Behaviour Change Friday Email Blast – February 23, 2018 – Good Ideas edition

Behaviour Change Friday Email Blast

5 Bits of Behaviour Change Goodness Delivered to Your Inbox Every Friday

Hi, folks,

I have rounded up some good behaviour change ideas to share this week.

A good idea to reduce the use of plastic water bottles

Bottles in the reservoir mountain

The movement towards using refillable water bottles (https://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=np33DCEd48o)is growing thanks to the availability of free refills (http://www NULL.bbc NULL.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-43084761) and a (https://www NULL.refill NULL.org NULL.uk/)pps (https://www NULL.refill NULL.org NULL.uk/) that tell people where they can refill. This is a good example of breaking down barriers, in this case,

availability of places to refill and knowing where they are. Plastics are popular because they provide convenience. Alternatives to plastic water bottles must be convenient to compete, such as this foldable bottle (https://www NULL.amazon NULL.ca/dp/B016AX6PI6/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1). With huge amounts of plastic in our oceans and recent challenges in recycling markets, there is more emphasis than ever on reducing one-time plastic use.

A good idea to combat student stress at Yale 

A professor at Yale included a non-graded component of student well-being when she designed a course on “science of positive psychology” and the “science of behaviour change” (https://www NULL.timeshighereducation NULL.com/news/yale-students-flock-pursuit-happiness). The additional part helps the students taking the course to make personal behaviour changes to reduce stress and improve their lives. It is the most popular course in the history of Yale University.

Good ideas about convenience

People who successfully foster behaviour change understand the power of convenience. I have written about the importance of making preferred behaviours convenient and the difficulty of changing habits from more convenient ones. I encourage anyone who is serious about behaviour change to read this article, “The Tyranny of Convenience. (https://www NULL.nytimes NULL.com/2018/02/16/opinion/sunday/tyranny-convenience NULL.html)

A good idea for the workplace

There have been several articles recently about simple step employers can take to improve workplaces: Don’t hire jerks (https://womensagenda NULL.com NULL.au/latest/dont-hire-jerks-management-advice-for-all-areas-of-life/). Could it be that simple (https://www NULL.cnn NULL.com/2017/12/15/opinions/sexual-harassment-dont-hire-jerks-sutton-opinion/index NULL.html)? I have had many calls from employers over the years for reference checks. No-one ever asked me if the person was a jerk. I was never asked if people around the person would feel comfortable or safe. Nobody ever asked, “How does he treat women co-workers?” Or women in general.

Harvard has even studied the impact jerks have on workplaces (https://mashable NULL.com/2015/12/20/avoid-toxic-employees/#lV2qVqf16Gq3).

Could HR departments take a lead in making workplaces better and safer by taking preventative action to identify and weed out people who would be toxic and not hire them in the first place? I realize that many employers have sexual harassment policies already. But should they be changed to a zero tolerance model? One strike and you are out?

I don’t think it would solve the problem on its own, but maybe it could be a big part of the solution?

A quote I am pondering

“You can have an idea that everyone else thinks is dumb, and it’s still a good idea.” – Ryan North

 

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