Changing employee behavior? 4 smart ideas
Changing employee behavior is primarily a matter of practicing, doing and positive encouragement. Not of talking. In this article, 4 ideas to positively influence employee behavior.
Changing employee behavior, 4 basic ideas
Idea 1: Make a physical change
Behaving differently means breaking existing patterns. Patterns emerge primarily in and through the social environment. We become infected by those with whom we associate and copy behaviors that are common in the group.
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We may think we act autonomously but the practice is that this is not the case and we are constantly being influenced. For example, remove physical partitions in rooms and locations to expose groups to each other.
If two departments continuously make life difficult for each other, physically put them in the same room. Let parties who cannot find common ground ‘smell each other under the armpit vigorously’.
Direct exposure is an effective and proven way to combat stigma. It creates a whole different atmosphere that makes change possible. The setting just becomes different because of it.
Idea 2: change the physical workplace
It can be good when the physical space where work is done is brought in line with the desired behavior. For example: an organization has removed all manifestations of hierarchy.
Demarcated and closed offices are non-existent and meetings are held on sofas in the middle of the rooms. Perhaps a bit excessive? It does work! Now, you don’t have to be so rigorous right away.
For example, pay attention to color, shape and decoration. Pay attention to the external features that distinguish groups from each other. Behavior is in the body and we experience it through what we see and unconsciously process. Then let that work for the intended change and not against it.
Idea 3: positively appreciate and encourage
No doubt you know how good a compliment works. But also how the opposite can be deadly. For example, a deadly glance at someone pretending to be different can be enough to nip a budding behavior in the bud.
What is helpful? Reward one another with sincere attention, encouraging words and a pat on the back. one thing is for sure; it helps. This way you support each other when it is difficult and when you are uncertain. Remember that disapproving behavior happens faster and more often than you can imagine.
Idea 4: break the (unwritten) rules
Everyone in an organization follows written and unwritten rules. It’s how things are done. It often plays out naturally between people in the sociocultural environment without highlighting its effectiveness.
“The boss decides,” for example, is a familiar one and causes hierarchical behavior. The following example shows this well. For example: A manager wanted a more active attitude from her employees.
What she had not, initially, given sufficient consideration to was her own role in this. As a manager she pulled the strings by distributing all the work herself. This created dependence and perpetuated the behavior she wanted to break. The team now divides the work among themselves, which has changed the behavior.
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Lacking assertiveness or selfconfidence?
Does it inhibit you at work and want to get rid of that? That's possible with our 40 days individual coaching program. Lets meet, see if we have a 'click' and if I can help you.