I recently read an remarkable book called Switch, by Dan and Chip Heath.
The book focuses on the necessary elements to efficiently making a change – in your individual or professional life or in your company or organization.
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**Elephant, Rider, and Path**
The book investigates change by way of 3 metaphors: 2 for various aspects of the personalities of the folks affected by a change, as well as one representing the situation around that change.
Initially described in The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt, the 3 part metaphor used in Switch is both entertaining as well as insightful (I haven’t read this book yet myself, but it’s been added to my eternally growing inventory of required reading!).
I could truthfully go on forever about the details of this metaphor, because I believe it's nothing short of brilliant, but I’ll try to keep it short.
The shortened version is that an individual's psyche is comprised of 2 segments (Freud had a similar philosophy). These two elements are described as an Elephant that has a Rider sitting on top of it's back. The Rider's job is to do his best to control the Elephant and guide him in the right direction..
On occasion the Elephant and the Rider do not always see eye to eye on what route to go in - unfortunately the Rider is only tough enough to pull the Elephant along for a fleeting periodof time.
According to the metaphor in the book, the "Elephant" portion of our psyche tends to hunt for the path of least resistance. This is the part of us that relies on habits an emotions when decisions need to be made. Our “Elephants” represent action – not thought or analysis, just response to the world around us.
The "weakness" of the Elephant is that it depends on feelings, habits, and instincts that do not always coincide with the changes we are attempting to make. Often times the Elephant - which is basically ourselves - needs assistance being persuaded to go with a less recognizable alternative.
The Rider comes into play when the path we need to take isn't something the Elephant is comfortable with. It is the Rider's job to direct the Elephant in the right direction, even when the Elephant resists (meaning we struggle with the self-control or restraint to continue).
The Rider is the Elephant's opposite. While the Elephant relies on feelings and instinct, the Rider specializes in analysis as well as "big picture".
The Rider's greatest challenge is spending too much time weighing his options. He can easily get caught over thinking things and spinning his wheels when what we actually need to do is ACT.
Haidt's metaphor also describes the environment (the third critical component to an effective change) surrounding us as the Path that the Elephant and Rider must travel. This can be the culture, the attitudes of the people around you or systems that are already in place that help or hinder your efforts.
**Seeing The Metaphor In Action**
Throughout Switch, Dan and Chip Heath demonstrate effective change with a simple, three part process based on the metaphor described above:
* Motivate the Elephant
* Direct the Rider
* Shape the Path
Each of the steps in this process is the focus of one of the books three main sections. Essentially, you need to get the Elephant moving, give the Rider a clear destination to travel in (preventing him from spinning his wheels) and shape the Path you’re traveling on to eliminate or avoid obstacles.
All three of these sections is further broken down into three smaller pieces, and the book is full of examples of all off the different components.
As you progress through the book, the authors share a multitude of stories surrounding various changes and how this model applies to their success. These changes range from individuals to companies, from departments to entire corporations and governments.
**Why This Book Works So Well**
While I fully enjoyed this book, I certainly recognize that it probably doesn't sound like the most entertaining material ever written. In spite of that fact, the authors did a very good job of making it an extremely entertaining book to read.
The structure of the book is extremely well organized, allowing the different chapters to reinforce one another.
There are also plenty of humorous asides scattered all through the book, so it keeps the text from becoming mundane.
For a book filled with so many different stories, the authors are really good about outlining the similarities that illustrate the message of the book.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that this book is loaded with moments that leave you thinking “Yup. I totally do that…”
All in all, this a great read for anyone who has a habit they don’t like, or something they think they need to improve in their life or their business (which I think covers pretty much all of us ;) )
I recently read an remarkable book called Switch, by Dan and Chip Heath.