Thought for the Day
“First, never underestimate the power of inertia. Second, that power can be harnessed” ― Richard H. Thaler
Behavioural Insights
The Behavioural Insights Team was created as part of the Cabinet Office to help apply a more nuanced understanding of human behaviour to government policy, and to spread the understanding of behavioural science.
Governments across the globe are now using behavioural insights to make and implement better policy.
But from the outset, they found that there has been interest not just in how behavioural insights can be applied to policy, but how it can be used to help all of us achieve important goals in our personal and work lives.
The Behavioural Insights Team aim is to open up the behavioural insights tool box so that everyone can use these techniques to make better decisions at work, rest and play.
You will most likely be using some ‘self-nudges’ in your everyday life already – whether it’s setting your watch a few minutes early to help you keep to time, getting colleagues to commit to specific tasks at work, hiding away the cookie jar, or using treats to reward your kids for good behaviour.
My next Professionals Coaching Group Session on 14 June aims to help you develop your Powers of Persuasion more systematically through evidence-based techniques.
The key message is that to reach big, we need to Think Small. So, it is not about reining in your ambitions. It is about adopting a mindset that focuses on getting the small – and often simple – details right that will set you on the path to achieving your goals.
At the heart of the approach to achieving your Goals is focused around seven simple steps:
- Set – choose the right goal for you, set a specific target, and break your long term objective down into manageable steps.
- Plan – create simple rules and an actionable plan which links to your daily routine.
- Commit – make a commitment, write it down, make it public and appoint a commitment referee.
- Reward – put something meaningful at stake and use small rewards to stoke motivation, but beware of backfire effects.
- Share – draw on the help of others, tap into your social networks or form a group with a shared goal.
- Feedback – know how you’re tracking against your goal and seek out specific, actionable feedback
- Stick – practice with focus, test different approaches and celebrate success.
This is not a checklist. You do not have to religiously apply each of the seven tools to every goal, but they provide the ‘behavioural scaffolding’ that will support you to succeed.
How can you use these ideas to help you to achieve your Goals?
Featured Video
Think Small: the surprisingly simple ways to reach big goals. We have also created a short animation that explains the core principles behind the book
Just follow this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQKOiAPcW6I
Business Support
For several years now I have been running a successful Coaching Group for Professionals which meets four times a year for half a day to work on common issues as well as one 2 one coaching. Action Learning Workshops mean I bring along tools and processes that help us solve the problem that we are addressing and every member takes away something of value to them and their business.
I am launching, in partnership with PortfolioExec, an affordable Peer Group for SME Business Owners and Senior Managers. The reason for joining such a Group is summed up by the Japanese proverb “None of us is as smart as all of us”
The Benefits of being a member of a Portfolio Peer Group are:
- Our unique solution revolves around being part of a group of like minded
business people that meets every other month to work on common issues
- Guided by an experienced Chair
- Access to our unique online Business diagnostic
- We guarantee that none of your competitors will be in your Group
- Signposting to a consortium of expert providers of affordable business support services
- Menu of additional pay as you go options such as one 2 one coaching and special topic workshops
How the Portfolio Peer Group works:
A Peer Group will be made up of business owners and senior managers. The ideal grouping will comprise between 8 and 12. The group will meet bi-monthly for half a day where the challenges will be set by the SME-owner participants themselves.
Peer Groups will be tiered – Tier 1 being businesses under £500K t/o so that both problems and support are reflective of the group as a whole.
The Investment:
The overriding aim is to offer a professional support platform on an affordable basis.
Basic engagement in a Peer Group will start from only £50 per month in Tier 1.
If you would like to join either the Professionals Coaching Group or the Portfolio Peer Group, or know of anyone who would benefit, contact me by email alan@mrwcs.com or phone 07860 813444