Change is a puzzle to me - Consequences (Part III)

Consequences.... Here's the deal - 80% of our behavior is controlled by short term consequences. 80% of all we do is likely controlled by consequences that occur immediately or very, very shortly after the behavior. So when you ask "why am I having so much trouble meeting my long term goals?" it is probably because the consequences are too deferred. Or, if you are running a change program and you are espousing the long-term WIIFM for your employees - chances are that the control of the short-term consequences are more powerful than your "long-term" message. I often times have to remind project sponsors that it is not enough to just have a robust communication and training plan - you also need to have a plan which reinforces the baby steps that start to approximate the long-term desired result. Easier said than done, of course.