Behaviour Change Strategy: Educate

Want to help everyone understand so they can take action?

Do you see people hesitating because they're not sure what to do? Do you want to make it easier for everyone to make good decisions? Whether it's helping your team, guiding leaders, or supporting researchers, everyone needs the right information to act confidently.

Discover simple ways to educate so that everyone can make informed choices and take effective action.

Here’s how you can start:

1

Explain the impact

Make it clear what might happen because of the choices people make.

2

Give feedback that helps

Offer feedback right away to help people learn and improve quickly.

3

Get people started with the perfect prompt

Help people take action by giving them the information they need when they need it and in the most helpful way.

4

Keep track of learning

Help people see how much they’ve learned, the impact it’s had on them and what they still need to work on.

How Educate
changes behaviour

  • Expanding Horizons: Education can broaden people's perspectives, allowing them to recognise new possibilities and opportunities. By providing information on the benefits and consequences of various behaviours, education can inspire individuals to make better choices.

  • Building Skills: Developing new skills can empower people to take charge of their own behaviour. Education provides the tools and techniques needed for individuals to implement and sustain behaviour change.

  • Fostering Motivation: Education can ignite intrinsic motivation by helping people understand the personal relevance and importance of a behaviour. By connecting new information to individuals' values and goals, education can inspire lasting change.

When using Educate, avoid…

The Knowledge-Action Gap

It's important to remember that knowledge alone doesn't guarantee behaviour change. To bridge the knowledge-action gap, combine education with other strategies that address barriers to change, such as restructuring or persuasion.

Cognitive Overload

Too much information can overwhelm people, causing them to disengage or struggle to retain key points. Keep your educational content concise, focused, and easy to digest to maximise its impact.

Neglecting Emotion

While facts and figures are essential, don't forget the power of emotion in driving behaviour change. Ensure your educational materials also tap into emotions to create a compelling narrative that motivates change.