A lot.

Alcoholism is tough to overcome. For some it feels hopeless. In business it is also difficult to change habits. Exploring what works for alcoholics can provide insight into what works for business.

Therapy and psychology perform controlled studies in the pursuit of knowledge about human behavioral change. Business books provide anecdotes and statistics about change. To separate myth from fact and to create deeper understanding, one has to go beyond business books. By the way, looking at therapeutic models can provide insight into solving business problems and nicely summarizes the differentiator of Engaging Change^TM.

In the most current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) there is an article that discusses a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The study compared the effectiveness of different treatment methods.

The basic findings indicated that highly motivated people successfully reduced their alcohol consumption regardless of method, including a method of taking placebos.

When people are motivated to change, they do. Businesses spend billions if not trillions on changing or improving mechanisms including systems, structures, policies, processes, commissions, and they spend very little to ensure that people are motivated to change. Which do you suppose is more effective? Less expensive?

Value of Short, Numerous Meetings

Another finding of the study was that consistently meeting with a professional (doctor or nurse) over time, has a big impact. The meetings were split up into nine, 20 minute sessions over a four month period of time. Working on motivation and staying focused isn’t a single event. This is why coaching and Engaging Change’s style of consulting, using multiple, small contacts, are more effective than a longer, single seminar. One does not grow a garden with a single flood, but with many gentle rains.

For those interested in overcoming Alcoholism, the drug naltrexone, designed to reduce cravings, improved results when combined with the ongoing counseling sessions. A newer drug Campral was no more effective than placebos. See Placebo Power for insight on why that might be.

Stay Focused

Placebos are inert ingredients that do not have inert effects! Placebos are powered by beliefs, and beliefs change brain chemistry to make the effects real. Placebos can have another benefit. A 58 year old artist said the placebo helped her “stay focused on what the goal was, to get rid of this habit.” Daily rituals attenuate attention toward goals.

Another interesting aspect of this study is that its goal was to reduce alcohol intake, not necessarily eliminate it. Backsliding was expected. As one participant said, “I’ve had some backslides, but the longer you stay sober, the easier it gets.”

Conclusion

If you want to reduce defects, improve customer service, increase innovation or up-sell more; don’t spend energy on mistakes and punishing people. Instead work on supporting people’s motivation, focus, and progress over time.

That’s a sobering thought.

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Michael Cushman, The Engaging Guru, wants you to master enrolling others in your truth, get the goodies of life, and change the world.  www.engagingchange.com