Katy Milkman on How to Change for the Better

Description

The usual advice on change is to pick a habit and stick with it. Behavioral scientist Katy Milkman argues that strategy decides whether a change holds. This course walks through her book How to Change one barrier at a time. You’ll learn how to use a fresh start to begin, how to make the process itself enjoyable, how to commit in a way that is hard to back out of, and how to set cues so you do not forget. Later lessons cover building a habit that survives disruption, and how giving advice and choosing your circle affect your own progress.

Each short lesson pairs a video from Milkman with examples and flip cards, and ends with a reflection question tied to a goal you choose at the start.

About the expert

Katy Milkman is a behavioral scientist and professor. The course is built on her book How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, and the lessons draw on research she and others have conducted, including a study with Google employees on exercise habits.

What you’ll be able to do

• Use a fresh start, such as a birthday or a new workspace, to begin a change
• Bundle something you enjoy with a task you avoid so the task gets done
• Choose a hard or soft commitment device that makes backing out costly
• Write a ‘when X happens, I’ll do Y’ cue so you do not forget the next step
• Set up defaults and repetition so the better choice is the easier one
• Build a habit that survives a missed day instead of collapsing
• Use advice-giving and the people around you to keep your confidence and accountability up

Who it’s for

Anyone with a goal they keep not reaching, whether it is at work or in their personal life. No manager role is needed.

What’s inside

10 lessons, self-paced:

1. Introduction
2. The Fresh Start Effect
3. Mary Poppins Is Right—Change Should Be Fun
4. Don’t Fear Commitment—Embrace It
5. Don’t Forget to Remember
6. Follow the Path of Least Resistance
7. Strong Habits Are Elastic Habits
8. Helping You Help Me (in Order to Help You)
9. We Get by With a Little Help From Our Friends
10. Conclusion

What you get

• 365 days of access from the date of purchase
• A certificate of completion when you finish the course
• Your place is saved, so you can stop and come back whenever you like
• Works on a computer, tablet or phone

You can also get this course, and every other course in the library, with All Access for $99.99 a year.