Systems thinking • 2 min read
Elliot Berkman, a professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon, found that behaviour change is dependent on two key areas:
1. Level of skill, ability, or knowledge required to perform an action.
2. Level of motivation required to perform an action, i.e. it feels easy or it feels hard.
The more simple and routine the task is, the less skill and motivation are needed. The more complex and novel the task is, the more skill and motivation are needed.
Introduction
We’re often unable to focus our time and energy on our priorities because we’re buried in emails, distracted by others, and overwhelmed by the amount of work we need to get through.
However, we need to get comfortable with the fact that we can’t do it all! Our greatest gains will come from focusing on what matters most. We need to identify the behaviours that will have the biggest impact on our role and connect them in a way that’s highly actionable.
It’s the systems that we implement that will ultimately get us to where we want to go, and today, our aim is to identify the key components of our role where we need to build our positive habits.
Identify key components
The most important components of our role need to be prioritised — it’s as simple as that!
Feeding down from these are the individual tasks where we need to build our habit goals.
Component = area of work
Task = a piece of work to be done under that area of work
We’ve put together a list of questions that will help you identify the most important components and tasks within your role.
Key questions to ask
What are the key components of your role that will help you achieve your five to ten objectives this year?
What are the most valuable tasks that you can work on?
Why are these components necessary?
What would happen if you don’t complete them?
What are the critical priorities within your role?
What Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are you measured on?
What areas within your role could you improve to make you even more effective?
Practical applications
Cairin, Team Manager
Cairin is learning her trade as a manager and is keen to embed good habits around recognition.
Component of role
Boosting morale is a critical component of her role.
Critical task
Recognising staff for good work to ensure they feel supported and valued.
Habit goal
On a monthly basis, beginning in April, she sets a goal to publicly recognise an employee’s contributions within the team.
Trigger
She adds ‘recognition’ as an agenda item in their monthly meetings.
Gerry, Sales Executive
Gerry is keen to be the company’s top sales performer this year and wants to improve one of the core components of his role — scheduling meetings.
Component of role
Scheduling Client meetings is the lifeblood of his role.
Critical task
He needs to make calls, send emails, and network with prospective clients on social networks to book his meetings.
Habit goal
Schedule nine client meetings per month for the next 12 months, beginning January 2nd.
Trigger
After the weekly sales meeting, he decides to block off 90 minutes to send emails, make calls and connect with prospects online.
Key takeaways
It is the systems that you implement, which will ultimately help you prioritise what matters most to achieve your goals.
List the key components of your role to build your positive habit goals on.
Use a regular and reliable trigger to help you embed and maintain the habit goal.
Think big, act small
Pick one component of your role to begin with.
Write down a habit goal that will add the most value to that area of work.
Find a reliable trigger to help integrate and maintain the behaviour.
Content sources
Becoming irresistible: A new model for employee engagement, Deloitte
Consulting Psychology Journal, The Neuroscience of Goals and Behaviour Change, Elliot Berkman
Harvard Business Review, A Little Recognition Can Provide a Big Morale Boost, Shibeal O’Flaherty, Michael Sanders, and Ashley Whillans
Harvard Business Review, If You’re Overworked, Learn Which Tasks to Hand Off, Sabina Nawaz
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey
The Science Behind Setting Goals (and Achieving Them), Forbes
Your Best Year Ever, Michael Hyatt
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