In their book Influencer: The Power to Change Anything, authors Kerry Patterson et al write that personal motivation happens by connecting the change to values. They also indicate that one of two questions people ask when deciding whether to try something new is, “Will it be worth it?” (The other is “Can I do it?”) Connecting to values motivates change by improving the chance that the answer will be “yes.”
The goal is to find a way for individuals to take personal satisfaction from performing the activity or behavior. For example, if team members need to speak up more in meetings, connect the behavior with the value of being open and honest (instead of safety). If you want managers in traditionally competing silos to work together, connect the behavior with the values of community and collaboration (instead of winning). The values and behaviors you select will depend on the initiative, the organization, and the individual’s values.
Also, make sure the change initiative is aligned with the organization’s stated values. Otherwise, one or the other will surely be ignored.
To what values might you connect?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.
