How to get the most out of your behaviour change interventions.

Demonstrating behaviour change.

A September 2023 report from the Fosway Group found that only 26% of the 427 CHROs, Talent & L&D Directors, Managers and Learning, Talent & HR Technology professionals surveyed often measure learning outcomes, impact, and success, despite the increasing demands for this kind of data. ROI is infamously difficult to scientifically calculate within our industry, with many other factors impacting or skewing the figures. There are numerous publications on the topic, many of which sound good in theory, but, when it comes down to it, there’s always one question at the heart of the problem: how can you prove learning will change behaviours, mindsets, or even cultures?

From the outset, the obvious and rather disappointing answer is simple, you can’t – not absolutely. There are, however, a few steps that can be taken to ensure that behaviours are not only changed but that they have been changed in a way that can be measured and articulated.

A pragmatic approach to changing behaviours.

Strategising behaviour change demands a prudent, data-backed approach. Our task, as L&D professionals, involves not an abstract contemplation but the application of scientifically validated techniques, fostering a higher likelihood of resonating with and influencing our audience effectively.

Susan Michie’s Behaviour Change Taxonomy, building on the COM-B model, underscores that learners require three core elements; capability (can this behaviour be accomplished in principle?), opportunity (do opportunities exist or can they be created to support the application of this behaviour?), and motivation (is there sufficient motivation for the behaviour to occur and how can we create motivation if it doesn't already exist?), for successful behaviour modification. However, the biggest challenge here is identifying the ‘right’ target behaviour.

Making sure the right behaviour change is targeted.

Examining the root causes or underlying motivations for desired actions enables us to ascertain the genuine behaviour we seek to transform and is a vital step in effectively changing behaviours. For example, imagine we are trying to improve compliance at an organisation. Our first instinct may be to implement a compliance learning experience outlining policy and legislation in the hope that once employees have completed that training, they will alter their behaviour to be more compliant with their organisation’s policies.

However, this surface level approach fails to consider the ‘why’ behind the lack of adherence. Perhaps the original non-compliance was genuinely borne out of a lack of awareness of policies and procedures... or is the behaviour we’re looking to change actually created by the need to save time and cut corners due to poor project management skills. In any case, L&D teams need to be prepared to dig further into the behaviours at hand. By digging deeper, the ideal target of the learning being designed can be clearly identified. If the result required is increased compliance but the lack of compliance comes from the need to save time due to poor project management, then the learning being put in place needs to address both elements.

After establishing the true behaviour for change, determining the necessary adjustments becomes relatively straightforward. However, deciphering which “ingredients” or strategies will effectively elicit that change can present a further challenge. It becomes pivotal to distill our focus onto essential targets, thereby utilising those strategies that are anticipated to garner the most impactful results, rather than diluting efforts across too many variables. The Behaviour Change Wheel is an invaluable tool for pinpointing the ‘ingredients’ that will be most effective in actioning this behaviour change and can be simplified into a four-question process:

Focus your efforts on the behaviours that matter the most.

It can become overwhelming trying to analyse all the potential factors that could influence the desired behavior change. While all these factors might push you closer to that elusive change, not all of them will carry the same weight, meaning it's crucial to concentrate your efforts on key targets.

By prioritising the factors we expect to have the most significant impact, we can maximise our effectiveness rather than spreading ourselves too thin and diluting our efforts. Focusing on key behaviours allows more effective allocation of resources, ensuring they’re directed where they’ll have the most significant impact.

Moreover, homing in on key behaviors creates a more straightforward path for evaluation. Changes in specific behaviors are easier to track and can be more clearly linked to tangible financial or performance metrics.

Conclusion:

Dissecting behaviour into its integral components is an incredibly effective way to bolster our ability to enhance and substantiate ROI, providing a clearer trajectory of its origins. This can be broken down into four key points that, when kept in mind while creating and delivering learning, will help you to affect behaviour change that works for your learners and organisation alike:

1. Make sure you know your one true target behaviour.
2. Take time to explore all intervention ingredients that could change that behaviour.
3. Answer all the questions in the behaviour change wheel process.
4. Focus on the activities that will most impact the behaviour change you’re looking to shift.

With these in mind, you can continue to strive for impactful ‘showstopper’ learning interventions that make a difference.