Irrational Change

Applying behavioural science and other stuff to the world of change and leadership. Expect disruptive thinking to transform your team, company or yourself.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Keep your radar active.

Our changes do not operate in a vacuum. Look for external influences on your change.

We like a weekly dashboard or checklist that prompts you to assess your environment. What has changed or is likely to change? How do you need to adapt?

Be adaptable.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Amplify your communications.

Especially as a leader, amplify more than you feel comfortable with.

We think we have been heard, but in the noise of other messages, often we haven’t been.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Make it easy for your team to change. Remove friction wherever possible.

One of my favourite phrases, from Behavioural Economist Richard Thaler is “If you want people to do something, make it easy”.

How can you chunk the change, and remove the friction?

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Know your value drivers. It is easy to lose value without realising it.

It is good practice to know what drives your strategic value delivery. It is rarely the tech solution, or a Centre of Excellence (CoE), they may enable value, but are not your moment of truth.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

In times of uncertainty find a way to ground your teams.

We hate it when it feels like our whole world is uncertain.

We feel out of control and fearful, which makes us defensive and closed-minded.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Recharge your batteries.

To be the best of you, be kind to you.

To be the best leader, change maker, or friend you need to be the best of you.

Renewal is an important part of that. How are you recharging your batteries?

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Words have impact, they quickly become weapons.

Think before you speak.

The hurt caused by words can be deliberate – ask yourself why you want to hurt, or simply have unintended consequences.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Take time to look up and out, outside your transformation and project.

Look for your environment changing, and the impact that will have on your ability to deliver your outcomes.

Spot changes, and do not be surprised.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

The first step is the hardest step.

It is easier to do nothing, than to take the first step.

The first step feels scary, risky, the unknown.

A lesson learned hiking in the Himalayas; look for the half step to save energy.

Make your first step a small one, but take it.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

To empower your team, stop making decisions for them

Instead, ask them what they would do

The first step in building empowerment is to build trust in your team's judgement. The easiest way to do that; get in the habit of asking them what they would do in situations or decisions

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

So that you can quickly recall them, have positive phrases to hand.

Change your self-talk. Such a simple, but effective tactic. Make it easy for your overloaded brain, have some go to phrases in your pocket.

Proactively swap words so that your brain sees the positive.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Frequent small changes build confidence and flexibility.

Small habits and changes are easier to adopt. Less scary, less risk of failure, less effort.

Chunk change into small bite sized pieces. Evolution rather than revolution.

Try it!

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Practice gratitude.

Look for the small things.

The more you practice, the more it becomes part of you.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Know where you are going.

It sounds simple, but it often isn’t clear.

Ask yourself four questions:

1. How has your environment changed?
2. What do you want to keep?
3. What do you want to change?
4. How do you need to show up?

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Communicate what to do AND what not to do, give alternatives. Do not leave a gap.

As well as communicating what something IS ... remember to include what it is not, the light side and the dark side.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Rational, logical plans don’t work. There, we said it!

Humans are irrational, predictably irrational, so try a human-centred irrational plan instead.

An irrational plan takes into account human biases, reactions and behaviour, all of which are predictable.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Increase capacity for change by building confidence.

Uncertainty adds to our mental overload, consider ways to reduce the overload.

One of these is to increase the feeling of confidence; that I'm valued, and I'm doing good work, that I can safely try new things and take risks

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

If you want a different outcome, do something different.

A simple concept. If you keep doing what you are doing you will get the same results.

For a different outcome you need to do something different.

Looking for inspiration on what you can do differently, we can help.

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.

Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

What are you teaching your teams today? How are you empowering them with skills and confidence that will last them a lifetime?

[Irrational Change @thechangewizard]

Take a break. A proper break. Your mind and body will thank-you for it!

It may seem like the last thing that you need, but a break away will renew and give a better sense of perspective.