Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard

Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Skip  and Dan Heath

A very useful book for planning change on both a personal level and for businesses. The brain and the organization is divided between the rider and the elephant. The rider is the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. It plans ahead and keeps things from getting out of control. It can also be a source of inertia as endless possibilities are considered. The elephant is the emotional side of the brain. It get things done. It can also act in ways that may be regretted at a later time.

In order for things to change both parts of the brain have to work together. The author has suggestions. Promote bright lights where things are working. Ignore facts that are TBU - True but useless. Give clear simple instructions. Make the path to success clear. Move beyond SMART goals. Make success and failure black and white to avoid rationalization.

I found immediate applications to home, work and my volunteer work.

 

Video review of Switch - 8 min. 

Exhaustion for resisting to do something takes energy and you can run out of self control. Change burns self control.  - Dan Heath

The book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard is available at Amazon.com