Find the bright spots

Identify successful examples of positive change within an organization or situation, which can serve as models for broader transformation. 

By focusing on these bright spots, individuals and leaders can leverage existing strengths and effective practices to inspire and implement change more effectively.

Script critical moves

The Rider is thoughtful yet easily distracted or doubting their decisions. A clear plan of essential steps streamlines options and divides objectives into smaller, achievable parts. This strategy helps to avoid "analysis paralysis".

An agile approach to change is a perfect way to define achievable parts and create stepwise progress. 

Point to the destination

Envision a 'Postcard from the Future' that vividly illustrates the essence of the transformation. This Postcard should resonate deeply, engaging both the analytical Rider and the passionate Elephant. 

Ensure that the objective is unequivocal, as the Rider excels in logical reasoning and requires clarity.  

Find the feeling

Change happens in the order of SEE - FEEL - CHANGE as opposed to ANALYZE - THINK - CHANGE. 

You don’t need to know to act, you need to feel to act.

FEELING makes it easier to initiate change even when the data and analysis say otherwise. Your role in the change process is to make people excited for what’s coming; excitement is good food for the Elephant.

Shrink the change

“People find it more motivating to be partly finished with a longer journey than to be at the starting gate of a shorter one.“ 

To motivate the Elephant, don’t “raise the bar”. Instead, you need to lower the bar. 

To shrink the change:

• Make it small enough to guarantee success
• Limit the investment 
• Think of small wins 

Growing people

“The growth mindset is a buffer against defeatism. It reframes failure as a natural part of the change process. And that’s critical because people will persevere only if they perceive falling as learning rather than as failing.“

You can create a growth mindset for yourself and your team by:

• Highlighting progress
• Creating milestones
• Accepting learning as part of the process

Tweak the environment

“Tweaking the environment is about making the right behaviors a little bit easier and the wrong behaviors a little bit harder.” 

We often see someone's actions as a true reflection of who they are, rather than considering the situations they might be facing. Many people genuinely want to grow and improve, but sometimes their surroundings can make that a bit tricky.

By understanding how much our environment can influence us, we can create a more supportive space that encourages positive changes.

Build habits

Habits can be both helpful and unhelpful, and if you want to grow as a person, swap out those not-so-great habits for the good ones!

Changing habits is all about creating a fresh environment and adopting a new way of thinking. One fun way to change your habits is by using action triggers. These are little reminders that connect to everyday actions. By planning, you can save your willpower for when you need it!

Action triggers should be clear and easy to spot so they can gently nudge you out of your usual thought patterns.

Rally the Herd

Gathering the team means ensuring that all members are aligned, as people naturally respond to social signals and tend to follow the lead of their peers.

“The Elephant constantly looks to the herd for cues about how to behave.”

To implement a change within the organization, focus on what others are accomplishing. Change is a social process.