Welcome back to our monthly book club and this month I share with you one of Dave Dean’s all-time favourite books.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg looks at those pesky things that always make us do things that feel counterproductive or bad for us. Of course, the book looks at how we can make habits work for us and our businesses as well.
It delves into how habits are formed in the rst place and what triggers them. In my case it gave me a great insight into why, when I pick up a glass of red wine, I have a sudden craving for chocolate! Even when I never eat chocolate at any other time. It’s the sub conscious trigger that fuels the urge.
Habits can be changed, if we understand how they work
The book is divided into three parts:
The first section focuses on how habits emerge within individual lives. It explores the neurology of habit formation and how to build new positive habits and change old ones.
The second part examines the habits of successful companies and organisations. It uses an example of how one particular business went from being a struggling business to becoming a top Dow Jones performer by focusing on one keystone habit.
The third looks at the habits of societies by using Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement and how they changed ingrained social habits.
There is a congruent theme throughout the book:
Habits can be changed, if we understand how they work.
The author uncovers how the right habits were crucial to the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and as previously mentioned Martin Luther King Jr.
I, personally, as a keen sportsman, was fascinated by the sections on, possibly the greatest ever Olympian, Michael Phelps. How his long-time coach Bob Bowman instilled winning habits and routines that he used throughout his entire career.
The book gives us a great insight into the why our behaviours become automatic and by understanding how it happens we can all rebuild these patterns in whichever way we choose.
It is a great read and blends well the science and practical advice to help you instill those winning habits.
ISBN 978-1-847-94624-9
