We are sometimes asked if we can deliver behavioural training in one day chunks.
From experience we know that, in one day, people are unable to make a fundamental behavioural breakthrough. People become aware of and understand new concepts and skills only.
Is our experience backed up by science?
It is and here’s a summary. From a neurological perspective, we all respond to change (including behavioural change) in the same way: We try to avoid it.
Why is this?
It’s because our brains (the pre-frontal cortex) can only comfortably deal with a handful of new concepts at a time, before fatigue sets in. This is linked to the emotional centre of the brain (the amygdala), which controls our fight-or-flight response.
How does science suggest we get past our brain’s natural defence mechanisms to change our behaviour?
With behavioural change, logic alone does not persuade people to make a change. Research shows we need to be patient and give people time. This enables people to pay attention to their own behaviour, to really notice the impact they have and to then discover how to adjust and improve. To translate this discovery into new behavioural patterns, practice and repetition are vital, as this creates new brain connections (neural pathways). Sleep also helps to stimulate understanding and recall.
What does this mean for us?
This confirms what we knew from years of practical experience. We have designed and refined all of our behavioural training with these findings at the heart. Our programmes for leaders and teams are experiential learning workshops. The two or three consecutive days are spent practicing, receiving feedback, plus watching videos to see for yourself the impact you had. Participants use this data to make conscious choices on what behavioural adjustments they individually want to make. It is a personal journey for each individual that results in a behavioural breakthrough.
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