HABIT
Bernd Schiffer
AGILE
30/06/2017 LAST Conference Melbourne 2017
DEVELOPMENT
"Magnified: Jerry Gurney" by ThrasherMagazine (10/06/2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUx3s8F5X2Q )
PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL
What is a Habit?
• “Actions performed routinely in certain contexts and situations
often unconsciously.”
• automated goal-oriented behaviour
Source: ”Force of habit" by Teal Burrell in NewScientist, 16/01/2016
Why Habits?
• to anchor behaviour
• to master a skill
• to save energy
40 % of our daily behaviour is habitual.
Source: ”Force of habit" by Teal Burrell in NewScientist, 16/01/2016
Source: ”Is it worth the time?” by XKCD, https://xkcd.com/1205
Habits do not form
through willpower
EGO

DEPLETION
4 VARIABLES FOR HABIT DEVELOPMENT
Patience Small Steps Schedule Convenience
66
Patience
How long will it take to form a habit?
18minimum
66average
254maximum
Source: ”Here's how long it takes to break a habit, according to science" by Signe Dean (24/09/2015, http://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-long-it-takes-to-break-a-habit-according-to-science )
Small Steps
Brush One
Tooth at a Time
Source: ”Tim Ferriss and Neil Strauss Talk Writing, Creativity on creativeLIVE" by Tim Ferris and Neil Strauss ( 13/07/2013, http://youtu.be/2dTQWQXhSJU )
Scheduling
Habits form better
when done regularly
and frequently
+ +
Scheduling
Tie new habit to something you already do
Source: ”Force of habit" by Teal Burrell in NewScientist, 16/01/2016
The Progress Principle
• “Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and
perceptions during a workday, the single most important is
making progress in meaningful work.”
Source: "The Power of Small Wins" by Teresa Amabile and Steven J. Kramer in HBR (05.2011)
Scheduling
Scheduling
Start a

Habit Calendar
Scheduling
1. Print
empty
calendar
sheet
Scheduling
2. Tick
when
done
Scheduling
3. Cross
and
streak
when
not done
Scheduling
4.
Continue
until habit
formed
Scheduling
Scheduling
✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ❌ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ❌ ❌ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠
Scheduling
Slipped just once? No big deal. Your momentum carries you.
Never slip twice. Lost momentum makes it hard to get back up.
Source: ”Force of habit" by Teal Burrell in NewScientist, 16/01/2016
Convenience
A key for developing
a habit is making its
execution as
convenient as
possible.
Convenience
"A clever tweak to how apples are sold is making everyone eat more of them" by Roberto A. Ferdman in The Washington Post (19.05.2016,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/05/19/the-apple-industrys-strange-savior/?utm_term=.65ade537d973 )
Sliced Apples
• 60-70% higher
apple consumption
• "…even the
simplest forms of
inconvenience affect
consumption…”
Convenience
Effects of Co-location on Meetings
• higher attendance rate
• more punctual
Convenience
Convenience
Fist to Five
• “How much value did you get out
of this meeting?”
• Most convenient way for everyone
to get feedback after a meeting
Convenience
4 VARIABLES FOR HABIT DEVELOPMENT
Patience Schedule Convenience
66
Small Steps
When best to start a new habit?
After vacation, office move, new team/project, etc.
We don't rise to the
level of our
expectations, we fall to
the level of our training.
Archilochos
THANK YOU!
@berndschiffer

boldmover.com

agiletrail.com

linkedin:berndschiffer
HABIT
Bernd Schiffer
AGILE
30/06/2017 LAST Conference Melbourne 2017
DEVELOPMENT

Agile Habit Development at LAST Conf Melbourne 2017