Why It’s So Darn Hard To Change Behavior.
Try this. Sign your name 3 times on a sheet of paper. Now do it again, with your other hand. Notice any differences in how it looks or how it feels? That simple act, something you’ve routinely done hundreds of times, is all of a sudden uncomfortable for you. And “uncomfortable” easily translates into “I don’t think I want to do this.”
And there’s the rub. Unlearning is always harder than learning. Regardless of all the performance feedback we may receive, or all the 360’s and performance appraisals, replacing one behavior with another takes practice, practice, and more practice.
“Behavior change only happens when people apply new work habits often enough to ingrain a new neural pathway. That’s a lot of repetitions. It takes commitment and time. This also means reinforcement, accountability, coaching, ongoing feedback and encouragement. This kind of follow-through almost never happens. It’s no surprise many 360 projects are enlightening but in the long run yield disappointing results.” Dennis Coates, CEO, Performance Support Systems, Inc.
