The Technique of One Small Change but One Big Effect
One Small Change but One Big Effect is a simple, easy and quick activity to improve engagement, productivity and boost self-development. This exercise is especially relevant for a group after a break, for example after holidays, or when a boost or intervention is required to help people shift habits or assumptions.
Our personal time management is usually greatly influenced by routines, habits and assumptions. Time management is largely within our personal control, although our routines, habits and assumptions can make us feel/believe/behave otherwise.
This activity has two parts, the first is to explore and discuss, preferably, “high performance” possibilities to individually change the way we manage our time. Then, each person should commit (optionally, publicly, to the group) to change just one aspect of our time management.
Tips:
- Focus on “high-yield” changes: that is, the small changes that will produce the biggest results. This will help prevent the discussion from being distracted by the inevitable obstacles that make big changes difficult. Get people thinking about small things that are easy to change (like when to check emails and understanding the difference between urgent and important).
- Ask people to indicate some type of measure and schedule by which they can verify that their individual change has been implemented.
- Have people verify with each other that the change has been made.
- Emphasize that it is about commitment, as much as the change itself. Commitment is the key to overcoming obstacles.
- Emphasize the need to communicate and explain the change to the people affected by it.
This activity is useful for making important changes in time management, commitment, improving productivity, self-development and personal empowerment. The key to its effectiveness lies in carrying out a good exploration and discussion to reach commitments that are feasible to fulfill.
