Dr. Jon Finn is the Author of “The Habit Mechanic” and Founder of the award-winning Tougher Minds consultancy.
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There’s no getting around it: We live in a challenging, constantly changing world. The distractions, pressures and stresses we face—especially in business—are unprecedented. It’s harder than ever to feel well, be resilient and perform to our potential. That’s why so many business leaders are turning to executive coaches. They want help figuring out how to improve their performance, as well as their teams and businesses. As a result, the field of executive coaching is rapidly expanding.
However, traditional coaching approaches were not developed using insights about how brains actually work. Its focus on giving people more knowledge and skills was based on what scientists call a black box approach—examining or testing a complex system or process without actually understanding what is going on inside it.
Today, we know that our brains don’t run on knowledge and skills; they run on habits. In fact, nearly 100% of the brain operates mindlessly. As coaches, this is key for understanding how to help clients. For example, knowing it’s a good idea to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day is different from actually doing it. This is the same with work. Knowing one shouldn't worry or beat themselves up about their professional progress doesn't help if they don't actually have the habits to back it up.
As the world becomes increasingly challenging, it can be harder for professionals to build and sustain helpful habits when they're bombarded by constant change. This is rendering traditional coaching approaches less and less effective, which leaves both executive coaches and their clients frustrated!
It's Time For A Change
Coaching needs a modification to better align with the way our brains work. When left to their own devices, our brains build habits that efficiently prioritize survival, like staying alive and saving energy. However, this focus on survival can—and often does—lead to problems. We may start feeling stressed, worried, beat ourselves up or procrastinate on important tasks.
As a coach, once you recognize these facts, you can help clients decrease their problematic habits and increase their positive, productive ones. In doing so, they'll be supported in reaching their goals, which will show them you can consistently deliver the results they want. Luckily, helping your clients build better habits is simpler than you might realize.
Focus On Nine Core Factors
Over the last 20 years, my company, Tougher Minds, has focused on developing a range of simple, practical science-based tools that allow people to build habits that support, rather than hinder, them. A key component is understanding that nine core factors drive what we think and do. By teaching your clients how to get those factors working in their favor, you will give them the keys to supercharging their performance.
1. Mindset: The right mindset is essential for changing the habits that don't service you. If you don’t believe you can improve, you never will. So approaching these changes positively is key.
2. Brain State Optimization: To successfully build new habits, your brain needs to be neurobiologically ready for change.
3. Tiny Changes: You can change but only one tiny step at a time. Don't try and rush, or you may find yourself frustrated and lose motivation.
4. Personal Motivation: It is easier to change if there is a meaningful reason why. Determine what's driving your desire to change.
5. Personal Knowledge and Skills: Building new habits often requires you to learn new things. Focusing on the importance of growth is essential for positive change.
6. Community Knowledge and Skills: If the people around you already know how to do the thing you want to learn, lean on their expertise. That will make it easier for you to learn and stick with that skill.
7. Social Influence: We're strongly influenced by the behavior of those we look up to and respect. By surrounding yourself with people who can do what you want to do, it'll motivate you to try harder.
8. Rewards and Penalties: Rewards encourage behavior while penalties discourage it. Building these into your habit formation will help them stick.
9. External Triggers: It's easier to do things if something reminds you. Setting up habit triggers is a key way to make them stick.
Change can be difficult, both for people and for industries. With executive coaching in particular, the old ways of helping clients no longer serve today's world. By adopting an approach that supports how our brains function, you'll be better able to help your clients build better habits and reach their goals.
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