The Danger of Autopilot.
I’ve learned the hard way that one of the biggest risks for leaders isn’t a lack of skill, resources, or even time.
It’s cruising on autopilot.
When you’ve been in enough situations, solved enough problems, and built enough instincts, you move fast.
Maybe too fast.
You can make a call in seconds because you’ve seen the pattern before. You know how to handle it. The upside is obvious: speed, confidence, efficiency. But, the downside is you might be pulling out an old playbook for a game that’s changed.
I’ve done it in business deals, team conflicts, and even in my personal life.
My brain said, “I’ve got this,” when what was really needed was, “Wait. Let’s see what’s actually here.”
You might think you’re being intentional when you’re really just running a program you’ve used before. The question I’ve had to ask myself, and the one I’m challenging you to ask, is, “Am I responding out of habit, or because this truly fits the moment?”
The signals are subtle.
You’ve already decided in your head before hearing all the facts. You’re defaulting to “how I’ve always handled it,” especially in personal conflict. You feel impatient with slowing down for more context.
And, the tricky part is autopilot feels good. It feels like control. It feels like decisiveness. But, it can cost you more than you think.
That quick decision that should work might close off options you haven’t even seen yet. That standard approach to conflict might be exactly the wrong tone for this particular person, in this particular moment.
We live in a culture that rewards quick calls and clear direction. The faster you move, the more people praise your leadership.
But, speed without awareness isn’t leadership, it’s reflex. And, reflex, unchecked, can become blind reaction.
I’ve watched leaders run their organizations the same way they did ten years ago, wondering why results are slipping. I’ve seen people in relationships repeat the same argument over and over, never noticing the dynamic has changed.
Autopilot is comfortable because it saves mental energy. It feels like you’re conserving focus for bigger things. But, the truth is, some of the most important decisions we make happen in the moments we’re tempted to rush past.
For me, breaking autopilot starts with building a pause into the moment. I have what I call my “weekly reset.” I look for one situation where I paused and re-evaluated before acting.
Not a dozen, just one.
It might be a conversation with a client where my instinct was to push, but instead I asked more questions. It might be a disagreement with a friend where my first thought was to respond with a strong statement, but instead I said, “Help me understand what you mean.”
Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking someone I trust, “What am I missing here?” That one question has saved me from more blind spots than I can count.
Pausing isn’t weakness. It’s not indecision. It’s leadership at its sharpest, because you’re choosing to see before you act.
So here’s my challenge for you. This week, pick one situation, just one, where you’re tempted to default to your standard response. And, instead of hitting autopilot, hit pause.
Ask yourself, “Am I responding out of habit, or because this truly fits the moment?”
Stay curious a little longer. See what new options appear when you hold back the reflex just long enough to get the full picture.
And, then find one person in your world you trust enough to say, “Here’s what I’m thinking, what am I missing?”
You’ll be surprised how often the thing you were missing isn’t a small detail. It’s the key that changes your entire decision.
Because the real danger of autopilot isn’t that you’ll crash. It’s that you’ll stay perfectly on course to a destination you didn’t mean to reach in the first place.
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Steve Knox | Carmel, CA
\\\ I’m hoping this little series lands with you in a way that causes you to pause and really reflect. It’s based on the tough life-lessons I’ve learned in leading myself and coaching others. Take whatever resonates the most with you to heart. Write on it. Think about it. And, live accordingly. Until next week. Be honest. Be you. Much love.