Have you ever tried to “just get healthy”? Eat better? Get in shape?
January 1st is a month away, and a lot of people are already planning to “invest in themselves more.”
After 18 years coaching leaders into the best shape of their lives, and now helping to reshape their culture - I keep seeing the same pattern.
We think change is about motivation, or the best strategy.
It’s not.
Change breaks because leaders make the same 3 mistakes people make when trying to get fit.
1. VAGUE VISION
“Premium service experience.”
“A high-performing culture.”
“A team committed to excellence.”
These are the “get healthy” of the corporate world.
A vibe. A wish. A motivational poster.
But not something you can see - it doesn't pass the "videotape test".
If I were to record a video of “premium service experience,” what exactly would be happening in the frame?
If I’d film you “being in shape,” what would I see? How would I measure you getting there?
If you can’t describe it in observable, unmistakable terms, you can’t execute it consistently. Leave alone 1000+ people trying to do it!
You can’t coach toward it.
You can’t expect anyone to deliver it.
Clarity isn’t nice-to-have.
Clarity is THE MUST of effective change process.
2. Clarity AND Autonomy
Once we know what “great” looks like, the next question becomes:
How do I get people to do it without micromanaging them to death?
This is the part leaders often miss.
The same way I get a coaching client to follow through:
We choose the destination, we define the winning state, we explore why it matters, and then I ask:
“Being the expert on your life, what do you think is the best next step to get there?”
It creates ownership. And they do indeed what will work best - I'm not the one living their life, doing their job.
Ownership, autonomy, freedom unlocks creativity, energy, and commitment you’ll never get through instructions alone.
Organizations need that same 2-way conversation at scale -
vision from the center, solutions from the edges that align.
That’s how you get consistency without control.
Alignment without resistance.
Innovation without chaos.
3. Measure What Changes
Leaders love tracking NPS, OKRs, service quality scores…
The same way individuals love stepping on a scale every morning.
In coaching we learn to re-direct our clients from outcome goals to their behavior goals.
Outcomes are lagging indicators you can't directly influence with your day-to-day.
You don’t control NPS.
You don’t control weight loss.
You control daily actions!
In fitness:
Not the number on the scale but showing up for workouts, planning meals, getting to bed on time.
In organizations:
Not targets but the behaviors that make targets possible.
If you’re not tracking, celebrating, and making visible daily behavior change, the system will collapse before the results ever appear.
Change, any change always comes back to human psychology
This morning, hiking with WGW in Cape Town, an entrepreneur said something that resonated:
“Maybe it’s time we stop designing solutions for how we wish humans behaved (rational systems) and start designing for how our brains actually work.”
Yes.
Exactly that.
Just like we design the physical world to fit our bodies, we must start designing our plans to fit our brains.
Whether you’re changing your own habits or guiding a thousand people through transformation, the rules are the same.
Human psychology doesn't change - it simply multiplies.
So, over to you dear reader,
Are you working with how humans brains are?
Or are you still fighting human nature and wondering why change feels like a battle?
