How to Change 'Bad' Habits

Introduction

You have habits that can limit your career development, eg weak interpersonal skills, tendency to procrastinate, limited technical prowess, etc.

Research has shown that successful people
"...talk about themselves as an experimental psychologist might prefer to his cherished lab rat......insightful self-changers come to realise the best way to control the behaviour was to take control of the things that control them. They overcame the naive hubris of seeing themselves as solitary rational actors who actions are a product of wilful choice..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016

However, research has shown that we have far less control over our behaviour than we think
"...We are profoundly shaped by outside forces that manipulate, distract, arouse, and impede us..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016

We need to accept this and use it in our favour, ie
"...Path to controlling your behaviour was to take control of these relentless sources of influence, essentially manipulating yourself into seeing a situation differently..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016

Research has shown that
"...it takes about 66 days to form a new habit..."
Lally et al as quoted by Gretchen M Spreitzer et al, 2011

People often report that it is difficult to change habits that have become ingrained over time or to initiate a new habit.

Some tactics to help change habits

i) manipulate distance (physical surroundings are a powerful influence of your choice; as your choice is strongly influenced by what you see, put 'bad' things far away and bring 'good' things closer to change behaviour, eg
"...If you are trying to overcome procrastination, don't sit in places that offer attractive distractions..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016).

ii) change your friends (other people have a great influence on your behaviour
"...spend less time with people who reinforce a bad behaviour, and spend more time with people who support a good behaviour..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016)

iii) schedule yourself (you have a default bias; need to schedule time to do things)

iv) train yourself (both lack of will and/or skill can demotivate you:
"...create structured practice opportunities to increase your competence and your motivation will follow......Make yourself feel differently about gaining any new behaviours by seeing it as a process of systematic skill acquisition..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016)

v) change your frame (frame choices differently:
"...use phrases to bolster your motivation by framing the decision in a way that connects to your personal values and goals..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016

Be positive rather than negative.

Summary

"...most of us are blind to the many forces that shape our choices. We overestimate the degree to which we are the product of conscious choice and grossly underestimate the power of situational and social forces..."
Joseph Grenny, 2016

You need to acknowledge this and use it to your advantage.