This blog aims to explore the significance of consistency, particularly in how it can amplify results through its compounding effects.
Consistency is crucial; it not only builds momentum and instills discipline but also reduces the dependency on willpower and motivation.
We've previously touched upon this concept in relation to decision-making. Here, we'll revisit and expand on the idea, illustrating how small, consistent actions significantly influence success.
The essence of this compounding effect lies in the fact that consistent efforts yield results that surpass the sum of our individual actions alone. In other words, the efforts you make today enhance the value of your efforts tomorrow. This enhancement occurs because our daily actions build momentum, influencing how future actions unfold.
Consider the practice of daily gratitude, which has been shown to be a powerful tool to leading a more fulfilled life. This practice's effectiveness is partly due to the compounding effect of its "daily" nature. When we consistently look back on our day to try to pinpoint and acknowledge moments of gratitude, our brain activates specific neurons and synapses.
Frequent utilization of these neural pathways strengthens them. Instead of just ignoring those moments while they are happening, our strengthened brain networks notice them, making them easier to recall at the end of the day. We begin to notice grateful moments as they occur, not just in retrospect. This heightened awareness, a direct result of consistent practice, makes our gratitude exercises both easier and more impactful.
Consider other areas in your life where a more consistent approach could be beneficial:
Employing a journal, like Brain/Shift, can support maintaining these consistent behaviors, aiding you in achieving your goals.
We're eager to hear your views on consistency and the ways you incorporate it into your life. Share your thoughts and practices with us.
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“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration. The rest of us just get up and go to work.” Stephen King
In general, we agree. However, we believe the question, “Which is better: consistency or inspiration?” presents a false dichotomy. It’s not a matter of choosing one over the other; both are integral to the journey of success.
Consistency is the bedrock of progress. It involves setting habits and routines, ensuring that you're continually working towards your goals. This is where tools like the Brain/Shift Journals come in, helping you to maintain daily focus on your objectives.
On the other side of the spectrum is inspiration – those moments of sudden clarity, creativity, and insight. Inspiration is often viewed as a sporadic and elusive force, but it plays a crucial role in propelling us forward in unique and innovative ways.
The key to harnessing the power of both consistency and inspiration lies in understanding how they complement each other. You can be consistent in your habits and routines, ensuring that you are working on your goal or task every day (which the Brain/Shift Journals can help you with), but also be open and fostering moments of inspiration. In fact, this is a key aspect of the consistency focus. When we are working on our goal, however small that work is, we are priming our brains to focus on it.
]]>You're fueled by the fresh energy of the New Year, setting ambitious resolutions with a determined spirit. But as weeks pass, the enthusiasm wanes. This scenario is all too common. In fact, a staggering 91% of Americans fail to stick to their New Year's resolutions for the entire year, and only a mere 6% achieve long-term life changes. This drop-off isn't due to lack of desire but often because of the way goals are set and pursued.
It's common for New Year's resolutions to start faltering after the first few weeks. The reasons are manifold:
For those who are constantly seeking to maximize their potential and employ every hack in the book to achieve success, understanding the psychology behind resolution adherence is crucial. Here's how you can defy the odds:
To keep your New Year’s resolutions strong throughout the year, consider the following tips:
Understanding the behavioral science behind why resolutions often dissolve by spring is the first step in creating a more successful path to achieving your goals. Armed with this knowledge, we can better incorporate the correct strategies and tips to remain focused and motivated. Wishing you all success in achieving your goals and not falling into the 91% of those who fail!
Sources:
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As we welcome a new year, many of us are filled with the determination to make it 'our year.' We set ambitious New Year's resolutions, brimming with optimism. Yet, all too often, these resolutions fail, not because of a lack of desire, but due to the absence of a structured plan and system to make it happen. The key to turning these aspirations into achievements lies in adopting a more systematic approach: enter the realm of keystone goals, daily journals, and goal tracking calendars.
For more on Keystone Goals, see here: Keystone Goals
A daily journal is a powerful tool for self-reflection and staying on track. It serves as a daily compass, guiding you towards your goals while allowing space for introspection and course correction. A guided journal that helps you tackle the toughest goals that you have is even better. By creating a system of daily reflection and action planning, you are able to consistently build towards achieving your keystone goals.
A goal tracking calendar is a visual representation of your progress. It’s a simple yet effective tool for maintaining momentum and accountability.
Implementing a Goal Tracking Calendar:
Setting up these systems – keystone goals, daily journaling, and tracking calendars – is more than just a planning exercise. It’s about creating an ecosystem that nurtures continuous motivation. When motivation wanes, as it inevitably will, these systems act as safety nets, keeping you aligned with your objectives.
Embarking on a new year with just a set of resolutions is like setting sail without a map. Keystone goals, daily journaling, and goal tracking calendars provide that map. They transform aspirations into tangible plans, paving the way for a year of growth and achievement. Remember, success in any venture isn't just about the destination; it's equally about the journey – a journey well planned and thoughtfully navigated.
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The Fresh Start Effect is important because motivation can be hard to come by. Life is busy and full of distractions. Sometimes you might lose focus on what you really want to achieve. The Fresh Start Effect can give you that extra push. It's like a natural energy boost for your willpower.
Identify Fresh Start Moments: These could be big things like New Year's Day or your birthday, or smaller things like the beginning of a new month or even a Monday. Recognize these as opportunities for a fresh start and use them to help you achieve your goals.
Plan: Figure out the steps you need to take to reach your goal. If it's a grade you're after, maybe that means setting aside time every day for homework and study. Using a tool to help you figure out the plan and the steps to the plan can be very helpful.
Take Action: Once your fresh start moment arrives, jump in! Start working toward your goal right away.
Track Your Progress: Keep a record of how you're doing. Celebrate small wins, and if you slip up, don't get discouraged. Remember, there's always another fresh start moment around the corner.
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Starting the year on a positive and energetic note is crucial as it establishes a foundation of momentum that can propel us through the subsequent months. This phenomenon is rooted in the psychological principle of the 'flywheel effect,' where initial successes create a self-reinforcing cycle of positive behavior and outcomes.
A fast start acts as a catalyst, boosting confidence and setting a precedent for achievement. It psychologically programs our mindset towards success, making us more resilient to challenges and more likely to maintain a positive outlook. This early momentum can effectively transform our aspirations into tangible actions, creating a domino effect that impacts various aspects of our lives. By capitalizing on the initial surge of motivation common at the beginning of the year, we can build a robust framework for sustained effort and continuous improvement, setting the stage for a year characterized not just by ambitions, but by actual accomplishments.
Starting the year strong is not just about setting resolutions; it’s about strategically leveraging psychological and behavioral principles to set the stage for a year of growth and achievement. By understanding the science behind motivation and habit formation, one can effectively navigate the challenges of maintaining momentum beyond the initial enthusiasm of the new year.
]]>The compounding effect of such consistency is a testament to the idea that small, repeated actions can result in outcomes that are greater than the sum of their individual parts. This concept is akin to the proverbial "snowball effect," where a tiny snowball rolling down a hill gathers more snow with each turn, growing into a massive snow boulder by the end of its journey. Similarly, when individuals commit to consistent, daily actions, they set in motion a powerful force that leads to remarkable improvements in their lives.
Whether it's regular exercise, daily learning, or professional development, consistent actions ensure that skills are honed, knowledge accumulates, and progress is made over time. This leads to a noticeable and sustained enhancement in performance. The small steps taken each day may not appear substantial on their own, but they contribute to a larger, continuous trajectory of growth.
Furthermore, the compounding effect of consistent daily actions is not limited to tangible improvements alone; it extends to one's overall well-being. Regular self-care practices, such as meditation, mindfulness, or maintaining a balanced diet, can significantly impact mental and physical health. The daily repetition of these activities fosters resilience, emotional stability, and physical vitality. Over time, this leads to a state of well-being that is more profound and enduring than sporadic efforts could ever achieve.
For instance, if someone's keystone goal is to become a published author, setting aside time every day to write, even if it's just a few hundred words, will lead to the completion of a book over time. The daily progress may seem incremental, but it steadily accumulates, and as one chapter follows another, a finished manuscript emerges. This is akin to earning compound interest on an initial investment, as the value of consistent effort compounds, ultimately leading to the achievement of the keystone goal.
When actions become routine, they require less conscious effort, freeing up mental and emotional resources for greater accomplishments and self-improvement. The cumulative effects of consistent, daily actions have a way of amplifying each other, resulting in exponential growth. This long-term value transcends the sum of the individual actions, creating a life that is not just improved, but transformed for the better.
Whether it's in career aspirations, personal growth, or any other area of life, consistency is the key to unlocking the long-term value that transcends the sum of daily actions and ensures the realization of one's most cherished objectives.
]]>Keystone goals are aspirational goals, that when achieved positively impact other areas of your life. Some people might call these BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) or North Star Goals – but whatever you call them, when properly set, they can be powerful motivators that are critical to long-term success.
Identifying your keystone goal is a pivotal step in your journey to your development and ultimate success. Keystone goals can have a profound significance in shaping the trajectory of your life. Here's why pinpointing your keystone goal is so crucial and what it can do for you:
Keystone goals serve as a dynamic catalyst for motivation. They have the power to ignite your intrinsic, inner drive and keep it burning brightly. When you have a clear, compelling objective that resonates with your core values and long-term vision, you're more likely to stay committed and motivated, even when faced with challenges. This enduring motivation becomes the driving force behind your actions and decisions.
Keystone goals are distinct from ordinary goals in that they set the stage for continuous achievement. They aren't just about winning small battles; they're about winning the war. Once you identify and achieve a keystone goal, it paves the way for the pursuit of new goals and further success. It's like a stepping stone to your ultimate vision, helping you progress consistently and in the right direction.
Identifying your keystone goal sharpens your focus and provides clarity – each and every day. It enables you to filter out the noise and distractions, making it easier to prioritize your time and efforts. This precision in goal setting helps you make decisions that are in alignment with your objectives, thereby reducing the chances of aimless wandering and wasted energy.
Having keystone goals are like setting the compass for your life's journey. It ensures you're headed in the right direction and provides you with the motivation to keep moving forward.
]]>Picture your goals as a treasure map, leading you to the riches of success. However, with an abundance of destinations, how do you decide which path to follow? The process of identifying your key goals can indeed be a daunting task, often leading to frustration and overwhelm.
So, what's the solution? It's all about having a clear plan and a well-defined process to uncover the goals that will truly shape your journey. Here's how:
Start with Your Values: Reflect on your core values and principles. What truly matters to you? Your key goals should align with these values, ensuring that your pursuit is authentic and meaningful.
Break It Down: Avoid feeling overwhelmed by breaking down your long-term goals into smaller, manageable steps. These smaller milestones serve as the building blocks to your larger objectives. Using a tool, such as a journal or goal sheet, can be very helpful in ensuring that this process is done correctly.
Prioritize: Not all goals are created equal. Prioritize them based on their importance and impact. Focus on the goals that will bring about significant positive changes in your life. We typically refer to these key, life altering goals, as Keystone Goals.
Stay Adaptable: Your goals aren't etched in stone. Life is dynamic, and your objectives may need adjustments along the way. Be open to reassessing and adapting your goals as circumstances change. Having a process for reflecting on your goals and performance against those goals, is an important part of making adjustments and adapting goals to ensure they fit your life.
Celebrate Achievements: Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. This positive reinforcement will keep you motivated and committed to your journey. Too often, we skip this part and just keep plugging away. Celebration is vital to keep us engaged and motivated.
Stay True to Your Passion: Your key goals should be driven by your passion and enthusiasm. When your heart is in it, your chances of success soar.
In a world teeming with boundless opportunities, identifying your key goals can serve as your compass, steering you towards a more meaningful and successful life. The journey might not always be straightforward, but with a plan and a process, you can transform your aspirations into achievements, one goal at a time.
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Mark H. had already written a book, so he was a bit flustered when he found himself stuck during his second writing endeavor. His co-author was growing increasingly anxious as it appeared that Mark was not fully contributing, and their looming deadline seemed destined to be missed.
That’s when Mark was introduced to The Brain/Shift Journal.
Mark used Brain/Shift not only to help focus him on a daily writing routine, but also to help him take some calculated risks and to say “no” to some other non-priority things that he would have typically said yes to. Using the keystone goals and the weekly planning process, Mark not only successfully completed the second book but also embarked on the development of a third one.
Ann B. needed to find some balance in her life. Work had become all encompassing, and while she loved it, she knew that it would burn her out if she didn’t do something to make a change. Ann used The Brain/Shift Journal to set aside time for herself and focus on her family each week. It was a practice of not letting the immediate needs and desires of work overpower the larger keystone goal of balance and family. She stated, “I love it. Using this just helps me keep perspective when everyone is pushing me for more, more, more…”
Rick R. had set a New Years resolution that just wasn’t working. After getting The Brain/Shift Journal however, Rick stated, “I had a new year's resolution to develop a meditation practice that didn't stick, in part because I wanted something more tangible. This journal is that tangible opportunity that I needed to move the needle in my habits and be more mindful. It's honestly one of my favorite parts of the day, to challenge myself and be more thoughtful on how I want to show up today."
Each of these people successfully used The Brain/Shift Journal to move forward and disrupt their status quo. But these are only a small sampling of the many ways that you could use this journal. Other ideas for how to use Brain/Shift to drive success:
There are so many different ways to use The Brain/Shift Journal to improve your life. What will you use if for?
UPDATE: We have just released Volume 2 of The Brain/Shift Journal series which focuses on decision making! Updated with new and improved planning processes and reflection sections – our newest journal will help you make better decisions and improve your life!
]]>While this traditional form of journaling is excellent for recording life events and self-reflection, there exists a different breed of journaling, one rooted in science, capable of catalyzing profound change in one's life.
Guided journaling, as it's often called, harnesses the psychology of human motivation, stress reduction, cognitive focus, and self-confidence, offering a structured approach to personal development.
Journaling can be a potent tool because it taps into some of our innate psychological drives. By prompting specific questions, the journaling process, it offers the following benefits:
As a result of tapping into these psychological processes, journaling helps individuals to improve their performance. This is achieved partially because of the following:
Daily journaling is a transformative practice, particularly when it's aligned with keystone goals, monthly objectives, and daily targets. This structured approach enhances goal clarity, accountability, progress tracking, and time management. Moreover, the psychological components of motivation, cognitive focus, stress reduction, self-confidence, and emotional resilience further contribute to the practice's power.
By integrating daily journaling into their routines, individuals can ensure that each day is a deliberate step toward their keystone goals, the key to their long-term success. This practice is a valuable asset in both business and personal growth, providing a structured pathway to realize one's vision and mission.
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“I was stuck. This unstuck me.” Sonia Friedrich
This type of journaling is different than narrative journaling in that it is designed to help the person journaling achieve a specified goal or outcome as opposed to self-expression or capturing the story of their life. This type of journaling encourages goal setting, self-monitoring, increased focus, and behavior stacking, making it an invaluable tool for enhancing productivity and well-being.
Research has shown that daily journaling can help people overcome procrastination, have better subjective well-being, feel reduced stress, keep commitments and be a tool that helps them achieve their goals.* The literature is clear, that journaling is on the whole, beneficial.
This research has typically be done with free form or very loosely structured journals. We believe that the power of journaling can be even more impactful if the journal design itself is built on solid scientific principles.
The following article explores how journals that are structured using a cascade approach to achieving goals, can provide even more benefits and truly be a tool of change in people’s lives.
We look at the power of daily journaling, emphasizing building a structure that drives goal completion by starting with keystone goals, breaking those into monthly objectives, and then setting weekly and daily actions to achieve them.
To tap into the power of daily journaling, t's essential to start with a clear understanding of the key objectives and goals that you want to achieve. Keystone goals are overarching, high-impact objectives that define the direction and purpose of one's life or business.
These goals serve as the foundation upon which the monthly, weekly, and daily objectives are built. Keystone goals should be aligned with one's long-term vision and mission, and they set the trajectory for growth and success.
To operationalize keystone goals, individuals should set monthly objectives. Monthly objectives serve as the stepping-stones toward keystone goal attainment. These objectives provide the necessary structure and milestones to keep individuals on track. Breaking down the larger keystone goals into more bite-sized pieces has been shown to aid in motivation and goal completion.
The key here is to ensure that the monthly objectives are aligned with the larger purpose and that they drive to those goals success.
The real power that comes from this journaling structure is in the weekly planning and daily action aspects of the process. Journals that furnish individuals with a systematic method for mapping out their week, identifying essential actions to be executed, and facilitating the monitoring of progress have proven to be very powerful in driving change. This is where a daily journal is different than mere action planning. A journal provides a more fluid process that can shift, and change based on an individual's schedule and environment. The routine of planning and reflecting everyday encourages monitoring and updating plans to adjust to changing situations and contexts.
Daily journals that incorporate specific prompts to get people to think about what they are focusing on, what they could do differently, why this is important, what could impede their progress and how they are feeling about it help to ensure that goals are not just relegated as an exercise done at the beginning of a quarter and soon forgotten.
Daily journaling is a potent tool that, when anchored in a strategic framework of keystone goals, monthly objectives, and daily actions, can be a catalyst for profound personal and professional transformation. This structured approach empowers individuals to make steady progress toward their desired outcomes and ensures that their goals remain at the forefront of their daily lives, constantly driving them toward success.
*Dimitroff, Sliwoski, O’Brien, Nichols (2016). Change your life through journaling – the benefits of journaling for registered nurses. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice
Hensley, L., (2019). The power of writing about procrastination: journaling as a tool for change. Journal of Further and Higher Education.
Newman, K., (2022). How journaling can help you in hard times.
Hiemstra, R., (2002). Uses and benefits of Journal writing. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education.
]]>We are often driven to take on new goals following a significant moment - the new year, the start of the month, a Monday, or our birthday to name a few.
We ALSO tend to get a motivational boost on our existing goals when these events occur and can use them to keep us on track.
To increase your motivation for a new goal or project, initiate it at an important milestone (i.e., fresh tart event). To increase motivation on an existing goal, use these fresh start events as a conscious and intentional personal reset button.
Natural fresh start events occur year-round, BUT we can also create our own to boost motivation. Struggling to finish that project you have been working on? Set a milestone that occurs right after your next vacation. Losing motivation on weight loss? Introduce a new process or try a new tool to shake things up. Looking to build a new habit? Start on the first of the month.
Cheers to fresh starts.
]]>She went online in search of it and found an elegantly designed journal with millions of sales and thousands of positive reviews. She ordered it and started using it every day. The opening pages were filled with insightful explanations into the power of gratitude, the power of journaling, and much more.
She was excited. She dove in and used it daily.
But after a few weeks I noticed it was sitting in a corner, no longer being used. Although she really enjoyed it at first, her journaling went from daily to intermittent to none. I asked her what had changed, and she said, “it’s always the same, it was great at first, but I can’t answer the same three questions every day forever”.
A few weeks later in one of our team meetings I brought it up for discussion. We had started 100 Behaviors as a vessel to merge the academic with the practical and to create products that could help people build better habits, achieve goals, and improve their lives. We had been yearning to create something deep and meaningful and here was our opportunity.
There were so many ideas bottled up inside us from both our consulting work at The Lantern Group and the hundreds of interviews we have conducted with researchers and practitioners around the world at Behavioral Grooves. We were sitting on a wealth of research that could bring the positive powers of behavioral science to the mainstream consumer world – we just needed that spark, and here it was.
We realized there was a gap in the market – while there were countless personal journals out there, almost all of them follow similar patterns. They offer catchy names and some upfront insights before leading into empty repetition with little challenges or barriers for goal achievement and real meaningful change.
We aimed to “remove the fluff” and pull down the barriers – to reduce the friction that often inhibits goal adherence and success.
We did some market research to see if it already existed and, to our knowledge, it didn’t. So, we jumped in headfirst and started brainstorming, writing, and designing. We quickly realized that one of the reasons almost every other journal repeats daily is because… that’s a lot less content you need create.
But we were committed to doing it right even if it was a bigger bite to chew than we anticipated. While there can be power in repetition (e.g., the mere exposure effect), if it is inhibiting long-term adherence then it’s not getting the job done. To achieve what we hoped for, it meant that each day and each week had to provide something unique and interesting, something actionable and scientific, and it needed to be both embedded with and backed by science.
After many, many months, and LOTS of iterations we finally landed on a direction – a weekly guided journal that isn’t just a journal, it’s a journey - a journey that starts with setting goals and then hands you the tools to incrementally work toward achieving those goals while coaching you through the process of doing so. A journal designed by behavioral scientists, that taps into your underlying human drives, biases, habits, and behaviors to help you reach your goals and achieve your dreams.
A journal that utilizes psychological principles including priming, goal-activation, commitment devices, habit formation, and gratitude. A resource to break out of the status quo and jump into the driver's seat to your future success.
And now - after countless hours of research, meetings, writing and creative sessions, late nights and “what are we doings?”, pilot studies, fulfillment challenges, re-brands, re-designs, and re-writes, we finally got it right!
Dive in and you will harness the power of behavioral science to improve your life in just 5-minutes a day.
"Brain/Shift is the tool that I needed but didn’t know existed! I’ve used planners and journals for years – but this one is different - it makes it so easy to focus on the things that are important." ~ Tim H., Charlotte, NC
“I love the focus on proven behavioral insights to gently guide you through your own personal goals. Brain/Shift is a fresh, new approach to working towards your long-term wellbeing!” ~ Mary K., London, UK
“I love that it Brain/Shift teaches me Behavioral Science while setting and achieving my goals. The journal is a great tool to help me to identify my goals and the simple daily action steps needed to drive me toward achieving those goals!” ~ Dean S., Minneapolis, MN
“In short, I love this journal. I had a new year's resolution to develop a meditation practice that didn't stick, in part because I wanted something more tangible. This journal is that tangible opportunity that I needed to move the needle in my habits and be more mindful. It's honestly one of my favorite parts of the day, to challenge myself and be more thoughtful on how I want to show up today.” ~ Richard R., Minneapolis, MN
"I love how this journal not only allows me to express my thoughts in varying ways (writing, drawing, doodling, etc), but also challenges me to think differently. The thought provoking cues, quotes and questions encourage me to think outside the box in a way I normally wouldn’t. After 2 weeks of use, I already can feel a positive difference in my everyday outlook & mood, and I look forward to writing in it every morning." ~ Lauren S., Boulder, CO
]]>This behavior can be either positive or negative. This was detailed in Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit and is a powerful way to understand how habits form.
To start or change a habit, it is easier to maintain the same cue and replace the current behavior with anew behavior. For instance, if your habit is smoking a cigarette after your lunch, replace the cigarette with chewing a piece of gum.
Changing your habits can change your life and the habit loop holds the key to making that happen.
The kids are arguing in the background… something about whose turn it was to take out the dog. Looking around the kitchen, she notices that the dishes from last night’s dinner are still in the sink, unwashed. In fact, the whole house is a mess, clothes lying where the kids dropped them, the half-done puzzle pieces litter the table, dirt tracks from the dog across the floor, mail is strewn about the countertop, unopened. The only part of the house that is reasonably orderly, she realizes, is the part right behind her, the part that is seen in the background of her Zoom calls.
She frowns.
Caroline looks back at the e-mail and reads it again, “Caroline, Hi! Can you give me a call this morning before 11:00? I just got the sales reports in and I need to talk to you about your numbers. ~ Ramona.”
She sighs; her mind is racing, “I know my numbers are off this quarter, but damnit, things are chaotic right now. How can she expect me to keep up the same pace that we had before?” Caroline’s heart is racing, and her stomach is twisted into knots. She hasn’t slept well for the past few months and wakes up wondering, “What happens if I lose this job? How will we make it?”
She takes a deep breath and starts to reach for the phone but stops, and just stares blankly out the window, leaving the phone untouched on the table…
Handling this new workplace and the stress it puts on your employees requires a new approach to leadership. It requires Leading Human™.
Leading Human means leading with humility, self-awareness, and a desire for purposeful growth. We are in a time of unprecedented change and transition in business.
Employees who feel happy and purposeful at work demonstrate higher productivity, increased motivation, and greater feelings of organizational alignment. In the past, we might have perceived the costs of a non-inclusive leader as negligible; in the wake of a global pandemic and unprecedented lifestyle impacts, we have seen firsthand the real difference thoughtful leadership makes, not just in the short term, but also for the reputation and performance of the company in the long term.
Even during times of crisis, organizations need to be productive and motivated, or output will suffer. It is humans who develop and produce vaccines, who diagnose and treat diseases, who debug the software we rely on to communicate virtually.
Leading Human helps leaders who manage teams understand how to generate the behaviors that lead to higher productivity, increased motivation, and loyalty. It brings the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary for you to implement a more human-centered workplace that can drive improved performance and employee satisfaction – all backed by the latest insights from behavioral science.
Luckily, we have partnered with the Behavioral Grooves Podcast created to develop a playbook for that very purpose, we hope to empower you as a leader and enable you to channel your best, most authentic leadership —a key step in the new workplace environment to optimize your team’s well-being and success
The Leading Human Playbook is an 84-page comprehensive guide to building a positive workplace that deals effectively with today’s anxieties and stresses. The companion Leading Human Workbook takes the science-backed insights detailed within the playbook and allows today’s forward-thinking leaders and organizations to turn those insights into action.
Backed by leading experts in the fields of Behavioral Science and Behavioral Economics, Leading Human was created in response to the wholesale changes and disruptions we have all experienced this past year. This roadmap outlines the key steps organizations and leaders must take in order to come back to work successfully and compete in the new world.
Leading Human™ goes beyond just the re-entry from the pandemic and impacts the core of how work will happen in the future. These changes mean that we need to shift the way we lead. Thus, we need to not only understand the stress and emotional factors that our employees face, but we also need to address those factors head-on, creating a more welcoming and safer workplace, develop leadership routines that account for employee emotions, and enhance our leadership communication skills.
Our work with experts in human dynamics and our own expertise in this field allowed us to gather key behavioral insights into an actionable toolkit for managers. Leading Human™ focuses on four key areas that leaders can work on to help drive a successful transition. Our work has shown that Creating Psychological Safety, Building a Team Charter, Implementing Human-Centered Routines, and Charting a Clear Path Forward can make a significant difference in employees’ emotional connection to the company and successful re-entry. The book guides managers through specific rationale on each of those key areas and gives them specific tools to implement some of the ideas.
A collective 40+ years of working with organizations to apply behavioral science for increased performance went into creating these resources. Don’t get left behind in today’s hyper-competitive world –grab your copy here.
]]>We think we know what is best for us. Often, we even assume that we KNOW what is best for us. The funny thing is our behaviors do not always align with what’s best. Back in the day when traveling was ok, we weren't worried about a global pandemic, and I spent as much time as possible trying to hop a flight to wherever I could... I observed an interesting example of the irrationality of human behavior while traveling through Denver International Airport on the way to meet a client.
Before we get into that though, let’s start with a quick question.
I would get in the short, as I am betting you would too. Who wants to waste time waiting in line?
Now let’s throw a wrench in the gears – the longer line is the VIP line. You paid $180 to be in it and it’s the line you jump right into every time you get here. You also get to avoid a few fairly quick and relatively simple task that your counterparts in the short line must do. Keep in mind, the short line will still get you to your destination in less time even after completing these task – maybe as much as two times quicker.
Which line do you get in now? Probably still the faster one.
Typically, upon arriving at the airport I run into a decent line to get through security. It’s the annoying but unavoidable ritual of travel that stands between me and the pre-flight beer that will make my middle seat less miserable. Admittedly, yes, I should have woken up at 3:25 am to check in, but at the time my seat choice did not seem as valuable as sleep. I am a victim of my own time discounting. Our present self fails to accurately predict the preferences of our future self and we at times value the ‘here and now’ over the future - even if it’s not worth more.
Usually when I am standing in line, I glance up from my boredom based social media surfing and see a smaller group of people whisking past security: shoes on, no wait. I make a mental note to sign up for TSA pre-check, global entry, or CLEAR).
Inevitably I forget to act on my mental note and end up in the same spot a few weeks later, lamenting my negligence.
As I walk into the airport for this trip however, I am confronted with a far different experience. The line for the CLEAR program is long. Rounding the corner, I dread the security line I am about to see in my usual line amongst my fellow commoners. To my pleasant surprise I find that it is almost non-existent. Surely, I must be tired and mixing up my lines?
So here I stand, looking at an almost empty security line and a significantly backed up CLEAR line. I can’t help but wonder “why”?
I have never used CLEAR but from my research it appears that, unlike TSA Precheck, you are still required to go through regular security (e.g. remove shoes, laptops etc.). The difference appears to be that instead of waiting in line for the in-person ID and ticket check, you simply go through a fingerprint scan and then jump the line directly into the TSA screening.
So, with that said, why would one wait in a longer line so they can “jump” the shorter line? Here are my conjectures:
We ascribe greater value to things that we own. CLEAR is a program that you pay for, it costs $179 per year to become a member - this purchase prescribes ownership. Subconsciously there is an “I paid for it I need to use it” attitude that drives the behavior of jumping right into the longer line.
Because of this the user neglects to weigh the ACTUAL value of the investment with the time that would be saved by hopping into the regular line. This leads to my next point.
We easily prescribe value to things, but we have a difficult time accurately examining that same value in everyday time (unless of course we are billing and invoicing). Imagine the CLEAR line is primarily made up of frequent business travelers. If the line for CLEAR is 20 minutes and normal line is 5 minutes, then that makes a difference of 15 minutes (or .25 hours). let’s look at a few scenarios.
Typically, professionals bill by the quarter hour, so the above is the value that each of them would prescribe for that additional 15 minutes of time waiting in the CLEAR line in another environment. For the Lawyer, if that happens 2.4 times per year, then that time is the equivalent of what they paid for the program to begin with.
We are habitual creatures. Charles Duhigg introduced us to the idea of the habit loop “Cue -> Routine -> Reward”. The idea is that when we come upon a specific cue, our brain automatically reverts to a routine that then provides a reward. This inevitably feeds the process, validating the cue and routine for the next go around. This loop clouds our ability to reassess that routine and break the cycle or act differently upon encountering that cue.
Could the CLEAR line be this routine? The cue is entering the airport, the user sees the CLEAR sign and automatically walks up and enters the line, engaging in the routine. The user neglects to even assess that the normal security line is shorter because this the habit takes over. The user goes through the line, is rewarded by the CLEAR agent who escorts them to the front of the screening area and is blissfully satisfied without ever recognizing that, in this case, they would have benefited from breaking that habit. Every time they get to this fork in the road they step into it without thinking. Its automatic.
This article was originally published on our partner blog "Behavior Matters". It has been modified slightly.
]]>The self-assessment below combines 30+ years of collective experience in behavioral science to help you determine which of our top 40 books will be the most beneficial to you. Take it now and start (or continue) learning!
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]]>Human behavior is at the center of everything we do. It permeates our work, our social networks, and our lives in general. However, we often overlook the nuances of behavior and make decisions as if ourselves and those around us are statistical machines.
As Rory Sutherland, the Vice Chairman of the Ogilvy Group, says, “Humans don’t understand humans. We think we understand them, but in reality, we do a pretty poor job at it.” This is also true for our understanding of ourselves – the decisions we make and the invisible influences behind them.
Here is a story that highlights this point: a few years back I met a waiter in Jackson, WY, who likes to play a game. On his way home from work, he pulls his car over, steps out, and puts his hand over his eyes like a visor while pointing toward the horizon. Almost immediately, a mob of cars ensues. People jump out to frantically stare at an empty field while he quietly hops back in his car and heads home with a smirk.
This is social proof at work, albeit mischievously. Social proof is the idea that we looking to others to understand how to behave in a given situation, especially when that situation is unfamiliar.
Often in this area, people stop because there are bison, and a line of cars means a shot at viewing them. The rational thing to do is to hop out and take a quick look. If there are no bison, hop back in and keep going. Yet, even with an empty field, people linger for a long time, assuming they are missing something because others are there.
Humans tend to mimic the behavior of others. We are also terrified of loss. It is less painful to wait and see nothing than it is to leave and think we missed the opportunity to see the bison.
Ask yourself, how often in life are you or your business stopping in “fake bison traffic”?
By taking the time to understand the intricacies as individuals, we can better recognize our rational and irrational selves. We can make better decisions and genuinely live happier, more intentional, and more successful lives.
Additionally, when businesses make the investment in understanding behavioral science, they can build stronger workforces, increase motivation, improve the health and wellbeing of the company, and thrive.
Commit to learning and you will find the real bison (or at least stop wasting time looking for bison that aren’t there).
Each of those decisions is subject to a plethora of biases, emotional reactions, and outside influences that determine the outcome. Concepts like resulting, confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, hot and cold effective states and more all play into these outcomes. Often, we fail to recognize if a decision was positive or negative even after the fact which can leave us blind to repeating past failures. Nobody wants that!
That's why we created a quick and actionable decisions guide that can help you improve the quality of your decisions. It dives into four commons biases and influence that impact your decisions and incorporates 3 actionable tools that you can start using now to improve decisions both small and life changing.
Improving the quality of our decisions is paramount to enhancing our lives. Isn't it time you decide deeper? Click here to grab "Decide Deeper - A Behavioral Decision Guide" now and start improving your outcomes, one decisions at a time.
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For example, “It was his habit to wake up at six every morning” is easily replaced with “It was his routine to wake up at six every morning.”
For purposes of this article, however, each term has a specific meaning. Habit is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.” Whereas they define routine as “a regular course of procedure.” The distinction is important.
When we use the term habit, we will use it in the sense that it is an action that is a nearly automatic response that happens mostly out of our conscious control.
When we talk about routines, we are talking about actions that are undertaken consistently and consistent process, but that still requires a modicum of conscious effort.
These cues make it easier for us to consistently do a behavior or respond in a set manner. However, it is the unconscious versus conscious element that separates habits from routines.
Habits are an automatic response; when the cue happens our behavior or thoughts are involuntarily triggered. If we don’t consciously intercede in the process, that behavior or thought will come automatically. Routines have an extra step involved, which is a conscious choice between the cue and the behavior or thought. When the cue happens, we get an urge and a standard method for satisfying that urge, but we must actively make a conscious decision on if we are going to do that action. This little difference is vital as it plays a significant role in how we leverage each of these psychological constructs.
Let’s look at waking up at six every morning again to explore this difference. In this case, we assume that the trigger for getting up is an alarm. Think about two different people, one of them when the alarm goes off, reaches over hits the off button and rolls out of bed automatically, maybe doing a stretch or two, before launching into their morning. For this first person, waking up at six is a habit. The second person is a bit different when the alarm goes off for them, they moan, they are thinking about how tired they are and what they need to do that day. In their tired head, they think can I sleep for 10 more minutes or do I just force myself to get up. Their hand reaches for either the off button or the snooze – but it is a choice that they are making. For this person, waking up at six is a routine.
Routines are easier to start but also easier to break.
We recommend reading The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and Atomic Habits by James Clear for amazing insights on how habits and routines can impact your life.
This article was originally published on our partner blog "Behavior Matters"
]]>Unfortunately, the above vision by Adams is often not realized. Group identity, social proof, voter access, and a plethora of underlying behavioral influences tend to guide our voting behavior – often without our permission.
A 2018 article in the Washington Post by Kwame Anthony Appiah titled: “People don't vote for what they want. They vote for who they are.” examined a study by Professor and Researcher Lilliana Mason that explored how, often, we don’t vote for what we want, we vote for who we perceive ourselves to be.
As we look ahead to the recent election here in the states, and the growing political polarization we are experiencing, it’s important to recognize that this is also a global issue that is experienced to varying degrees in countries around the world. There are a lot of conversations on the table right now about making behavioral science and resulting, decision science, more accessible and less “WEIRD” (aka focused on Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic populations) and if there is one thing that can all relate to… well, whether overtly spoken or inwardly thought, it’s that we all have disagreements with others on the political direction of our home country.
So, with that in mind, let’s explore a few behavioral science concepts that can impact our voting behavior and decision make in hopes that it will help us all rationalize our voting decisions.
Many of us often vote by party line even when the parties policies or practices are not fully in alignment with our values. Instead we vote for that political party because we feel like they are our community. We align with a political group, often because of one salient topic (I.e., abortion, gun rights, or the environment). We then allow (often subconsciously) the social decisions of that group to guide our own decisions on topics unrelated to the original issues that we aligned around, regardless of whether or not we feel the same as the social group on those subsequent issues.
A study by Behavioral Economist and Professor Dan Ariely in his flagship book “Predictably Irrational” showed that at times, we don’t even choose our drinks or meals at a restaurant based on what we truly want, we are influenced by the decision of the group we are seated with. In the study he found that groups who ordered traditionally, out loud, either fell into an “I can’t order the same thing” or an “I’ll have what he’s having” mindset and often failed to order what they truly wanted.
The direction they went was also influenced by culture – when conducted in the US, statistically participants fell into the “I can’t order the same thing” category and in China it was the opposite. When asked to order “in secret” with no outward influence – the participants in both studies rated that they were, on average, overall, more satisfied with their meals, signaling that they actually chose more to their own tastes rather than by the influence of the group. While probably impossible in today’s world, imagine what voting would look like if political issues did not reference party affiliation?
Social norms drive much of our behavior. We see how our reference group behaves, and we mimic that behavior. This is magnified in these days of stratified social media and 24-hour news coverage where, when a new issue arises, you immediately see how your “tribe” responds, which then influences your perceptions and beliefs on that issue and limits our deeper in person debates around the subject. It’s no secret that we act and speak differently online than we do face to face.
How easy it is to vote, impacts who votes and the information have exposure to impacts out views. Often, due to policy, access, “friction”, and more it can be easier for certain demographics to vote than for others, and this can have a significant impact on election results.
A 2018 article by Ted Robertson and Dan Connolly on behavioralscientist.org titled “Building a Culture of Voting Through Choice Architecture” explored the impact of choice architecture on elections looked at the concept of “automatic registration” on voter turnout. According to the article, when Oregon implemented this concept in 2016, 272,000 more people became registered and the voter turnout from that group was 44%!
The below visualization by Philip Kearney, based on data from the census and townhall.com, conceptualizes that if “abstained” voters were assigned the candidate “nobody” then that non-existent candidate would have won the 2016 election – getting more “votes” than either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Admittedly, this is theoretical and in the real world those people would not have all voted for the same person if “nobody” was a candidate, but the point is, choice architecture can impact voter access, and when used ethically could allow for more voter participation and a more accurate depiction of the full demographics of a country.
So how does this impact you at the polls? Be aware that the information you are consuming and even the processes through which you vote could have been designed to “nudge” you. Behavioral nudges were brought to the mainstream by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in their book “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness.” According the duo a nudge is “any aspect of choice architecture that alters people’s behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives.”
While we would argue that choice architecture that is designed to make it easier and more accessible to vote is ethical and net positive, on the flipside were a partisan party to influence and design a ballot to nudge people toward a specific vote that would be unethical.
At the end of the day, as mentioned above an affiliated party often becomes a community which influences personal identity and the salient topic that may have led to that affiliation then influences our decision about less emotional topics to align with that group think. Now, add to the fact that the group we align with is most likely designing choice architecture and nudges to further commit us to that belief system and it’s easy to see how we can become so polarized.
With an awareness of these influences, before hitting the polls try and look at each topic and decision in a vacuum. If we can segregate smaller less heated topics form the big ticket items, its likely that we would see much more agreement between parties.
Once we have a belief or viewpoint, our brain works hard to reinforce that perspective. When we see information that supports one of our pre-held beliefs, our brain is more likely to take it at face value and process that information. On the other side, when we see information that contradicts our pre-held beliefs, our brain goes to work to discount that information or even ignore it totally. This bias is called the confirmation bias and works at a subconscious level, so we don’t even know it’s happening. Thus, the beliefs we hold about our politics are reinforced while information that may be contrary to our politics is discounted. We are naturally inclined to seek validation of our beliefs and reject information that challenges them.
Motivated reasoning takes this concept one step further. This is the idea that we justify our actions or make decisions based on what we want or desire versus based on actual evidence. Thus, we are likely to believe that somebody is righteous and honest if they agree with us, but evil and dishonest if they disagree. When we look at political candidates, we are more likely to rationalize bad behavior or poor decisions by politicians on our side than on the other side of the political fence.
Again, this one is challenging to overcome and even being aware of it we are likely to fall into its trap. Be sure and check sources but try and leave the source affiliation at the door and focus on the facts on display. Read verified articles things that make you uncomfortable even if you don’t like the source, so long as it is reputable – chances are that if you are uncomfortable with it you may not be as committed to your view as your brain (and social group want you to think).
Having a deeper base understanding of the societal and emotional factors at play in our decision making process is not a magic bullet but it can help us look inward and evaluate the things that matter to use and make better overall decisions moving forward.
Keep these thoughts in mind as you research issues, head to the polls, and cast your vote.
Anthony 2018, The Washington Post, accessed 21 October 2020, <https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/people-dont-vote-for-want-they-want-they-vote-for-who-they-are/2018/08/30/fb5b7e44-abd7-11e8-8a0c-70b618c98d3c_story.html>
Ariely, Dan. Predictably Irrational. Harper Collins, 19 February 2008.
Connolly and Robertson 2018, Behavioral Scientist, accessed 21 October 2020, <https://behavioralscientist.org/building-a-culture-of-voting-through-choice-architecture/>
Kearney 2018 accessed 21 October 2020, <https://philip-kearney.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2016-election-2-1.png>
Thaler and Sunstein. Nudge. Yale University Press , 8 April 2008.
]]>The Survivorship Bias is our tendency to only focus on those who succeeded and ignore those who failed when defining the factors that led to success. This can lead to false conclusions about what contributed to that success. For example, it's easy to assume that because a significant number of CEOs wake up early every day, that waking up early is one the key factors to becoming a CEO. However, this assumption neglects the fact that millions of people wake up early every day and do not make it to the CEO position.
1. Awareness is key - once we understand that we may be “missing what’s missing” we can look for that information. In WWII, the allies almost reinforced planes where those that made it home from battle had been shot – until they realized that the planes survived those hits! The bullet hole locations on the planes that were shot down showed where they actually needed reinforcement.
2. When looking at data or info, think “what is the opposite of what I am seeking out or commonly seeing?”, and check to see if it exists to make sure you have as much data as possible.
Per the point above, the discovering of this bias has been attributed to helping the allies in WWII. Military leaders were analyzing where planes that came back from battle had been shot to determine where to invest in additional armor. BUT, statistician Abraham Wald brought forth the argument that these planes survived, and thus those being shot in those locations were less likely to be fatal given that the plane made it home despite the damage. He proposed that the armor would be better invested on the locations that DOWNED planes were hit NOT the surviving planes.
Priming, in relation to human behavior, is the idea that exposure to an external stimulus can subconsciously trigger our brains to drive specific behaviors.
A study in Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking Fast and Slow” examined how a simple word could prime the brain to think differently in a similar situation. Subjects were exposed to one of two words and then shown the letters “SO_P” and asked to fill in the blank.
People who were exposed to the word “eat” prior to the exercise were more likely to fill in the letter “U” (SOUP), and those exposed to the word “shower” were more like to fill in the letter “A” (SOAP).
In this situation, the first word they were exposed to impacted their interpretation of the blank letter and completed word. This is a simple example, but priming can also cause us to unconsciously engage in behaviors both good and bad.
Let’s looks at some examples in the real world.
Last summer I was driving down interstate 95 in Maine on my way from Portland to see my parents in Massachusetts. For the non-New-Englanders out there, i95 is a busy ‘summah’ route for vacationers heading to enjoy the beaches, camping, and ‘lobstah’ of “vacationland”.
On my drive I noticed some new roadside highway patrol signs – the lit up construction style ones that warn of traffic, an accident, or an important message. As it came within reading distance, the sign’s bright orange letters displayed an odd message: “Pick up the Phone”.
What do you think my instinctive reaction was? Without consciously deciding to I reached to the passenger seat and grabbed my phone. The message had subconsciously primed me to do so.
At that moment, after far too long, the sign changed to a new message “Pick up a ticket”. Now I consciously understood the message, but the damage was done.
What was intended to be a good message was turned into a “bad prime” because this particular sign did not have enough room to show the entire message at once. While I do not have a study on this one, I am willing to bet that these signs unintentionally prompted more drivers, like me, to reach for there phone when they otherwise may not have – even if just for a moment.
Had the Maine DOT considered the behavioral implications of communications, they may have gone a different route. Even as a complete message, it still holds the risk of a bad prime given that the first part of the message is a direct call to action to perform the action that it is intended to stop. Were we to design this messaging, it may look more like this:
“Don’t pick up the phone. Phone = Ticket ☹”
The first message is directive of the positive action (the prime). This message would work on either the complete sign or as a split message on the smaller sign. The sad face also subconsciously triggers the emotions related to a ticket.
As an avid skier and “all things mountain” enthusiast – poor backcountry choices, exposure, and avalanches can mean the difference between a rewarding day and life and limb.
If you are interested in the subject, you can check out my write up about the behaviors at play in the backcountry here or listen to the Behavioral Grooves podcast episode on it here. If not, the quick and dirty is this: in high-risk environments, we can easily succumb to poor decision making. Even when highly educated and experienced it is easy to surrender to the allure of fresh powder despite high avalanche risk, or the reward of a new summit despite a rapidly approaching storm.
Jones snowboards is a Truckee California based snowboard company started by professional snowboarder and mountain legend Jeremy Jones. They have many products designed specifically for backcountry exploration.
Last winter, some friends, my girlfriend, and I were exploring the Wasatch backcountry in Utah. It was a beautiful, low-risk, sunny day. My girlfriend was new to backcountry boarding and had rented a Jones split board to see if she enjoyed it. As we were setting up her board, I noticed a graphic. It was placed right in the line of vision as you set the up board for climbing and again as you prepare it for the descent.
The graphic, the “5 Red flags” of avalanches was simple and easy to interpret immediately. Right there, in your face, as you are beginning to make the most important decisions of your day was a fantastic reminder of some key environmental factors to look for to have a safe and successful day. This simple but great reminder is a fantastic example of priming.
It may seem minimal, but I am willing to bet this graphic has helped save lives. You need to be in the right mental state to make these decisions and Jones’ had cleverly added this subtle prime to remind you in that pivotal moment, where emotion takes over, that these warning signs could get you killed. This helps overpower the emotion and prime rational decision making.
Subtle priming acts may not magically change the course of your actions, but they can plant a seed that drives your behaviors for the better or worse.
With this in mind – are you priming good or bad behaviors in both your life and work?