing through their non-fiction session. There were so many great options, but the title Atomic Habits sounded interesting. The name looked familiar to me too, so I picked it up, read the jacket copy, and did some thinking. Atomic Habits pops up on the best lists of books a good leader should read. When the same title comes up as many times as this one does, you need to read it.

The Power of 1% Improvements

James Clear provides an intriguing perspective on personal improvement. He refers to improving by 1%, explaining that on the surface, improving by 1% seems insignificant, but compounding these small changes develops into amazing improvements. Dedicating yourself to this continual improvement puts you on a trajectory towards success.

Systems Over Goals: Clear's Central Philosophy

We all talk about setting goals and working to attain them. In Atomic Habits “Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress. (pg.24)” Clear’s perspective on systems being the processes that we must focus on to gain that 1% is intriguing and makes perfect sense. If we focus on affecting processes, we can develop habits that matter.

The Four Laws of Behavior Change

Sometimes we read things that resonate with us and when you look back it seems so obvious. — It seems so obvious

Atomic Habits dives into behavior change with The Four Laws of Behavior Change:

1. Make it obvious

2. Make it attractive

3. Make it easy

4. Make it satisfying

When I say dives, I mean it. James Clear takes the Four Laws of Behavior Change and breaks each one down and then uses each one to show how to create a habit as well as does inversions of each law to show how to break bad habits.

Making Habits Obvious: Awareness & Environment

How can we make changes if we don’t know what we are doing? Ok, I know that sounds a little crazy, but what do you do that you don’t even notice anymore? Those things you don’t even notice anymore are habits. Developing systems that become those habits we don’t even think about anymore is the goal.

So, when we start by identifying those habits, we do that we don’t even think about, in my case, I put in my contact lenses, brush my teeth and then take a shower. If I do those three things in any different order, it seems foreign to me. Once I’ve identified these habits, if there’s a new habit, I would like to create something that makes any sense being done each morning, adding it before or after this group of habits is called habit stacking.

Atomic Habits has a very insightful example of how to increase your water intake throughout the day. It’s all about availability. If you can grab a bottle of water in only one place, it’s harder to successfully make this a habit than if water bottles are located all around you. If what you want to build a habit, making it obvious or more readily available makes the system or habit easier to succeed. There is a whole section breaking our thoughts about how motivated we must be to build a habit…but James makes it very clear (see what I did there?) that it’s more about availability and consistency than motivation.

Making Habits Attractive: The Role of Motivation

Sometimes we read things that resonate with us and when you look back it seems so obvious, making actions attractive to make them easier to build is one of those things. It makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? If I associate an activity with something I want, it’s easier to make it into a habit. That’s where the second Law of Behavior Change is founded.

Attraction can relate to what we personally think is rewarding or interesting, but it also comes from those we surround ourselves with. We find activities that our friends and family, social groups and those we find powerful or influential attractive. Those activities are more likely to become habits because they have the approval, respect, and praise of our social groups.

Making Habits Easy: Action Over Motion

Planning and action (practice) are two drastically different things. James Clear calls planning being in motion, meaning planning and strategizing, but then makes the point that planning and strategizing doesn’t produce results. That makes so much sense to me. I can think of it from a business perspective. I have lists and lists of blog post ideas, when I’m struggling to write, I make lists and feel super productive. But what is the outcome or practice? Nothing. Motion makes me feel like I’m doing something, but in reality, I’m no further along. This isn’t to say never plan or strategize anything, this means not to get stuck there and never move beyond it.

So, what does that have to do with making it easier? If we practice it makes things easier, not motion. The more we complete a task, the easier it is to do. As we near a line called the habit line, tasks become easier and easier, leading to them becoming automatic or a habit.

Making Habits Satisfying: The Reward Factor

Again, this makes so much sense. It seems too easy. We are more likely to continue doing something to create a habit when that action is satisfying. Basic logic, right? Should be, but I’m not sure about you, but I have never worked to plan my building of a habit this well. If I build a reward into completing an action, I’m far more likely to do it again. That modification of my habit building process will change for sure!

Tracking Progress: Tools for Habit Success

Atomic Habits goes on to tracking habits and accountability partners. One habit tracker talks about setting a goal of completing X phone calls, put X number of paper clips in a cup and each time you complete a call, move one paperclip. My co-worker mentioned that she picks up a rock for every lap she wants to complete during her walk. After each lap she drops a rock. I think both are effective. Tracking progress helps make building habits fun and satisfying. Accountability partners work in a similar way, making building habits enjoyable.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

While it may sound academic, the way the information is presented, using relatable examples, makes the information interesting. On top of that, so much of the information makes so much sense. The book finishes with supplemental chapters that provide information on how to put the knowledge gained through reading the book to work in business and parenting. This information is very real and relatable.

Atomic Habits is a great read. While it holds a lot of valuable information it’s written in an engaging way.

Get the book now!

Now that you’ve seen my review of Atomic Habits by James Clear, pick up the book and read it! Pick it up at your local library or follow this link if you’d like to purchase the book. Full disclosure, I do get a commission if you buy from this link.

Your Turn: Share Your Opinion

Did you find the review helpful? Once you read the book, share your thoughts. Continue the conversation and keep on sharing! Tell me what you liked (or didn't) when you read the book. Your insights can share insight with others!

Recommend Your Leadership Reads

What’s a book that changed the way you lead or think? Share it, and I might feature it next! Include the book title and author name in the comments as well as why you think I should read it next. The most intriguing books will be read to be featured in future posts."

Books shape minds, and kindness shapes the world—let’s keep leading with both! As always, carry social kindness with you everywhere you go. The world needs you and your positive mindset!