How do you know if you’re stuck on autopilot?

Megan Miller, founder of UNLEASHED Leadership, took the stage at the 2025 Women in Retail Leadership Summit to outline what being on autopilot as a leader — and as a woman — looks like, and how we can turn it off and focus on intentionality and alignment. There’s a few telltale signs of being stuck on autopilot, according to Miller:

  • You’re saying yes out of obligation, guilt or fear.
  • You’re waking up and immediately checking your phone.
  • You’re filling your calendar without checking in with yourself.
  • You’re mindlessly eating or scrolling.
  • You’re letting negative self-talk run wild without questioning it.

The antidote to autopilot, Miller says, is living with intentionality.

“Intentionality is the conscious choice to act in alignment with who you’re becoming, rather than reacting from who you’ve always been,” she said. Miller suggests using two simple tools when you’re feeling the pull of autopilot:

1. The 90-Second Shift

When you feel like every minute of your day is consumed by something and you don’t have time for anything else, Miller suggests asking yourself: Is that time filled with everyone else’s wants and needs? Then take 90 seconds to ask yourself if you’re saying “yes” to something out of alignment or out of autopilot.

2. The Identity Shift

According to Miller, autopilot is when you say to yourself, “What do they need from me?” The solution? Shifting the question to, “Who do I want to be right now?” With this question, Miller said you’re reframing your identity to be more present, more strategic, and a more effective leader.

These microtools create a ripple effect, enhancing personal and professional well-being, strengthening professional presence, and increasing team optimism.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) members can watch Miller’s full keynote on-demand now. Not a member? Apply today!