It is hard for a leader to change the established habits of a team. Most leaders want a team that consistently demonstrates high character, but are unsure what to do beyond setting up rules and demanding compliance.

There is a key element to changing habits that is often overlooked by everyone. Yet it has proven to be the key to lasting and productive change for individuals and organizations.

Our Words –

What do we talk about and with whom do we talk about it?

The Missing Link – Our Words

Organizational Character in Lieu of Culture

I often use the term “organizational character” in lieu of culture. An organization’s character is determined by the demonstrated values of the team.

I am not talking about claimed values. I am talking about how the team consistently behaves with the customers and with each other.

The character of an individual is the sum total of his/her habits. The same can be said for a team.

Character Development

Character starts with our thoughts – What do we fill our minds with and concentrate on?

Our thoughts lead to our words – What do we talk about and with whom do we talk about it?

Our words lead us to our actions – The more we talk about something, the more likely we are to act in that way.

Our actions repeated over time form our habits – The good habits and the bad habits.

Our habits form our character – Habits are formed one decision at a time.

Why Aren’t We Changing Our Habits?

Most people know how they should behave. The majority of us had parents who taught us right from wrong. We also know that smoking or drinking too much can be dangerous.  Yet we still make questionable decisions.

We read good books or articles on leading. Many people read the Bible as well. We are filling our heads with good stuff. Yet we still make questionable decisions.

We expect that because we read something or hear a good speech or a Sunday sermon, we will be changed.   We also expect that if we send our team to a day or two of yearly training, they will be changed as well.

The problem is, despite all the resources we fill our heads with, our behaviors remain unaffected. Why? Because we have not taken the next step!

Alcoholics Anonymous, Weight Watchers, and Bible Studies

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Weight Watchers, and Bible studies all have two things in common.

1. They all provide good information to fill our heads with.
2. They all encourage meetings as the key element to changing habits.

Whether you know a lot about AA or not, you have seen that in TV or movies, the alcoholic is told the meetings are critical to changing his/her destructively habitual behaviors.  When they fall off the wagon, they are always asked, “Are you going to meetings?”

Weight Watchers gives everyone a plan to follow that works IF you follow it. The key to sticking with the plan and developing new eating habits is going to the meetings. If you aren’t losing weight they will ask, “Are you going to meetings?”

Churches everywhere encourage people to not just read the Bible. They also encourage them to join a Bible study so they can discuss what they’ve read with others.

Through the centuries they know that meeting together to discuss what they read in scripture, is most likely to change a person.  If someone does not get much out of reading the Bible, the question will be, “Are you in a Bible Study?”

The discussions, the questions, the case study (What if) scenarios are the missing link to moving head knowledge to becoming heart knowledge. Our actions will follow our words, and our habits are formed by our actions.

Changing Team Habits – The Missing Link

If I want to change the habits of my team, I need to be consistent and intentional about bringing them together to discuss topics related to the behaviors I want them to habitually demonstrate.

Just claiming we have team values is not enough. As a leader I must communicate them regularly and create opportunities for the team to discuss what good looks like and the challenges in reaching those expectations. (Our Demonstrated Values)

Our thoughts lead to our words and our words lead us to our actions. The more we talk about something, the more likely we are to act in that way.

As the leader, I must guide the team towards the habits of character – the demonstrated values I want us to represent.

To read another blog focused on how a leader communicates team values, click the following title: Building Team Culture: Marinate Your People

The Bottom Line:

Culture is the leaders job. If the team’s values are important me, then I will discuss them frequently with my team.

If I want those values to truly impact the character habits of those I lead, I must take some lessons from AA, Weight Watchers and Bible studies. I need to create consistent opportunities to discuss our values and what they should look like in action.

I recently interviewed Rob Nielsen of All American Leadership where we discussed the leader’s role in developing team culture.

You can listen to the interview here by clicking this title: IMPACT Talk Radio – Rob Nielsen. – Or download it from iTunes.

Question:

What habits could you change for yourself or your team if you spoke with others about them?