We are creatures of habit - How to make change happen anyway
This article is part of the column "wow: New Ways of Working" by Martina Rahmfeld at OfficeRoxx - the blog for new work.
Humans are creatures of habit.
That may sound like a cliché, but it is full of truth. Over 40% of our daily actions are simply habits. This means we do many things automatically without giving them much thought. These habits act like an autopilot in our lives, allowing for much faster reactions than conscious deliberation.
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Cross your arms in front of your chest for a moment.You probably didn't consciously decide which arm to put on top. Try doing it the other way around—it feels strange, doesn't it? Change is difficult because we have to act against our habits.
And yet, we must change, adapt, and evolve. Especially in the working world, where agility and flexibility are in demand, it is crucial how we, as creatures of habit, master these changes.
Change and the new must make sense
The key to change is understanding. We humans have a fundamental need to do something meaningful. As brain researcher Gerald Hüther has pointed out, "People learn better when something makes sense to them." Why should we change our habits? What is in it for us? These questions must be answered because they create the understanding and the necessity for change.
In the professional world, changes such as the introduction of desk-sharing models often meet with resistance. The fear of losing one's own workspace is understandable.
Is it "speech is silver, silence is golden," or is it "you can’t overcommunicate"?
Looking at many office relocations, one gets the feeling that some companies follow the former principle. Yet, communication is so important today. Your employees must be involved in the change process and should make the project their own. When they feel their opinion counts, they are more willing to engage with changes or even help shape them, because the project then gains meaning for them. When people understand the background and the possibilities, they may not turn into innovation enthusiasts overnight, but they will open up instead of digging in their heels.
I see it time and again in workshops and conversations: much of what we discuss is not entirely new to the participants, but it leads to "aha" moments within that specific context. Projects where companies actively involved their employees in the change process and clearly communicated the purpose and benefit of every change turned out fundamentally differently.
But back to habits: it is not just our workplace that is changing. Our habits regarding how we use space should change, too. Because that is the potential inherent in new spaces, that is the return on investment. We should take advantage of that!
So what does this mean? While humans are creatures of habit, we are also beings who seek meaning and understanding. When we grasp the purpose and benefit of changes, we are ready to rethink our habits. And that is easier for all of us—whether we are more inclined to preserve the status quo or embrace change—in new environments. What a fortunate coincidence.
Changes in the working world require communication, participation, and the conscious choice of spaces that support the desired changes. After all, change is easier when it takes place in an environment that encourages us to act in new ways.
👉 To the column on OfficeRoxx