We all know the story: change projects are often thought through well, yet many seem to be unsuccessful. Many organisations do a good job, come up with useful changes, but then…. Changing doesn’t seem that simple..
Before I tell you our view on change, I would like to go back in time. To our puberty. A time in which much development takes place, both mentally and physically. Also a time which is often difficult for parents. They try to help their teenagers in avoiding mistakes, yet the teenagers seem to listen only limited, if at all.
A personal example that many will recognize: When I was teenager, my parents would give me advise, which I would ignore. I would then proceed to things ‘my own way’, which often lead me into trouble. Had I followed my parents advise, this would not have happened. Something I certainly wouldn’t admit back then. However, now I can no longer deny it.
My parents would and still will, call me stubborn. I wonder whether it really is stubbornness. I think teenagers are only capable of learning the right lessons, when they have experienced it themselves. Experiencing is necessary for changing behaviour.
Okay, maybe this need to experience it ourselves is a bit enlarged during our puberty, but it never really disappears. It is this need, that we put central when change is required. This doesn’t mean that organisation should deliberately let things go wrong, because you can create this experience! And that is something we are good at!
I would like to show our philosophy in a practical example.
Aerobars
In 2019, Sophie and I were training for a full triathlon (I made it, Sophie didn’t made it to start.)
When cycling 180km, all experienced cyclists use aerobars (triathlon bars). It is scientifically proven that cycling without aerobars costs you 13% extra effort. When you calculate this over a distance of 180km, it really seems worthwhile.
Sophie knew about this advantage, yet for months she said she would buy one without actually taking action. I pointed out the advantages so many times that it must have been tiring.
We needed a different approach! Being: Changing = Knowing + Experiencing.
I would be really excited if Sophie would finish the full triathlon and I like to contribute to the cause. So one day, I did put my bars on her bike – easy. For those not familiar with these bars; when they are on your bike you can use them, but you don’t have to. In any case, I believe I had removed a hurdle.
Starting cycling this way it was a bit strange, I experienced the same, but Sophie didn’t give up. After the first ride with the bars she was moderately enthusiastic. She became more enthusiastic when I offered she could keep them a bit longer. We didn’t ride together after this first ride, but her updates became more and more enthusiastic. And after two weeks she did it, she bought her own bars.
I believe that by not only letting her know what the advantage was, but also letting her experience it, she was ready for change. Such a small step and hopefully a huge step in achieving our goal: completing a 3,8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a 42,2km run together!
It is so typical, we want people to change their behaviour by letting them know (what/why/how), yet we forget the element of experiencing. Both in small individual changes and in large corporate changes.
Do you want to read more blogs about change? Click here.