A Book Review: Switch

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Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
by Dan Heath and Chip Heath

One of my favorite quotes about change is:
“People don't resist change. They resist being changed.” ― Peter M. Senge
This quote rang true in this book in the way it dissects the way people react to change. The Heath brothers break down our self control into two parts: the rider and the elephant (Haidt) in which the Rider holds the reigns and is the leader... unless the stronger Elephant is distracted by something shiny. Thus, to be successful in influencing change in yourself or others you need to learn how to both direct the rider and motivate the elephant in addition to the basic path to reach your long term goals.

There are nine points made in this book, but my favorite three are:

  1. Follow the Bright Spots
    • Honestly, this is a lesson that I didn't implement early on in my career as a program manager. It is easy to listen to the "squeeky wheel" and try to get the nay-sayers on board with everyone else. I wanted a common starting point so we could move as a unit toward software adoption. Instead Switch showed me how to focus on the bright spots, the places your change IS working, the people that already successfully use and advocate for your idea. Ask: how did they get there? What part of the process have you overlooked that is key to adoption? Find what works for the rider and copy and paste!
  2. Shrink the Change
    • If you want to lose 20 pounds, how are you going to do that? Baby steps broken down to such a level of simplicity that it is hard NOT to do things differently. Start by saying no to donuts unless you go to the store and buy them yourself (not free Friday breakroom ones). Start by just carrying the pedometer every day. Don't say no sweets. Don't count calories. A simple checklist (see The Checklist Manifesto review coming soon) can help you realize your goals little by little. As the Heath brothers' say, break it down until it no longer spooks the elephant off course.
  3. Find the Feeling
    • I'm an analytical person and work with technical engineers on a regular basis so even though I know this technique, it still surprises me how influential it is. I am one that truly believes in the power of statistics and examples to sway my audience. The tough truth is that the elephant is motivated by many things and if you can understand how your target audience unintentionally reacts to things you can design ways around it.

One of the reasons I loved this book was because there were so many examples and stories. It talked about the size of popcorn buckets and weight loss, colored vests to prevent medication mistakes, and maps in local food donation drives. A recommended read!





About Post Author

A consultant in the software sector, I love to write about the challenges and opportunities that I run across on a daily basis with clients, colleagues, and even friends. There's inspirational lessons to be applied to business practices everywhere!

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So if you want to be happy at work like I am, then thanks for being a reader! I am a consultant that travels constantly and is always working with new people. I love what I do! I'm formally trained with an MBA and BS Engineering. At home and in my free time, I like to drink beer, travel, garden, read, hike with my dog, and play board games.

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