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In our series Behavior Change @ Work we dive into the science of behavior change and how it can transform your workplace. Our episodes are bite-sized and packed with actionable insights that you can implement right away!
#41
Which 3 ‘easy’ strategies can you use to promote a desired behavior?
Last spring Daniel Kahneman passed away, renowned psychologist, Nobel Prize laureate, and author of the bestseller Thinking, Fast and Slow. A few years ago we interviewed him during a seminar. Our main question was: How can you make behavioral change easier? His response was straightforward: “The easiest way to change people’s behavior is to change their environment.”
#40
How can you improve the impact of leadership training?
Every year, organizations around the world spend over 3 billion euros on leadership development training programs. And that does not even include spending at universities, with individual trainers and coaches, or the internal time and effort involved. Is it worth it?
#39
How do you set a truly motivating goal?
In general, goals influence motivation. But how can you set goals that are exceptionally motivating? Goals you cannot resist wanting to accomplish?
#38
How can generosity boost your influence?
Imagine receiving a Christmas card from someone you have never met and do not even know. Would you feel compelled to send one back? According to the rule of reciprocity, you might…
#37
How can you use the placebo effect in your work?
When people hear the word ‘placebo’, most of them think about fake pills that make you feel better. But research shows that the placebo effect also impacts our behavior, and consequently, our performance at work. Here are some examples, concerning tools, work methods, and encouragement.
#36
What is the single most important thing you can do to maximize your impact as a leader?
Imagine leading a team and having the opportunity to maximize their performance by improving just one condition. What would you focus on? Would you ensure that each team member:
#35
Could a simple checklist make change easier?
We recently spoke to someone who has had sailing as a hobby for years. Since he can only get out on the water for a few weeks each year, he made a checklist for himself. A little folder with a few important points you can easily forget. This way, he told us, he had already prevented many dangerous situations.
#34
How do temptations impact your motivation?
Nike wants us to believe that the key to change is simply to “Just Do It.” This implies that sheer willpower can overcome anything. But can it, really?
#33
How can you boost motivation for behaviors that make sense but are hard to do?
Broccoli or fries? Postpone a task or tackle it right away? Ask for help or muddle through yourself? We usually know what is wise, but often choose something else. How do you change that?
#32
Does having a say in your goals increase your motivation?
Traditionally, companies set goals in a top-down fashion, with upper management dictating objectives with little employee input. However, there is an alternative: participative goal setting.
#31
How long does it take to master a new skill?
Becoming a better presenter. Learning to use ChatGPT. Or getting fluent in Spanish. We regularly decide to develop new skills. However ...
#30
How can I increase my motivation to achieve a goal?
In this episode, we examine three ways to increase your motivation to achieve a goal. Summarizing, to boost motivation for your goals: 1. Set tough, yet achievable goals, 2. Break your goals into bite-sized chunks, 3. Set goals with a focus on learning, not just on performance.
#29
How should I formulate my goals?
What works better if you want to change something in the way you work? Should you describe the result you want to achieve? Or is it more effective to describe the behavior you need to get to that result? Researchers say: do both.
#28
What are our favorite insights from the past 27 episodes?
With the end of the year approaching, we use this this 28th episode of Behavior Change @ Work to revisit our favorite behavioral science insights. And we celebrate the launch of behaviorchangeatwork.com, a website that showcases all #BC@W episodes.
#27
How do you develop creative interventions?
Insights from behavioral science play an important role in developing interventions. That is what most of our posts are about. But developing an intervention also requires creativity. Therefore, behavioral scientists often use insights from design thinking.
#26
How to keep an overview when change is complex?
Are you navigating a complex change issue? With numerous stakeholders and interests at play, overseeing the issue can be tricky. To bring order to this chaos, we suggest to create a behavioral systems map. In short, a behavioral systems map is like a GPS for navigating complex change issues.
#25
The Art of Being Liked: What Makes New Colleagues Appreciate You?
When starting a new job or a new project and meeting new coworkers, what determines whether they like and appreciate you as a colleague? Sascha Krause and Michael Dufner from the University of Leipzig recently investigated how this works. They organized meetings between 139 adults who did not yet know each other.
#24
How long does it take to form a habit?
To get straight to the point: The popular belief that it takes 21 days to form a new habit is a myth. The 21-day myth originates from a misinterpretation of a quote from Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon.
#23
What are the i-frame and the s-frame and why are they essential for change professionals?
“Behave responsibly!” In many countries, there are government and corporate campaigns that encourage you to drink, eat, gamble, and invest your money responsibly. Also, people in many countries are encouraged to take personal action on climate change, pension, and health. Behavioral scientists have been concerned about these types of campaigns lately.
#22
How can behavioral science improve your workplace?
Behavioral science is a rapidly growing field with a wide range of applications. We use it to improve our understanding of everything from health and education to business and government. For example, Netflix uses behavioral science to personalize the next series it recommends you. How could this powerful science improve your workplace?
#21
Should you compare yourself with others to increase your motivation?
An analysis of facial expressions of Olympic medalists revealed that bronze medalists typically appear happier than silver medalists. This may be explained by silver medalists comparing themselves to gold medalists thinking “I could have won gold” … … whereas bronze medalists are more likely to compare themselves to a fourth place finisher with thoughts like “At least I won a medal”.
#20
What makes a person want to change?
People often think long before attempting to change. But what do they think about? According to the most frequently cited psychological theory on this subject, Icek Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior, and other theories on intended behavior change, three types of considerations come into play.
#19
Why facilitating progress is key to employee engagement?
Sometimes working feels just great. Especially when you feel that you are making progress. When you experience that something works and that a goal that you find valuable is getting closer and closer. That feeling, that's what Teresa Amabile's work is all about.
#18
Why is setting goals vital for behavior change?
Setting goals is fundamental to behavior change in various areas, including education, sports, health, and work. And that is why we have listed some of the most interesting and practical insights for you. Based on decades of research.
#17
How can you use defaults to aid decision making at work?
In 2003, the percentage of organ donors varied significantly across four neighboring European countries. What caused this dramatic difference?
#16
What surprising lessons can we learn today from a classic case study that is exactly half a century old?
Fifty years ago, in 1973, a now famous and classic case study of behavior change at work appeared in the journal Organizational Dynamics. It featured Emery Air Freight, which was one of the largest companies in worldwide air freight transportation from the 1940s through the 1980s.
#15
Could a simple technique like this help you to achieve your goals?
At work, formulating goals, targets and objectives is common practice. But, we all know that setting a goal is not sufficient to ensure goal achievement.
#14
How do you trigger action without forcing someone?
In the spring of 2000, a team of French social psychologists conducted a fascinating study (1). In a local shopping mall, the researchers approached a random selection of individuals and made a simple request: “Sorry, Madam, would you have some coins to take the bus, please?”
#13
Which levers should I pull to increase desired behavior?
This is a very frequently asked question: If I want to change behavior - my own or that of others - what should I do? Which factors determine behavior? What are the determinants? And which levers should I pull?
#12
How do you encourage the repetition of a behavior?
In everyday life, all actions have consequences. And the nature of these consequences can encourage repetition of the action… … or extinction.
#11
What are the two most important motivational factors in resistance to change?
Resistance to change can take many forms. For example: You think you cannot do it; You do not trust the change plan; You believe the process that was followed was unfair. But what is behind these seemingly different reasons?
#10
Can you grow without experiencing discomfort?
If you think like most people, you want to develop yourself. Yet, if you are like most people, you also know that the process of personal growth can be very uncomfortable.
#9
How can you make sure that behavioral routines are performed reliably?
If you order a cake from the local bakery... Or submit a request for advice to an international consultancy firm... Usually you receive your order. How is that possible? Why is it that organizations can respond reliably to all kinds of questions?
#8
How can I create a new habit in 2023?
Habits are hot! Especially around the turn of the year. Management literature is filled with lists of habits for a successful career and life, such as Stephen Covey’s bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. But, does our desire to create habits make sense? What does science say about habits?
#7
How can I become a better leader?
In the previous episode, we demonstrated that behavior change is at the heart of leadership. So, if you want to learn to become a better leader, you have to improve your daily routines. But, which routines should you develop?
#6
What is the relationship between leadership and behavior change?
Leadership is one of the most studied social phenomena in the workplace. Many people would also like to learn to become good, effective leaders. That is why this week's question is: what is the relationship between leadership and behavior and behavioral change?
#5
How do you select target behavior?
Suppose you and your team have set an important goal. For example, you aim to form stronger bonds among yourselves. What would then be the next step?
#4
Where does your behavior come from?
A very basic question this time. Before we start answering, let's first define 'behavior'. The dictionary of the American Psychological Association says behavior is: "an organism’s activities in response to external or internal stimuli"(1) When working on behavior change in the workplace, we focus on directly observable behavior. Psychologists call this 'overt behavior' (as opposed to 'covert behavior').
#3
Why bother about changing behavior?
John Kotter, the world-renowned expert in business, leadership, and change, put it like this: “The central issue is never strategy, structure, culture or systems. The core of the matter is always about changing the behavior of people.”
#2
How can I use 'consequences' to change behavior?
We know that our immediate environment influences our behavior to a large extent. But how does that work? How do my physical and social environment influence what I do? And how can I use 'consequences' in the working environment to change behavior?
#1
How can I use 'triggers' to change behavior?
Behavioral scientists agree that our immediate environment has a major influence on what we do. But how does that work? How does my environment influence my behavior? And how can I use 'triggers' in my working environment to change behavior?
