Change isn’t about belief – it’s about intent. Wishing you a great 2025 year, with clarity of intent, purpose, and meaningful transformation.
Dry January, Veganuary, Soberuary, Refreshuary, Sustanuary, Offlinuary… January has become synonymous with efforts to reset and realign. Whether you keep living as usual or embrace these challenges, by the third week, excitement often wanes. Questions arise: Why am I doing this? Can I keep going?
Here’s good news: science suggests you can. Research from the University of Exeter shows behaviour precedes belief. Keep going, and belief in your actions will follow.
The principle that behaviour precedes belief
.. appears in many areas of life. In lean management, consistent actions reshape roles. Navy SEAL Admiral William H. McRaven highlights in his book how starting with a small act, like making your bed, builds self-belief. Blaise Pascal suggested belief in God can come from practicing rituals.
The new year is the empty slate on which many organizations project a new strategic trajectory. So how does this link to behaviour? If belief follows behaviour, and if culture is the sum of beliefs and behaviours, and finally if “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” then the hierarchy of priorities for any organization becomes clear:
Behaviour > Belief > Culture > Strategy
What we do today shapes tomorrow. But what sparks meaningful behaviour?
Aspiration & Intent Drive Change
What makes someone stop eating meat or a company transform? New behaviour often stems from external influences, like doing what many others do. Being part of a collective effort provides motivation, accountability, and a sense of belonging.
Alternatively change can be sparked by internal aspirations—a desire to align with personal values or contribute meaningfully. For organizations, this is ‘strategic intent’—a core purpose. Without clear intent, efforts risk being short-lived. Similarly, companies with strategies lacking genuine intent often struggle to achieve lasting change.
Best wishes to you for 2025
As we embrace 2025, whether you are contemplating what kind of person you want to be, what kind of organization you want to lead, or what impact you want to create in the world, I am wishing you clarity on your aspiration and intent. With clear intent and aspiration behaviours align, belief grows, and change takes root. Let intent guide your actions and inspire others. Real change is created with purpose, one step at a time.
This text was edited with the assistance of ChatGPT.