Books in Bytes
All 16 learnings · one per slide
Switch
Chip Heath and Dan Heath, in bytes
16 key learnings on how to change things when change is hard: direct the Rider, motivate the Elephant, shape the Path.
16 learnings · ~40 sec eachSwipe →
Library / Leadership & Communication / Switch
Switch, in bytes
16 key learnings from Chip and Dan Heath's framework for change at work, at home and in society. Each takes about 40 seconds to read. Swipe, use the arrows, or your keyboard.
Books in Bytes
Learning 1
The Rider and the Elephant
The idea
Borrowing from Jonathan Haidt, our rational side is a Rider on an emotional Elephant. The Rider plans; the Elephant supplies energy.
Why change fails
When they disagree, the Elephant usually wins.
In real life
You plan to exercise at 6am (Rider), but on a cold morning you stay in bed (Elephant).
Try this
For a change you want, ask: what does my Elephant feel about it?
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 2
Three Surprises About Change
The idea
What looks like resistance is often lack of clarity. What looks like laziness is often exhaustion. What looks like a people problem is often a situation problem.
In real life
A team 'resisting' a new tool may simply not know the first step to take.
Why it matters
Diagnosing the real problem changes the fix.
Try this
Before blaming people, check for unclear instructions or a tiring process.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 3
Find the Bright Spots
The idea
Look for what's already working and copy it, instead of obsessing over problems.
From the book
In Vietnam, Jerry Sternin found poor families whose children were well nourished; their mothers added tiny shrimp, crabs and greens to meals and fed children more often.
In real life
Find the one sales rep whose clients renew, and study exactly what they do.
Try this
Ask: where is this already working, even a little?
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 4
Script the Critical Moves
The idea
Vague goals freeze the Rider. Give specific behaviours to follow.
From the book
A campaign in West Virginia told people to buy 1% milk instead of whole milk, rather than 'eat healthier'.
In real life
'Spend less' fails; 'No eating out on weekdays' works.
Try this
Turn your change into one or two specific actions.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 5
Point to the Destination
The idea
Show the Rider where you're heading with a vivid, specific goal.
From the book
The authors describe a teacher who told first graders they would be 'third graders' by the end of the year.
In real life
'Every invoice paid within 30 days by March' gives a team a clear target.
Try this
Describe your goal so clearly anyone could tell if you reached it.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 6
Find the Feeling
The idea
Knowledge isn't enough to motivate the Elephant; people need to feel something.
From the book
Jon Stegner piled 424 different gloves his company bought on a boardroom table. Executives were shocked into fixing purchasing.
In real life
Showing a pile of 200 printed duplicate reports does more than a spreadsheet of waste.
Try this
Find a way to make a problem visible and felt, not just explained.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 7
Shrink the Change
The idea
Make the change feel small and the progress feel big.
From the book
Car-wash loyalty cards needing 10 stamps, with 2 already stamped, were completed more often than cards needing 8.
In real life
Calling a migration 'already 20% done' (planning counts) motivates more than starting at zero.
Try this
Show people the progress they've already made.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 8
Five-Minute Room Rescue
The idea
Tiny first steps beat big efforts for overwhelmed people.
From the book
A home-organising approach asks people to tidy for just five minutes using a timer.
In real life
Spending five minutes clearing your inbox each morning prevents a weekend backlog.
Try this
Choose a dreaded task and do it for five minutes only.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 9
Grow Your People
The idea
Help people see themselves as the kind of person who makes this change.
From the book
The Heaths draw on identity and growth mindset: people persist when they believe they can learn.
In real life
Calling a team 'problem-solvers' encourages them to fix issues rather than escalate.
Try this
Describe your team by the identity you want them to grow into.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 10
Tweak the Environment
The idea
Change the situation, and behaviour changes with it.
From the book
Amazon's one-click ordering removed effort from buying.
In real life
Placing the shared printer far away cut unnecessary printing in one office.
Try this
Make the right behaviour easier, and the wrong one harder.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 11
Build Habits
The idea
Habits let behaviour happen without effort from the Rider.
From the book
Action triggers, deciding 'When X happens, I'll do Y', make habits more likely.
In real life
'When I sit down at my desk, I'll write my top three tasks' builds a planning habit.
Try this
Write one action trigger for the change you want.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 12
Rally the Herd
The idea
Behaviour is contagious. Show people that others are already changing.
From the book
The Heaths note that when people are unsure how to act, they look at what others around them are doing.
In real life
Sharing that '80% of the team has completed the training' nudges the rest.
Try this
Publicise the number of people already doing the right thing.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 13
Keep the Switch Going
The idea
Change is a process, not an event. Celebrate small wins and reinforce progress.
From the book
The authors argue people need encouragement along the way, not just at the finish.
In real life
A manager who praises the first week of new habits keeps momentum going.
Try this
Plan how you'll celebrate the first small win.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 14
Using the Framework
The idea
For any change, direct the Rider, motivate the Elephant and shape the Path.
Why
Each one addresses a different reason change fails.
In real life
A diet plan works best with clear rules (Rider), a strong reason (Elephant) and no junk food at home (Path).
Reflect
Which of the three is weakest in your current change?
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 15
Clarity Dissolves Resistance
The idea
People often resist because they don't know what to do differently.
From the book
Specific scripts helped people act where general advice failed.
In real life
A new expense policy with three clear examples gets fewer complaints.
Try this
Add an example to every instruction you give this week.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
Learning 16
Self-Control Is Exhaustible
The idea
The Heaths argue the Rider's self-control gets tired when used a lot, so change needs support.
Worth noting
Research on 'willpower depletion' is debated.
In real life
Making tough decisions in the morning, before you're tired, can help.
Try this
Schedule your hardest changes for when you have the most energy.
Switch · Chip & Dan Heathbooksinbytes.in
Books in Bytes
All 16 learnings complete
That’s all 16 learnings.
Change is easier when the Rider, Elephant and Path line up. Which one is blocking your change?
Abhay Kumar JaiswalFCA · PMP® · Workday Financeabhayjaiswal.com
Summaries in my own words. Read the book for the full stories.
1 / 18
Summaries are written in my own words for learning. Read Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (2010) for the full stories. More Books in Bytes