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Let’s be honest, none of us are perfect. There’s a good chance we each have at least a couple of bad habits that stand between us and the success we so badly seek.
The question then becomes how do we facilitate change when it comes to our behaviour? How can we break a habit or alter the general way of how we do things?
Well, one way is to use a technique that coaches often employ with professional athletes, and also performers.
Viewing the video tape
When it comes to evaluating performance, athletes, singers and actors are often encouraged to view recordings of themselves.
Referred to as “viewing the video tape”, it allows them to see themselves in action and make the necessary adjustments for improvement.
The great thing about this training technique is that it’s totally impartial. You get to view your own performance as someone else would see it – without bias, excuses, or your own personal rose-coloured glasses.
The reality is, we can use the exact same technique.
Old mode to new mode
If we want to move from an old mode of operation to a new one, aka break a negative habit and embrace a more positive one, we can also metaphorically “view the tape”.
In this instance we “rewind the video tape” and analyse how exactly the habit was formed in the first place, why we do it, and what it is we need to do to change.
Just five more minutes
Perhaps the best example I can offer here is a personal one, and it revolves my habit of snoozing the alarm continuously each morning.
Perhaps this doesn’t seem like a biggie, as we’ve all been there on a cold winter’s morning just longing for five more minutes of sleep.
But the reality is, if you win the morning, you win the day, and personally I feel a lot more in control of my to-do list if I start the morning early.
Now, I know getting up early makes a difference to my day, but still the habit of snoozing the alarm persisted.
So I “viewed the tape”. The metaphorical “footage” was interesting. It came down to the fact the alarm was conveniently right beside me on the bedside table – within easy reach of a floundering arm attached to someone longing for just a little more sleep.
The solution? Well, it was pretty simple. I moved the alarm to the other side of the room and set it on a dresser.
In the morning when the alarm goes off, it forces me to get out of bed to switch it off. Of course, by that stage I’m up, and the more positive morning routine has begun.
It was a simple thing, but it eliminated a habit, and the new habit had the domino effect of changing the structure or my morning and making it more productive.
What is it that you want to change?
So it begs the question, what habit or behaviour do you hope to alter? Rewind, revisit, and dig deep to determine what it is you want to change, then take the time to determine an easy and effective solution that allows you to alter that behaviour or break that habit.
Manos Findikakis is the CEO of Agents’Agency,
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