Identify 1-3 Vital Behaviors to Influence Change

In my last blog, I mentioned that I read Influencer by Kerry Patterson and the group at VitalSmarts. Last week, I described the importance of telling stories to provide vicarious experiences for those you wish to influence.

Today, I would like to highlight the benefit of limiting your influence to no more than three vital behaviors. The authors outline that people who exert great influence do not attempt too many changes. Instead they identify the three vital behaviors that will have the most impact. I cited two examples in the stories I told last week. I also realized that their counsel paralleled Jim Collins advice about hedgehog concepts.

I put the authors to the test in my own profession. Among other things, I help people find jobs. I've co-produced or co-authored two workshop programs to do so. I've taught people how to find jobs for three decades. I thought "What three behaviors are vital to finding a job?" Several colleagues and I discussed this over a three month period. We realized that we taught too many behaviors and skills. We confused people and distracted them from success.

We examined people who found jobs quickly and with high salaries. We identified three vital behaviors people looking for a job need to perform (I'll share what the three are in a future blog). We tested our hypothesis with a group of 12 people who had several barriers to finding a job: criminal records, disabilities, work behavior problems, and more. Ten of the twelve found jobs within 3 weeks. We also tested the hypothesis with a group of professionals seeking jobs paying $50-125,000. Those consistently did three things found jobs in less than 6 weeks.

I highly recommend that you read Influencer if you want to increase productivity, improve performance, or change behavior in your family. Work hard to identify the 1-3 vital behaviors that you wish to influence. It works.

Stories Influence Change

I recently read Influencer The Power to Change Anything by Kerry Patterson and the people at VitalSmarts. I recommend the book to everyone who wants to influence others to improve themselves.

Great influencers use stories to illustrate their point and motivate people to change. The authors share several powerful stories in the book. I have time to only highlight two:

Preventing Aids in Thailand One person, Dr. Wiwat cut new infections of AIDS in Thailand by 80%. "The government estimates that over 5 million people who should have been infected weren't." Dr. Wiwat accomplished this feat by focusing to change one vital behavior. He dedicated his efforts to convincing the sex workers in Thailand to only accept clients willing to practice safe sex. Consequently, the spread of AIDS slowed significantly.

Eradicating the Guinea Worm Dr. Donald Hopkins and his colleagues at the Carter Center eradicated the Guinea Worm from 50% of the worlds waterways. This horribly painful worm burrowed its way under the skin and to the intestinal tract. It grew to 3-5 feet, then began burrowing back to the skin. The excruciating pain caused by the acid they excrete drives the infected person to jump into the water supply. The worm breaks through the skin laying thousands of eggs in the water. Thus begins the cycle anew.

Dr. Hopkins and his group convinced villagers to implement 3 vital behaviors that eliminated the threat. First, they taught village women to strain the water by pouring it through a cloth from one jar to another. Second, they taught everyone who was infected to stay away from the water. Third, they taught people to watch for villagers who were infected, and keep them from the water. Following these practices eradicated the worm within two years from that village.

In both cases, Drs Wiwat and Hopkins enlisted local heroes to tell the stories that convinced the people that changing behavior was worth it, and that they were able to make the change.

I will share more about how influence change in the next two blogs, but encourage readers to get Influencer and read it for themselves.

Others Helped Me Earn My Masters

This week I earned my Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University (BYU). The sense of accomplishment and excitement surprised me. I remember the moment that I applied for graduation. I could not wipe the grin off of my face for several hours afterward. I had to call my wife, a classmate, and several colleagues to share the joy with them. I felt so silly and at the same time so happy.

I teach that "Others will help you achieve your goal". I would like to take a moment to thank the many people who helped me achieve this goal. I do so, not only to show my gratitude, but to demonstrate how others can help. The others who helped me include:

1. My dear wife Carol, who endured my absence almost every Thursday, and sacrificed together time while I did homework every waking hour (or so it seemed).
2. My parents, Kay and Jo, who encouraged me and financially made the degree possible.
3. My GoalsWork team that kept me on task, lifted me when down, and pushed me when frustrated. You guys exemplify what synergy is all about.
   
4. Gloria Wheeler, the retired assistant department chair, who dragged me into the program, so that I would stop wasting time.
5. Team RIP'M (Chad, Crystal, Kevin, & Temple) my first year study team and friends for life. We carpooled together the entire 3 years, kept each other going, discussed concepts, celebrated the victories, and mourned the losses. I could not have made it without your support.
6. My fellow classmates who shared three years of Thursdays together. Your insights, discussions, and collaboration elevated my work.
   
7. My professors who gave me 59 new tools to manage more effectively, analyze more accurately, and think more clearly. Governments and academics around the world recognize your contributions.
8. My family and friends who cheered me on, tutored me, and shared the dream.
   

Others truly will help. Look at all the ones that helped me. Others will help you too.

PS: I earned my degree this week. I will walk with all my classmates in August.