Behaviour Change Strategy: Relate

Want to help people really connect with new ideas and reduce resistance?

Do you see folks struggling to relate to new plans or changes at work? Are you trying to make new habits or ideas really matter to people? Want to make sure everyone not only understands new strategies but also feels they are important?

Learn about the Relate strategy, crafted to help people see the personal relevance in new behaviours, making changes meaningful and lasting.

Here’s how you can start:

1

Understand and improve together

Help everyone see their progress and encourage continuous improvement.

2

Set goals together

Guide everyone to define goals that are meaningful and directly impactful to them.

3

Celebrate achievements and reflect together

Regularly review and celebrate successes to reinforce commitment and motivation.

How Relate
changes behaviour

  • Enhancing Personal Relevance: By helping connect new behaviours with our personal values, goals, and experiences, the Relate strategy can make these behaviours feel more meaningful and engaging.

  • Fostering Ownership: When we feel a personal connection to a behaviour, we are more likely to take ownership of it and invest effort in maintaining it. The Relate strategy encourages individuals to see new behaviours as part of their identity, increasing their commitment to change.

  • Reinforcing Behaviour: The Relate strategy promotes behaviour reinforcement through feedback, goal-setting, and self-reflection. These elements help us track our progress, celebrate our successes, and identify areas for improvement.

When using Relate, avoid…

Neglecting Individual Differences

It's essential to recognise that what is personally relevant to one individual may not resonate with another. Tailor the Relate strategy to each person's unique values, goals, and experiences for maximum effectiveness.

Inadequate Feedback

Providing infrequent or vague feedback can limit the effectiveness of the Relate strategy. Ensure feedback is timely, specific, and actionable to help individuals make meaningful progress toward their goals.

Overemphasis on Personal Relevance

While personal relevance is crucial, it's also important to consider other factors that can influence behaviour, such as social norms and environmental factors. Balance the Relate strategy with other behaviour change strategies to address these additional influences.