My journey of building long lasting habits, goals and using learning’s at work

Happy to share, today I have reached a streak of reading books everyday for the past 365 days! Sure, I am thrilled about this consistency, though this post is not about celebrating it rather sharing about what went into making it happen, what tools I learnt and used, as well few other habits/goals and co-relating the same to my experiences with Agile Coaching.

Late November 2019, while conducting?Leadership training as part of Agile@Scale program in my organization, one of the topics in the session was “Growth Mindset over Fixed Mindset”. After few activities the participants were sharing their areas of life where they will take on Growth mindset. As a trainer, even I took on one area — that is of reading book everyday. I used to read a lot earlier though not daily, quite inconsistent that year. The Fixed mindset I was with is “I don’t have time to read daily, I am already overwhelmed with all the things I am doing every day.” With Growth mindset I declared to everyone “I will create my day and reading is one of the things I will take on everyday”.

With this, the first book I picked on is “Atomic Habits” by?James Clear. It’s second chapter focuses on relationship between habits/goals and Identity. There are 3 layers of behavior change to accomplish an habit/goal. A change in your outcomes, a change in your process, or a change in your identity.

Further in the chapter, I hit upon something similar to what I had learnt in personal transformation programs from?Landmark?that I am participating since over last 10 years, and all the training, coaching, distinctions practice definitely accelerated in me adopting learning’s from the book quickly and even while implementing them. In the book James says, typically most of us try to change or have an outcome (result), subsequently change the involved process or actions, but we rarely alter the Identity. This is Outcome based habit, and this limits in building an habit over a period or achieving a goal. An example from the book is, a Smoker tries to quit smoking, here quitting is an outcome but when the identity remains that of a smoker, most likely it results in failure, for a smoker smokes!

Recommended approach is Identity based habit where, one creates a new identity, create process consistent to the identity which can lead to outcomes one is interested in or even better ones. With same example, now if smoker creates/assumes a new identity of a healthy person, someone who cares of their body and others, enables them to adopt right process that can lead to the outcome of quitting smoking.

I created the Identity of a Reader, someone who is passionate to read, learn and expand my perspectives. I created few process being in this identity — scheduled to read for at least 15 mins before sleeping everyday. If I am having an over scheduled evening then read sometime during the day while on break or early morning, some times delaying sleep by few mins. Moved completely to Kindle for flexibility to read anywhere. Also Shared with wife, daughter, friends that I am doing this, seeking their support and encouragement during the initial period. Have re-prioritized my activities consistent to this identity. As an outcome, from Nov 1st 2020 to Jan 14th 2021 missed reading on 4 days, and since then its an year and have not missed it a single day! During this period have read 19 books! Another first for me! It required recreating the Identity in an ongoing manner and then deal with real un-workabilities that were there on few occasions over the year.

Another example is Learning French. I am learning french for 5–10 mins everyday since more than 3 years on?Duolingo?app, and for over an year have not missed learning any day. The Identity I created is that of a learner who is curious, committed and excited. With the process in place, outcome is I can read in French at intermediary level and speak at beginners level.

This year in the two weeks so far, at work, especially in meetings have taken the identity of someone who is intentional, purposeful. Consistent to that, have put in process of rather than rushing into, prepare for the meetings on whats expected, its outcomes, possible surprises and more, taking notes during meetings and act as needed later. As an outcome I see I am much more active in meetings, interested in what’s happening, what others are saying, sharing my thoughts, following up on my actions.

Now co-relating above to some of my experiences in Agile Coaching. Greater success has been seen when managers, team members, product owners take on resourceful identity like being Responsible, committed, bold, open to act such a way that Transformation results in real value for the teams and business. Developers taking on Identity of being Craftperson who is willing to explore, be curious and willing to learn from failures, leading to Outcomes of figuring out ways to write Unit tests in legacy, poorly designed code. Improving code quality with continuous focus on quality.

Similarly when people have operated with Identity that isn’t conducive for transformation like being Fixed, pessimistic, resigned due to their own valid reasons has led to outcomes such as Impact-less transformation for the teams, business, and sometimes turning into a checklist transformation. Needless to say these are less pleasurable experiences, sometimes even results in strained working relationships. As a coach, its an opportunity to explore how people can move towards resourceful Identity, including self leading to better outcomes.

What new habit are you taking on? What goals are you taking on this year? Do share about your journey.

PS: There’s lot more interesting tools, learning’s in Atomic Habits book, I strongly recommend reading it. And even greater recommendation to participate in Landmark’s programs for life altering self transformation, and for an access to living the life you love.

Pics credit: Three layers of Behavior change, Outcome based habits and Identity based habits are from Atomic Habits book by James Clear.

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