Why Change a Habit of a Lifetime?

Our Response to Change is Neurological

I've worked in many organisations that have been undergoing change and have often wondered what's going on inside of us that makes change seem so daunting.   Well, now I know!

How I Remembered That Change Is Personal

Change is Personal

Last month I changed my car. Why am I telling you this? Well, as you know I specialise in behaviour change and have experienced a lot of change in organisations and seen and heard first hand how it can affect people.

So you’d think that I would know how people process change and what might happen as they transition through the process. Well, even with all my knowledge and experience it was only when I made the decision to change my car – a mazda RX8 - that I realised how emotionally attached I was. I know, emotional attachment to a car sounds bizarre.

What’s Important To Me?

It all started back in January this year when I was reminded of a technique to elicit clients’ values. I watched as the process was demonstrated on a willing volunteer. As they went through the process I started to think about what I value in a car – and more importantly why I value my car.

How Do You Behave In A Team?

Teams exist to get a task or tasks done – their sole purpose is achieving outcomes. This might seem straightforward enough but not all teams work together well.

The model above on team development and behaviour was developed by Dr Bruce Tuckman in 1965 to help understand what high performing teams need to do in order to achieve their outcome. Adjourning was added in c1975 and recognises that closure is needed to move from performing in one team to forming another team.

So let’s have a look at each stage in detail

How to Survive and Thrive in your Job Without Losing Your Integrity
Over the weekend I watched one of those 'girlie' flicks about a weather girl. The crux of the story: would she give up being who she was to earn lots of money and fame? Or, would she go back to waiting on tables and stay with her true friends and the man she loved? I am sure you can guess the ending!

What Do We Get As A Reward?

One of the many benefits clients tell me they experience from coaching is the opportunity to talk through and have someone listen attentively to their progress - both what's going well and not so well.

Clients really appreciate the time to think about things and take stock. Sometimes when we take action and get great results we don't always feel like we've achieved anything. We look for the gold star to validate our success and make us feel good.

Creating A System For Change

Creating a System For Change - Organisations That Lack Self Awareness Find It Harder To Do Things Differently

You often hear that change begins at the top. Why is that? Well, think about something you've tried to change recently. The thing that you wanted to change, was it totally under your control? If not, how successful were you in making the changes you wanted?

The Hot Air Balloon Joke

Realising he was lost, the man in a hot air balloon reduced altitude and spotted a woman on the ground below.

As he descended further he shouted over to her, ‘Excuse me, please can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don’t know where I am.'

Because the woman wanted to help she explained, 'You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees North latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees West longitude'.

'You must be an engineer' said the balloonist.