Habits can be a trap for people in leadership positions. As leaders, they should provide a compelling vision that inspires those around them. Instead, many of them lapse into automatic thinking. And that can affect every decision they make — and the actions of the people who report to them.

“Too often, we don’t come up with imaginative solutions because we let ourselves be ruled by routine and by preconceived notions,” said Rob-Jan de Jong, a behavioral strategist and author of Anticipate: The Art of Leading by Looking Ahead.