What could you learn from ‘Triggers’ by Marshall Goldsmith

Posted by Max on April 7, 2016 in Book reviews, efficiency | Leave a comment

The importance of context and external environment on behaviour is not new.  In Triggers, Marshall argues that change occurs as the result of an external ‘trigger’.  A trigger creates an impulse, and awareness means that we can choose to act on this impulse, which may result in a change in behaviour.   A feedback loop (evidence, relevance, consequence, action) then either solidifies this change or means that the change does not continue.

Triggers is an interesting book. While I completely agree with the premise that external context is a huge factor in getting people to change, I feel that the book lacks empirical evidence. For example, Marshall argues that people can trigger themselves to change by setting themselves yourself (active) questions. For example, ‘Did I do my best to eat healthily?’ and score yourself every day (out of ten).  I have done this every day for several months, and despite my best efforts, I have not seen a consistent increase in my score.

Link to book on Amazon

Link to Marshall Goldsmith webpage

Marshall also highlights a good framework for meetings

Use this agenda for check up meetings:

• Where are we going? – vision
• Where are you going?
• What is going well? – reward
• Where can we improve? – what and why
• How can I help you?
• How can you help me?”