b'CHANGING HABITSWhys\x1c hard ?F or more than 20 years I havephrase. Duhigg suggests experimenting with different rewards, identifying worked with coaches, trainersthe underpinning cravings that drive the routine bad behaviour. and HR professionals to amplifyPiggyback off old habitstheir results through usingAn existing well-travelled neural pathway is far stronger than a new one. neuroscience in their work, helpingIdentify if the habit takes place at the same time or in the same location them to awaken the brains of theiror responds to the same cue all the time? If so, that existing strong neural clients for increased self-awareness,pathway can be used and accessed to piggyback off desired habits to emotional engagement and deepkeep and replace those that dont work. transformational change. Repetition of the new neural circuit will make it stronger and it will Neuroscience is deepening the scientifi ceventually overtake the old one. This is a constant practise and will understanding of human behaviour and psychologyembed over time so consistency to re-wire is key. The brain will want to and is beginning to offer some answers for why we behaveconvert back to the old pathways and this is what makes it hard to change the way we do. This offers new possibility for coachessometimes.to enrich their work and the for clients toTips to form new habitsexperience more transformation change inForming a new habit requires more up-front effort to lay down new the area of changing habits that dontneural pathways. (thoughts)serve them well. COACH MAGAZINEHere are some top tips to share with your coaching clients:Coaching can reveal non-servingREADER OFFER1: Be clear on the motivation for the new habit, their habits and it is useful to explain toWHY - coach them to visualise their success in achieving clients how easily habits embed.5 free sessions available for coachestheir WHY.There are 2 clear neuroscience- (1 per coach) on the MyBrain2: Enjoy the process of learning itself - if they enjoy the based reasons: International neurometric pro lingnew habit they are creating, it will be easier and quicker to Habits are rewarding tool MiND. Identify your strengthscreate a new routine.The brain is the most complexand preferences and frame these3: Mind the language - eradicate shoulds and cants thing known to man, yetusing the underpinning neuroscience. from their vocabulary - their narrative must be congruent neuroscientists are beginning toEmail: with achieving their goal. understand some of the basic patterns gill.mckay@mybrain.co.uk 4: Focus on doing something not on being perfect - it is and physiological reasons for habitimportant to remind themselves that they have taken the action, formation and change - and its all abouttheyve started and theyre on their way to creating new, better being rewarded.serving habits in their life. As a behaviour is repeated time and time again, itMost people dont even ever take thatrst step but if you dont take a moves from intentional awareness into the older, more instinctive part ofstep you arent going to get anywhere.the brain. Neurons help to form habits there by releasing dopamine which provides rewarding feedback. Simply put, the habit is repeated to achieve more of the same reward so stronger neural pathways become embeddedGill McKay is an NLP Master to make it easier and more automatic to do it the same way again. Practitioner and ILM quali ed To free up cognitive capacity coach with more than 30 years Research has found that more than 40% of our actions performed eachof coaching, HR and Learning day in the same location arent conscious decisions, but habits. These habitsand Development experience. lock in because the brain is following established patterns. (Think aboutShe is co-founder of MyBrain brushing your teeth - no one stands in front of the mirror debating whetherInternational providing ICF to start on an incisor or a molar!) These routines and automated processesaccredited tools and materials to are strategies to free up the brains thinking capacity so they can focus onenable coaches and trainers apply neuroscience into goals and engage their intentional thinking.their practice. She is author of the best-selling book Changing habits using the trigger, behaviour, reward loop STUCK: Brain Smart Insights for Coaches which Habits are more challenging to change by focusing just on shifting theshares coaching stories and ways clients can create behaviour. Its important to look at the trigger and the associated reward.change by understanding the neuroscience behind The trigger, behaviour, reward loop was popularised in Charles Duhiggstheir presenting issues.excellent book The Power of Habit and is a useful tool to offer in coaching. All habits have triggers - a cue which helps the brain to kick intomybrain.co.ukautomatic habit mode. Maybe its a particular time of day, a person or a 20'