One of the biggest challenges to change is something called cognitive inertia. It’s just like physical inertia—where a body at rest stays at rest. In the case of cognitive inertia, though, it’s our ideas, the stories we tell ourselves, our beliefs that stay at rest. If you’re trying to create change, and it’s one of […]
Why Challenging Beliefs Isn’t the Answer—Try This Instead Read More »
Picture a community meeting in a town where the local government has proposed a significant change in the school district’s funding. The auditorium is packed with concerned parents, educators, and students, all charged with emotion about the decision’s potential impacts. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before the meeting devolves into a heated political battle. One
The deepest beliefs are the hardest to shift Read More »
Have you ever looked at what someone was doing or thinking and thought to yourself, “How could they be so stupid?” or “They must be incompetent”? Maybe you’ve even said, “I don’t understand why….[fill in the blank!]” There’s a good reason for this reaction, but unfortunately, it can be deadly to any kind of change
Transform Your Approach with the Smart, Capable, Good Test Read More »
A client who worked at a Fortune 500 company reached out to me with an intriguing dilemma. A few years before she and I met, the company had embraced a well-known sales methodology and had seen remarkable success using it to acquire new clients. But there was a catch: the same approach didn’t work as
Identity is the greatest influencer Read More »
There’s a lot of talk these days about storytelling being, well, the answer to pretty much everything when it comes to building messages that build buy-in. And that’s true. Stories are critically important. I’ve said it before, every decision has a story behind it. Every action we take ends an internal argument in our head
From Understanding to Agreement Read More »
Think for a moment about how you see the world. Would you be more likely to describe it as a beautiful place with treasure around every corner? Or as an ugly and boring place where exploration is unlikely to result in much of anything? These aren’t random worldviews. They’re examples drawn from the 26 deep-seated
Principles Set Patterns Read More »
You know, something really bothers me about most marketing and sales funnels. They’re skipping a massively important step. And that is the step of understanding. No matter what kind of funnel you’re looking at, whether it’s three stages or four stages or five stages, each stage of those funnels—awareness, interest, decision, action, retention, loyalty—represents someone being
The Critical Piece Missing From Your Marketing Funnel Read More »
Picture this: it’s time for a household upgrade—perhaps your dishes and flatware need replacing. You’re aiming to keep costs down while ensuring durability. With a modest budget of $200 in hand, you head to the sprawling aisles of IKEA. Amidst the labyrinth of options, you spy a charming Fnork flower vase, ideal for your kitchen.
Every decision has a story Read More »
Hello, you! If you’ve ever been a child, you know the feeling: Someone tells you, “do this!” And your first reaction is “no!” You never grew out of that feeling. It’s a phenomenon that psychologists refer to as reactance. And it is one of the most dangerous obstacles you face when you’re communicating change. It
How to Navigate Reactance and Gain Buy-In Read More »
