The Start of Something Really Small

How Small Steps Can Lead to Big Results, Better Outcomes, and Less Stress

WSHA Preparing for the Unexpected ConferenceMay, 2014Deanna Davis, PhD | Applied Insight, LLC

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

Wayne Dyer

Two Small Stories on One Small Step

One STEP at a time

One CHECK at a time

Innovation vs. KaizenInnovation: drastic change

leading to dramatic turnaround; the largest result in the smallest amount of time.◦The “New Year’s Resolution”

approach to behavior change.Kaizen: Small, steady,

comfortable steps toward lasting change.◦The “Learning to Walk” approach to

behavior change…accumulated progress.

How Innovation Can Work

1961: The dramatic and ambitious goal

of sending an American safely to

the moon before the end of the decade

“A computer on every desk and in

every home.”

And Where It’s Not As Effective

“Hey, everyone…how about this…”

Change is…well…change

“All changes, even positive ones, are scary. Attempts to reach goals through radical or revolutionary means often fail because they heighten fear. But the small steps of kaizen disarm the brain’s fear response, stimulating rational thought and creative play.”

Robert Maurer, PhDOne Small Step Can Change Your Life

Why Small Steps Work

Disarms fight or flight…the stealthy way around

Soothes the brain’s distress (something you CAN do, control)

We all have an inner drive to learn, create, contribute

How to Foster DRIVE

AutonomyMasteryPurpose

More Small ReasonsEstablishes competence, leads to

confidence and primes future action◦Neurons that fire together…◦Where drugs in the workplace

actually helpSparks contagionCreates a “virtuous cycle”

Resources vs. Resourcefulness

Small Step ExamplesWe’re #7! (not for long)A Penny for (big bucks)Pull here (now and later)A wrench in plans (in a good way)

Success With Small Steps

1. Ask small questions2. Take small steps3. Repeat

1) ASK SMALL QUESTIONS

Why Small Questions?The brain can’t ignore a questionCuriosity doesn’t judge or panicInvitation vs. commandQuestions create a game of

creativity and possibility

What Makes a Good Question?What if…?How could we…?Who might know…?What options do we have for…?Where are there opportunities

for…?What small step could we take

to…?

Small Steps Questions build on one another. It’s a simple as…What is the big vision we’re

moving toward?Why is this important to me/us?How can I do to move toward this

goal in◦2 minutes each day?◦30 minutes each week?◦1 hour each month?

After Becomes the Next Before

5 things that worked5 things that could have worked

better

2) TAKE SMALL STEPS

How to Know It’s Small EnoughStart with “cannot fail” option if

needed (absurdly small…even better)

Baby steps…literallyIf a drop of water can do it, so

can a drop of effort“Well OF COURSE we can do

THAT!”

Creating the “Sticky Factor”

"The specific quality that a message needs to be successful is the quality of 'stickiness.' Is the message-or the food, or the movie, or the product-memorable? Is it so memorable, in fact, that it can create change, that it can spur someone to action?"

Squat WHAT??

?

But Can Small Really Work?

15% to 5% with just one sign$5/day, 5% cost reduction3 min/day, 60% morale

improvement

“High Reliability Organizations”The human

factor…Pay attention to

small details, mistakes, opportunities early on so they can be fixed before bigger ones happen

“It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to

stumble backward.”

Chinese Proverb