Habit Formation and Behavior Change

Habit Formation

• Habit is formed at the intersection of three key components: knowledge, skill, and desire.
• Knowledge provides the theoretical foundation, encompassing the what and why of a particular behavior.
• Skill represents the practical application, addressing the how to do aspect of the behavior.
• Desire serves as the motivational driver, providing the want to do aspect necessary to adopt a behavior as a habit.
• All three components - knowledge, skill, and desire - are essential to successfully make a behavior a habit in our lives.

SMARTER Goals Framework

• A structure used to develop realistic, attainable, and efficient goals or objectives
• Builds on the SMART goals framework, adding two extra characteristics: evaluated and revised

Characteristics of SMARTER Goals

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-based
• Evaluated
• Revised

Benefits of SMARTER Goals

• Helps maximize potential for success
• Enables tracking of progress
• Avoids setting unachievable or poorly timed objectives
• Effective in both personal and professional environments

Creating Specific Goals

• Ensures goals are single and focused, making them easier to achieve
• Helps determine the steps to achieve them
• Example: Adjusting the goal from "I want to work in leadership" to "I want to work as a supervisor in the HR department"
• Increased specificity: "I want to work as an HR supervisor for Unique Foods, Inc. within six months"