In our management consulting, the process of change is the hardest part of success. Implementing business systems, designing process or creating new strategies pale in comparison as far as the effort and challenge of helping people adopt new behaviors for the better.
In the new book, Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Dan and Chip Heath, the authors give concrete examples of how to effect change. One of the myths is that increasing knowledge is effective. Findings and experience have proven the opposite as Jerry Sternin, a person who affected malnutrition positively stated, “Knowledge does not change behavior. We have all encountered crazy shrinks and obese doctors and divorced marriage counselors.”
Change happens at a much more fundamental level. The Heath brothers state it succinctly,
“To change behavior, you’ve got to direct the Rider, motivate the Elephant and shape the Path.”
There are three elements that continue to pervade the book in story form. Concrete, highly emotional and directed convenience is the key. Otherwise, we operate out of our comfort zones and execute the same old scripts.
There are things we would like to see different in our business and life. Change management is the challenge to move towards this new reality. Post a comment on what challenges you are seeking to overcome in your business or life. I would love to hear some of your challenges and if they are changes I like, I’ll send a copy of the book to you as part of your strategy and approach.
Break the scripts and change your world. There is a method to the madness.
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Don,
This is a very timely article at this point in my life. I get it.
Thank you,
Martha Petru