Social Pressure as a force for change
Bite sized leadership advice
Social pressure is a powerful force for change. One that cannot be ignored.
We try and fit into our social groups, we adapt our choices and behaviours to remain socially acceptable within our groups.
We will look to others if we are unsure and assume that members of the group have more information or experience than we do. We don’t want to stand out and often give the socially correct answer.
We work to minimise conflict within the group, aiming for consensus, actively discounting alternate viewpoints and isolating the group from outside influences. We avoid difficult conversations within the group often focusing on the trivial instead.
If you have ever wondered how an upstanding citizen can be found to be a football hooligan at the weekend, it is down to the socially accepted behaviours of the groups that they are part of, each will be different.
Once we are part of a group, the importance to us of remaining a member of the group can outweigh our individual ethics.
The thing is, and this is the magic. Every group has a leader who sets the socially acceptable behaviour, whether that is a family, friend, interest or work group. In a work setting as the leader, the team will look to you.
How you behave, and the socially acceptable behaviours you set will determine how your team behaves. They will follow what you do, not what you say.
To change the behaviour of your group, change your own, consistently. Call out the behaviours you don’t like, reward those that you do.
If you find yourself adjusting to the behaviours of your team, so that you fit, take a moment to reflect. Who is the leader here?
If the behaviours are very strong and well established you may need to ‘run with the horse to change the direction’, but do not lose sight of what you want to achieve.
If you find yourself at logger heads with your team, isolated by the group, you are at risk, you cannot lead if your team will not follow you.
Have you noticed how often high profile CEO’s leave businesses after 12–18 months, either publicly or quietly. Typically because they were unable or unwilling to adapt to a stronger set of behaviours and became isolated.
Be aware of the group dynamic and who is setting the socially acceptable behaviours, is it you?
Bonus item: The socially acceptable behaviours of a group are also known as ‘culture’. Culture is made up of the beliefs, behaviours and assumptions held within a group, any group. Only two things change culture; Crisis and Leadership.
Extra bonus item: We talk about the impact of social biases on changing organisations in our Medium article Humans are Predictable, which includes tactics to overcome the biases.
This is part of our Leadership Wizdom series, bite sized leadership advice for leaders who wish to improve their leadership, but don’t have much time. For more indepth articles check out The Change Wizard. We also coach leaders and help their organisations become more adaptable at www.thechangewizard.com
