Monday Madness

Tavia Robinson
Jan 5
2 min read

What if you just STOP?

(And in that pause, everything shifts.)

Before we rush into to-do lists, back-to-back meetings, or old patterns that didn’t serve us last year — what if we intentionally stopped?

STOP:

S – Stop the autopilot habits

T – Think with clarity

O – Open up to insight

P – Possibility becomes real

This is more than a clever all-caps phrase — it’s rooted in how our brains actually change.

Why STOP Matters

Our brains are not fixed machines — they are dynamic, rewiring systems capable of adaptation throughout life. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to reorganize, form new neural connections, and adapt in response to experience, learning, and intention. This isn’t abstract science — it’s fundamental to how leaders grow, how habits form, and how change actually takes hold.

In coaching, we leverage this principle not just to set goals, but to shift belief systems, habits, and neural pathways. When leaders pause to reflect, reframe, and choose next steps intentionally, new patterns begin to solidify — and old ones weaken.

Leadership & Change in Practice

Executive coaching is more than tactical advice — it’s about helping you:

Interrupt default routines that are no longer effective.
Reframe challenges into strategic opportunities.
Strengthen cognitive flexibility — the ability to adapt thinking and behavior in the moment.
Cultivate emotional regulation under pressure — not just reaction.

This kind of growth isn’t incidental; it’s neurobiological.

Questions to Pause & Reflect

These are designed for your personal insight — and to spark conversations with your teams and circles:

Self–Reflection

What patterns am I currently on autopilot about — and what happens if I intentionally pause them?
What belief about myself or my work would I be willing to challenge today?
What habit, if altered, could create the greatest positive impact on my leadership and wellbeing?

Team & Influence

What space can I create for others to pause and reflect before acting?
How might I use powerful, open-ended questions instead of jumping to solutions?
What culture might emerge if we prioritized conscious choice over reflexive behavior?

(Tip: use coaching questions like these in team check-ins to build psychological safety and collective clarity.)

Coaching Vocabulary That Matters

Awareness — the first step toward intentional change
Reframe — shifting how you view a situation to unlock new options
Cognitive Flexibility — the neural capacity to adapt thinking
Neuroplasticity — the brain’s change mechanism
Powerful Questions — open-ended prompts that evoke insight, not defensiveness
Action with Alignment — choices that reflect both intent and impact