Much has been written about how to change habits…from how
to quit smoking to how to maintain a healthy regime. Much of the advice has
application to the effective transfer of training to the job.
Here are five tips that work both for the individual at
home and for the employee in the workplace.
1. Start small. Don’t
expect major behavior changes right away. Take into account that change is
difficult to begin and to maintain. Small steps toward the goal work better. It
is more effective to establish a new “normal” bit by bit.
Do your instructional design, training measurement and performance review processes accentuate and reward small steps?
Do your instructional design, training measurement and performance review processes accentuate and reward small steps?
2. Anticipate obstacles. Every
attempt to change behavior will encounter challenges. On the job, it is often
time pressure and conflicting priorities that push employees back into the
“old” way of doing things.
Do you help your target audience (and their bosses) plan for how to overcome the most common difficulties unique to your company before they occur?
Do you help your target audience (and their bosses) plan for how to overcome the most common difficulties unique to your company before they occur?
3. Enlist support. Find
a coworker or a mentor that will encourage and support you when the going gets
tough.
Does your organizational culture encourage coaching, mentoring and feedback?
Does your organizational culture encourage coaching, mentoring and feedback?
4. Set up the environment to succeed. Create
reminders, eliminate distractions and establish accountability.
Have you created the necessary job aids and support systems to make the desired changes easier?
Just do it. Do not overthink the process. Commit, begin and
don’t look back.Have you created the necessary job aids and support systems to make the desired changes easier?
Are the new behaviors relevant enough for people to want to change their ways?
