Butterflies in a garden are always a positive sign because they serve a few important roles. First, like bees, they are pollinators. Second, they are an indicator of environmental health. And third, they are a toxin-free form of pest control as they love to eat many of the tiny pests that destroy our plants. They might be small but it turns out the butterfly can have a major impact on a garden. This is what a gardener might call the butterfly effect. However, There is another meaning to the term. The Butterfly Effect The butterfly effect is a term used to describe the phenomenon where a minor change in circumstances can cause a large change to the outcome. The phrase, which is associated with Chaos Theory, has recently been used in movies and TV shows to describe what can happen when you take small but significant actions in your life. It often takes just one small action from a leader to trigger a huge change in their team’s performance over time. I was reminded of the power of small changes recently when I read a book called “Switch” by Dan and Chip Heath. They talk about a program that changed the health of a community by asking people to make one small change: to buy 1% fat milk instead of full cream milk. The Power of a 1% Change The “1% change” model was highly effective and made it much easier for people to change because they only have to make one simple decision. However, it is very powerful because that one decision prompted people to think of other ways they could be improving their health. Once they see how easy it is to make one change they are eager to make more. This model can be applied to many areas of life. Researchers have found that when you overload people with choices or ask them to make multiple changes to their behaviour they respond by doing nothing. The same is true at work when a leader asks their team to change their behaviour. Instead of starting slowly and getting some small victories, we go out hard and fast trying to maximise our results. This usually has the opposite effect, with team members burning out or change initiatives not “sticking” and people reverting to their old ways. Small and Important Changes This is why I encourage people in my programs to think about the small but important changes they can make in their role. You don’t have to change everything you do to get a result. You just need to know what the right changes are to create the maximum impact. You need to know what your butterfly effect is. To get you started on this process, here are some small but significant changes you could make with your team that will have a big impact on their performance:
- In your meetings, share one positive thing from the last week
- Start an ideas board where people can share the tips and tricks they use to make their job easier
- Encourage your team to learn one new skill each week
- Have a 5 minute ‘stand up’ meeting at the start of each day so everyone knows what is happening
The next time you are walking in a park or garden and see a butterfly, remind yourself of the impact this small creature can have on nature, and use this as a trigger to help you improve your skills as a leader.
