Unit 6: Implementing SIDE

It can be tempting to take on the big hairy audacious goal (BHAG) as your first project, but honestly, I don’t recommend it. Remember, you have to reduce the inhibiting pressures in your org and ramp up the promoting pressures to get applied behavioral science adopted. So start with something small, that gives a demonstration and is low risk.  Ideally, you want something where you don’t have to ask for permission and it is entirely within your control.

You will need to start delivering value at some point, so start thinking like an executive. You want to reach over into the business and operational models to understand the cost and benefits that are unique to your business.

Get people who are already interested in behavioral science involved in the process. Find the things they’re doing right, reward and scaffold those, and bring them closer to other parts of the organization. Lunch time talks are a great way to find your champions and those who are going to support you in your work; remember, someone from the BeSci.io collective is always happy to give a talk for free to help your organization get excited.