Anyone who works with people knows that not everyone sees the need for change or is motivated to take action. So how can you influence change? There are 5 main contributing factors.
- They want to change
It is always easier to work with people who see the need for change and are ready to do something about it. This doesn't mean that change will come easily, of course. We are all creatures of habit and can often find change difficult, but at least wanting to change is a good start.
Find out what people want, then see if you can link this with the behaviour you or others would like to see. By finding something that people want or are motivated about, changes can come a little easier.
- They want to avoid negative consequences
Life should not be like this. But the truth is that human beings are motivated by either pleasure or pain - sometimes both. But here, the consequences or pain has to be motivating for the person concerned. It won't work if they really don't care about it.
The key is to find what the person concerned cares about and how this can be used as a reward or negative consequence.
- The environment around them changes
The environmental factor we have the most control over is, of course, our own behaviour. Often as we change others will change as a result. This is also true in team relationships. As they see others have a more accepting or positive attitude to a workplace change, they may well exhibit a less negative attitude.
- Their physiology changes
When my young sons misbehave, one of the first things I do (when I am thinking) is to ask myself if they are tired, hungry, or unwell. When these needs are responded to, often their behaviour improves. The same is also true for other people who are tired, stressed, or unwell.
If you are in a position to address any physiological causes, you may well see better behaviour.
- They become more ready for change
I believe there are two different types of readiness for change. There is physiological readiness. As they reach new stages of their development, they become better able to make the changes we would like to see them make.
There is also psychological readiness where people become more prepared to change by becoming more uncomfortable with the status quo or motivated by how they would like things to be. Sometimes others have to allow the status quo to become more uncomfortable before some see the need for change. Maturity can also contribute to a higher level of psychological readiness.
Sometimes it is a combination of the above that influences others to change. And then there are those who never change. People still have choice. We can influence others to change, but ultimately their behaviour is out of our control.