Ingredients to Successful Change

Amongst all the resources shared for a class discussion was a common thread: for change to happen biological and cognitive systems need to be aligned through the catalyst of emotion. This emotion ties into motivation.

Here are some of my key take aways: Information obtained through a cognitive system alone isn’t strong enough to invoke change. Extrinsic rewards occurring through biological factors alone only lead to temporary changes. However, when the information and rewards align through a feeling, that leads to intrinsic motivation that invokes TRUE change, because it’s personal. It’s because it’s wanted and valued as something important by that person, and becomes part of that person’s schema. Once the thinking pattern is “owned” by the individual, the change process becomes natural, because it’s now become that individual’s idea vs. the idea of someone else. When people start with that “why”, and have it infused throughout the “how” and the “what”, it attracts others with the same “why” to try that particular “how” and “what”. A sense of urgency is needed to ignite and fuel an idea that propels others with momentum to progress forward. It all works together. Learning how to communicate in this way to get to the heart of the matter that is important to stakeholders and how our innovation plan supports that, is going to be key in getting others to try what is being asked.

References

Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). Dr. John Kotter - The Heart of Change. YouTube. Retrieved

August 17, 2023, from https://youtu.be/1NKti9MyAAw

TEDx Talks. (2014, June 30). Why TED Talks don’t change people’s behaviors: Tom Asacker

at TEDxCambridge 2014. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0jTZ-GP0N4