If people take away just one thing from Changeology workshops, please let it be “Don’t tell why, show how.”
“Tell why” is arguing with people (i.e. trying to persuade with facts) – which is liable to generate resistance even in a sympathetic audience.
“Show how”, however, avoids resistance because it appeals to people’s natural curiosity and desire to grow their skills.
If we avoid arguing with people, we remove a big cause of denial and resistance. Yay.
The reason so many people fail to act isn’t lack of persuasion, it’s lack of self-efficacy: the lack of confidence to perform the required action, and get results, without risk of failure or humiliation.
My favourite quote: “In most cases, people hate change because they don’t like to suddenly become stupid.” (Jared Spool)
So, are we creating “That’s how you do it moments”? = Crisp, followable depictions of the desired action, that anyone could follow.
Here is an absolutely perfect example. Hats off to the team at The NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Frost Collective and Entropico.
“That’s how you do it.”
I love that the right action has been made so simple: just a few pivotal phrases:
- “Is this okay?”
- “Can I kiss you?”
- “Do you want to try ___?”
- “Want me to keep going?”
- “How does that feel?”
In future I’ll be challenging all my participants to reduce their action depictions to similarly simple, followable behaviours.
More on the Make No Doubt campaign at www.makenodoubt.dcj.nsw.gov.au
And here is my other favourite example:
“That’s how you do it.”
For details of upcoming Changeology workshops: www.enablingchange.com.au