Every month, Tweetable Tips from @TheKaiZone brings you a quick-hit, high-impact lesson to improve your lean practice. The learning is short, sweet – and best of all – sharable! And if you find the tips to be useful, simply use the ‘”Click to Tweet” link within the post to share the learning with others!
Conventional wisdom tells us that, if we want to change what we do, we need to first change how we think about those things. It is a commonly held belief that our thoughts dictate our actions. Therefore, as Lean practitioners, we spend a great deal of time and energy attempting to influence the thinking of others in order to drive changes in their behaviors. The problem, as is often the case in the Lean world, is that conventional wisdom is wrong. Dead wrong.
Take for example, health behavior. We all know that we should eat healthy and exercise; but how well do these thoughts lead to changes in our behavior? Obviously, not as well as most of us would hope. According to the field of behavioral psychology, we are all subject to an “intention-behavior gap” that causes a significant discrepancy between what we intend to do and what we actually do. While the underlying causes of the intention-behavior gap are not fully understood, research has identified several factors that narrow the gap, creating a stronger correlation between our actions and our thinking.
Research suggests that we can close the intention-behavior gap by increasing self-efficacy (the extent to which we believe we can complete a task or achieve a goal) and through the planning and execution of our actions. In other words, behavior change occurs by believing that we can change, and then by simply taking planned action. In this model of behavior, the gap does not close because our thinking drives changes in our actions, it closes because the outcomes of our actions, relative to our expectations, changes our thinking.
Therefore, the next time you are tasked with driving change at an individual, team or organizational level, focus on creating the right actions, routines and habits in those affected, rather than by influencing the prevailing beliefs or thinking. And remember,
Joel,
I like your idea of “Tweetable Tips” very much.
Regarding this first tip’s topic, there is a great book by Richard Wiseman I can recommend. It is called “The As If Principle -The Radically New Approach to Changing Your Life” (older editions have the title “Rip it Up”). Here is what the Amazon summary says:
“Victorian philosopher William James had a theory about emotion and behavior: It isn’t that our feelings guide our actions (feel happy and you will laugh). On the contrary, it is our actions that guide our emotions (laugh and you will feel happy). This led James to a remarkable conclusion: “If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.” Roused by James’s astonishing discovery, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Richard Wiseman confirms James’s principle and shows how the self-help genre has for too long put the cart before the horse in trying to help us take control of our lives.”
Maybe you want to add it to your Lean Book Shop: http://www.amazon.com/The-As-If-Principle-Radically/dp/B00D57FHYY
Regards,
Jens
PS: I have done a review of the book in my blog as well – http://leanself.org/629/the-as-if-principle/
Jens – Thanks for the feedback, and for the book recommendation. I will absolutely be adding that one to the store. My first intuition was to first review it, but you have done the hard work for me. Great article. I feel as if I should have a catalog of your site, as there are so many gems on there!
I am constantly amazed at how pervasive the thinking is that if we think a certain way it will change our behaviors . . . not only because of the many studies to the contrary, but the never-ending examples from everyday life! Look inside yourself and you will see.
For years, I wanted to start a blog; I dreamed about writing and connecting with an audience for a VERY long time. Did that get me off of the couch and into the office chair? Nope. I struggled with my weight for quite some time, despite knowing that I should be exercising and eating better? Did that keep me from devouring a bowl of ice cream and an IPA before bed? Not even close. My intentions hardly ever drive changes in my behavior; my actions are what drive my actions. The only thing that has been successful at changing my behavior is committing to take action and establish productive routines and habits.
And in my experience, this principle holds for guiding change in other individuals, teams and entire organizations.