Common Sense Lies

Even with knowing factors that change behavior and having various strategies to accomplish the change, it is still a challenge to get others to change their behavior. Sometimes, what our common sense tells us is false and causes hurdles in behavior change. We like to believe that education changes behavior, attitudes need to change to change behavior, and people know what motivates them. However, these are myths; our common sense has been proven wrong (Cross, 2013). Instead, what we should focus on to get results is making information tangible and personalized, showing stakeholders what they will lose rather than gain, tailor our messages to our audience, set behavior expectations, connect to people’s values, and recognize and use social norms (Cross, 2013). These change recommendations parallel the Influencer’s model of six sources of influence. With these recommendations, an influencer is assisting in the motivation and ability at the personal, social, and structural level.

In my innovation plan “Ditch the Basement Box” in which students develop and use ePortfolios, the goal is that by 2020, 100% of FRSD students in grades four through twelve will have an ePortfolio and use it for learning and reflection a minimum of once per week. In order to achieve this goal, I will need to identify the vital behaviors I wish to change as well as use the six sources of influence in my initiative. I will need to notice the obvious, look for crucial moments, learn from positive deviants, and spot culture busters (Grenny, Patterson, Maxfield, McMillan, & Switzler, 2013). These strategies will help me identify the vital behaviors, the behaviors that are worth my attention to achieve results, to ensure that I am focusing my efforts where they are needed. What are the obvious but underused behaviors in regards to ePortfolios? What is putting success at risk? Who in my organization is producing positive results in the current environment? Who will break away from the norm to do ePortfolios? With the answers to these questions, I can then identify the vital behaviors I wish to change.

In order to change these vital behaviors, I will then use the six sources of influence (personal motivation, personal ability, social motivation, social ability, structural motivation, structural ability) to create the change. I will look at how to help others love what they hate and do what they can’t, provide encouragement and assistance, and change their economy and space (Grenny et al., 2013). Putting all of this together will create effective change and allow my innovation plan to be recognized. Joseph Grenny (2013) states, “If we want to change the world, we have to change behavior.” I want to make a difference in the lives of students through the use of student ePortfolios, so I need to change behavior.

References

Cross, J. [TEDx Talks]. (2013, March 20). Three myths of behavior change: What you think you know that you don’t. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=l5d8GW6GdR0

Grenny, J. [TEDx Talks]. (2013, April 26). Change behavior: Change the world. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T9TYz5Uxl0

Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.