Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (Broadway Books, 2010)
You don't get lots of snippet quotes in this review, because I had to read the book quickly; it was a gift for my son-in-law. I love his Amazon wish list: I look it over, pick out a book I want to read, order it, read it, and give it to him. :) But my timing wasn't as good this time as it could have been.
Instead, you get a hearty endorsement of Switch. I'm not sure the Heath brothers have everything right, but they sure have a lot of great ideas that I plan to take more time to consider. Our library has two copies on order, and maybe my library book sale maven sister-in-law will come upon a used copy before I get around to ordering it myself. :)
Here's a link to the authors' site, where you can check out some free resources, and read the first chapter of Switch. Unfortunately, the first chapter doesn' t include one of my favorite stories, that of how a humanitarian organization that made an (almost) immediate, life-saving change to children's nutrition in Vietnam. But you can read that story here.
Finally, here's a summery from the book. It won't make much sense until after you've read it, but I'm putting it here as a handy reference for myself, and for anyone else who would appreciate it.
DIRECT THE RIDER
Follow the Bright Spots. Investigate what's working and clone it. [Jerry Sternin in Vietnam, solutions-focused therapy]
Script the Critial Moves. Don't think big picture, think in terms of specific behaviors. [1% milk, four rules at the Brazilian railroad]
Point to the Destination. Change is easier when you know where you're going and why it's worth it. [“You'll be third graders soon,” “No dry holes” at BP]
MOTIVATE THE ELEPHANT
Find the Feeling. Knowing something isn't enough to cause change. Make people feel something. [Piling gloves on the table, the chemotherapy video game, Robyn Waters's demos at Target]
Shrink the Change. Break down the change until it no longer spooks the Elephant. [The 5-Minute Room Rescue, procurement reform]
Grow Your People. Cultivate a sense of identity and instil the growth mindset [Brasilata's “inventors,” junior-high math kids' turnaround]
SHAPE THE PATH
Tweak the environment. When the situation changes, the behavior changes. So change the situation. [Throwing out the phone system at Rackspace, 1-Click ordering, simplifying the online time sheet]
Built Habits. When behavior is habitual, it's “Free”--it doesn't take the Rider. Look for ways to encourage habits. [Setting “action trigger,” eating two bowls of soup while dieting, using checklists]
Rally the Herd. Behavior is contagious. Help it spread. [“Fataki” in Tanzania, “free spaces” in hospitals, seeding the tip jar]
UPDATE: Here's a link to more good points from Switch
Our generation has a problem with permanence.
By "our generation" I mean to cover a large age span: whenever the seeds were planted, they had sprouted by the 1960's, blossomed during the 80's, and are in full fruit now.
For five quick examples, consider how many of the following are now considered unusual, even weird, and perhaps unhealthy?
- Commitment to one sexual partner, in marriage, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?
- Accepting a job with the intention of remaining loyal to the same company until retirement?
- Taking an employee into your company with the intent of nurturing his growth and supporting him through retirement?
- Joining a local church, determined to remain supportive and active through all the ups and downs, good times and bad, ins and outs, insults and annoyances?
- Living life in one house, one neighborhood, one community through multiple generations?
I could go on. Although I think these changes signal a societal character defect of great import, I'll be the first to admit that there's a plus side to each of them. In addition, they are only possible because of a freedom of choice that didn't exist in the past. It's no great sign of admirable character to do a good thing when you have little opportunity to do otherwise.
However, I'm not here to analyze, bemoan, or extol any part of our commitment phobia. My purpose is merely to ask one burning question: In an age so fearful of permanence,
How does one explain the popularity ot tattoos?
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