Ditch the Rules. Install Better Habits.

Here’s a simple test:

Walk into your company and remove all the rules.

What happens?

If your culture collapses, you never had a culture.

You had compliance.

Too many CEOs rely on policies and procedures to shape behavior.

But rules are just a substitute for real leadership.

Look, I get it. Rules feel safe. They're the corporate security blanket.

When was the last time you saw someone go above and beyond because of a policy manual?

The Real Levers of Culture: Habits, Rules, Principles, and Structures

Let’s break it down:

• Rules are reactive. They exist because someone screwed up once.

• Principles are foundational. They guide decisions when no one’s watching.

• Habits are how you make principles real every day, at scale.

• Structures reward some behaviors and prevent others.

Most CEOs Have It Backwards

They write values on the wall (“We value integrity”), then draft a rulebook to enforce them.

That’s not culture. That’s theater.

The best CEOs I coach live by a small set of clear principles and they back them with visible habits.

Let me give you an example:

A principle might be: “We treat people with respect.”

• The rule version? “Don’t yell in meetings.”

• The habit version? “We give praise in public, feedback in private.”

You don’t need to enforce that habit. It lives in your culture because people see it practiced.

How to Lead with Principles (and Build the Habits to Match)

1. Choose the Few That Matter
You don’t need a manifesto.

Pick 2–3 principles that define how you lead.

If it doesn’t shape decisions or behavior, it’s just noise.

2. Turn Each Principle into Observable Habits
How does that principle show up in action?

Be specific. Ritualize it until it becomes second nature for your team.

3. Kill Off Redundant Rules
If your habits and principles are strong, most rules become irrelevant.

Rules are a tax on weak leadership. Build habits instead.

And if you need help navigating, reach out. I’ve been coaching top CEOs for years. I’m a straight-shooter, no nonsense. Just the best outcome for you.

The Strongest CEOs Live Their Principles

You can’t delegate culture.

You live it or you lose it.

After all, culture really = who you are on your worst day.

Start with principles. Scale with habits. Drop the rules.

What’s one habit your team sees you live every week? And what’s one rule you could toss today?

When you’re ready to discover your genius, here’s how I can help you:

1. 1:1 CEO Coaching. Schedule a no obligation first session to find your superpower, connect with your highest ROI activities, and succeed with less effort and stress.

2. 3:1 CEO Coaching. Embark on a transformative journey toward realizing your limitless capabilities, partnering with two other CEOs. Learn and grow together.

Go forth and scale,

— John Hittler