Why?
Do you know the answer to this question? Discovering “why” is critical to so many areas of our business and our lives.
We all walk through life hearing about what we should do to improve. Still, most of us struggle with changing our behavior.
Over the years, I have coached thousands of people in one-on-one or group sessions. Most of these coaching conversations revolved around the topic of improvement — quality of life, business results, health, relationships, team performance. People typically hire a coach because they believe they will have a better chance of making the necessary changes with a coach on their team.
And of course, I agree!
The problem is that almost all of these improved results require improved behaviors, and behavior is not easily changed. If we want to change our behavior, we must change our thinking. And to change our thinking, we must be able to clearly define “why.”
Our “why” must be worth shaking up our comfortable behaviors. If it is not, we will go through life knowing we should improve in certain areas, but we won’t until it is too late.
So, how do you find your “why?”
Change can be negatively or positively motivated. For example:
Positive: I will exercise 5 days per week so that I am able to connect with my kids by playing with them and doing things they like to do.
Negative: I will exercise 5 days per week in order to reduce the odds of my health failing and being a burden to those I care for.
I believe that we are most likely to sustain healthy habit changes if we can connect our “why” to something positive.
Additionally, it is best when we can connect our “why” to those we care about most, or to a cause that is bigger than ourselves. We all want to make a difference with our lives. As a result, we want our actions and gifts to contribute to the people and causes we are passionate about.
Is there a habit you want to improve, a gap you want to close, or even a talent you want to further leverage? Take some time and figure out “why.” It will be well worth the time invested.
Why not?
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Tags: Behavior, Change, Improvement, Why
I often tell my students that I’m like their coach, and one of the most important things I do is to give them the reasons for the work I assign. This summer, I am going to work to solidify all the “why’s” for my curriculum and put them in written form. I agree with you about behavior changes–sometimes I pull, push, tug, and shove the kids into doing what they need to do. I have seen some kids change their behaviors, but others are so stubborn. However, in the end, I win or they don’t get credit for my courses.
I think it will help Patricia. We all want to know why before we do.
Keep making a difference!
Daniel
Changing a comfortable behavior can be so hard, even if it’s something that we really want to do. I have an entire list of things I’d like to do but have never thought about it in terms of “why.” What a great idea!
I help run a small, but successful business and our goal is to grow it into at least a “medium” sized business in the next few years. When I say “medium” I’m only referring to 10–15 employees. Honestly, my “why” for this is so that we can employ a couple of talented, and hard working people that we know who deserve a good job but have been stuck working for companies that don’t fit them well. I’d never thought of it as our “why” for growing our business, but it definitely is!
Thanks for the great post! It really made me think.
Hello Nicole,
I am pleased to read that this is helping you. So here is a question for you. If your why is to create a great work environment for a few good and talented people, why stop with a few?
Just thought I would ask. Great work cultures can be hard to come by so if your why is to build one, you may want to invite even more to enjoy it!
The best of luck,
Daniel
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