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The 7 CLEAVER Habits

 

This text is an excerpt from the book At the Breakpoint: Managing your Mind when the Stakes are High, written by Montse Rovira and Jorge Calvo.

 

Rationality as a pillar of leadership

Leadership has traditionally been associated with charisma, bold decision-making, and the ability to inspire. While these traits are essential, they alone are not enough to cultivate rational leadership. From the perspective presented in this book, a rational leader makes sound decisions based on calm, logical, and reasoned analysis of the complex and interconnected reality we inhabit.

A rational leader must first lead themselves before leading others. They avoid being swayed by prejudice, uncontrolled emotions, or unfounded beliefs. Instead, they adopt a series of habits that embody critical thinking and informed decision-making. These habits are grounded in principles such as self-analysis, lifelong learning, the thoughtful filtering of ideas, and the deliberate integration of reason with emotion. If your goal is to become a truly exceptional rational leader, we invite you to adopt the 7 CLEAVER Habits. Let’s explore them one by one in the following order:

  1. Catch
  2. Lead
  3. Examine
  4. Acknowledge
  5. Verify
  6. Educate
  7. Reason

 

  1. CATCH your irrational beliefs (IB): You are not what you believe—you are the one who believes it

The first step is acknowledging that our beliefs are not always accurate reflections of reality. Irrational beliefs are often deeply embedded and typically fail logical scrutiny. They can stem from past experiences, cultural conditioning, or cognitive biases. Catching them means identifying, evaluating, and replacing them when they no longer serve us.

  • Identify irrational beliefs. This begins with introspection. Ask yourself: What do I automatically accept as true? What beliefs most influence my decisions and emotions? Where did these beliefs originate?

For example, a common irrational belief might be: “If I fail, I am a failure.” This belief falsely equates self-worth with success, overlooking the richness of the human experience.

  • Challenge and reevaluate. Once you’ve identified an irrational belief, interrogate it. Ask: What evidence supports this belief? Are there counterexamples that contradict it? Is this belief helpful for my personal or professional growth?

Replace IBs with reasoned, constructive beliefs. Rather than saying “If I fail, I am a failure,” you might adopt: “Failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.”

  1. LEAD your thoughts by putting them in quarantine

Rational leaders understand that not all thoughts deserve belief or attention. Some thoughts, like viruses, can be harmful. Quarantining your thoughts means paying close attention to the ideas that arise automatically, separating helpful insights from destructive noise, and choosing your responses consciously.

  • Recognize automatic thinking. The brain generates countless automatic thoughts—worries, self-criticism, unrealistic assumptions. View these as mental events, not as absolute truths.
  • Create a space for analysis. When a thought surfaces, don’t act on it impulsively. Instead, place it in a mental “quarantine box” for evaluation. Ask yourself: Is this thought realistic? Will it lead to constructive action? Is it rooted in facts or assumptions?

By managing thoughts in this way, you shift from impulsive reactions to strategic responses.

  1. EXAMINE and question all your beliefs

Exceptional leaders consistently question their assumptions. The strength of a belief lies in its ability to withstand scrutiny. Regularly examining your beliefs helps correct errors and enhances adaptability.

  • Use the Socratic method. Socratic thinking teaches us that wisdom begins with questioning. Ask: Why do I believe this? How did I arrive at this conclusion? What evidence could disprove it?
  • Practice intellectual detachment. Stay open to the idea that you could be wrong. This humility is a hallmark of wisdom. By detaching your identity from your beliefs, you become more receptive to new perspectives.
  1. AKNOWLEDGE, act, and acquire knowledge continuously

Continuous learning is a cornerstone of rational leadership. Leaders must acknowledge that growth is a constant process—gaining knowledge, developing skills, and accumulating experience. However, learning must always be followed by meaningful action.

  • First, acknowledge the value of a growth mindset. Embrace the belief that progress is the result of effort, and that each day offers a new opportunity to learn and improve. Recognizing this truth lays the foundation for continuous development.
  • Practice the cycle of learning and action. This involves three essential steps:
    1. Acknowledge – Recognize the importance of acquiring new knowledge or skills.
    2. Act – Apply what you’ve learned in real-world situations.
    3. Reflect – Assess the outcomes, acknowledging areas for improvement, and fine-tune your approach.

By incorporating «acknowledging» into each phase, this cycle ensures that learning is not just a theoretical exercise but a practical tool for growth. Every step is rooted in the act of recognizing what you know, what you still need to learn, and how to continuously improve.

  1. VERIFY that you cultivate common sense and scientific thinking

Both common sense and scientific thinking are vital tools for rational leadership. While common sense offers practical wisdom, scientific thinking provides a structured method to test and validate ideas objectively.

  • Use scientific thinking in decision-making. Apply elements of the scientific method to daily challenges. Develop hypotheses, gather and analyze data, and evaluate conclusions based on evidence.
  • Avoid cognitive biases. These mental shortcuts can distort judgment. Common biases include:
    • Confirmation bias – seeking only information that supports your beliefs
    • Anchoring effect – placing too much weight on the first piece of information
    • Availability bias – judging likelihoods based on information that’s easily recalled

Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential for clear-headed decision-making.

  1. EDUCATE your brain

Even in an era of rapid innovation, our brains still rely on ancient survival mechanisms. To lead rationally, we must train our “caveman brain” to respond effectively to modern challenges.

  • Recognize instinctive responses. Our primitive brain reacts quickly to perceived threats with fight, flight, or freeze. While these responses are useful in danger, they can hinder thoughtful leadership in non-threatening situations.
  • Reprogram your responses. Through conscious effort and regular reflection, you can retrain your mind. This includes calming the stress response with self-regulation techniques, replacing emotional reactivity with reasoned analysis, and developing self-control and resilience.
  1. REASON your emotions effectively: integrating reason and emotion

Being rational does not mean suppressing your emotions. Emotions are valuable sources of insight. When managed wisely, emotion and reason form a powerful partnership.

  • Understand emotions. Every emotion carries information. Anger might signal perceived injustice; anxiety could indicate risk. Rather than ignoring these feelings, use them as starting points for deeper inquiry.
  • Use rational intelligence. Rational emotional intelligence includes:
    • Emotional awareness – recognizing and understanding your feelings
    • Emotional management – regulating emotions constructively
    • Empathy – attuning to the emotions of others

When reason and emotion are integrated, decision-making becomes more balanced and human-centered.

Building an exceptional rational leader

Becoming a rational leader is a lifelong journey that requires commitment and intention. By identifying your irrational beliefs, leading your thoughts, examining assumptions, embracing continuous learning, applying scientific thinking, training your brain, and integrating your emotions, you evolve into a leader guided by reason.

Practice the 7 CLEAVER Habits. They will elevate your leadership capacity, deepen your personal growth, and help you navigate life’s complexity with clarity and purpose.