"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, the lawn mower is broken." --James Dent
Summer Reading - Switch - Part 1
Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard
Changing Lanes,
Changing Clothes,
Changing Direction,
Change has many meanings to each of us, but overall, change is usually not easy. It takes conscious effort to make a change become part of our lives. Most of us have heard about the "if you do it 21 days, it will become habit". That is a plan that works for some, others lose track of what they are trying to change after a day or two.
Even if you are a master at change, you may know friends, staff or family that live in our world where change is hard and requires work. Over the next few weeks, I'll be giving tips on change with the book "Switch " by brothers Chip and Dan Heath. This is one of those books that I first purchased for my Kindle, then got the mp3 and finally a hardcover - it really is that good.
Today, let's just take an overview. For anything to change, someone has to start doing something differently. The beauty of this book and Lean Office is that the leader doesn't have to start the change - anyone that sees a problem can cause change with no authority, power or resources.
Dan and Chip Heath describe change as having an emotional side and rational side or an emotional Elephant and a rational Driver of the elephant.
If you imagine yourself sitting atop an elephant and expect it to change directions you will need a "ton" of convincing. The key to permanent and lasting change is three pronged:
Direct the Rider - the rational mind needs the "why" of the change.
Motivate the Elephant - the emotional, feeling mind needs to feel something. Maybe very quick success, visual examples, small group trials.
Shape the Path - to create behavior change, the situation needs to change. Using checklists, rearranging the workstation, seeding the tip jar are just simple examples of how to remind others "change has happened"
Read the First Chapter or Buy the book Switch
