


Key to all habits is the cue-action-reward loop. Creating a habit can be achieved by deliberately associating the craving for the reward with the cue for action. Changing a habit can be done by substituting one action for another.

Believing that change is possible is needed to successfully substitute one action for another, and belief can be found by focusing on the small and analogous successes. Similarly, willpower can be trained like a muscle, and efforts in one area of life transfer easily to others.

Organisationally, it is important to leverage crises as a motivation for change. Perpetuating or magnifying a crisis can be useful can be helpful in the same way. Nonetheless, individuals, organisations and societies are resistant to change. Therefore, disguising the unfamiliar as something similar can make it easier to habituate.

Ultimately, the key framework to changing a habit for an individual is:

  • Identify the cue-action-reward routine
  • Experiment with rewards to see what’s effective
  • Isolate the cue through note taking and deliberate experimentation
  • Have a plan to make a change

What do you think?


You are commenting using your account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s