6. Lasting change is not about revolution but evolution

Our good friend Bill Ferrence, who was manager of Boulder Dam Credit Union for more than 30 years once shared that had taken him twenty years to work through the two legal pads full of notes he had taken from a leadership training seminar conducted by the legendary coach John Wooden, winner of ten NCAA national championships in a twelve year period.

Bill innately understood what Harvard University and the Carnegie foundation later proved.  Having clearly defined and emotionally compelling goals only accounts for 15-25% of any end result.  75-85% of the benefits come from providing consistent and persistent desirable consequences.

Recent studies by Stanford University published in How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer further defines the most effective rewards as those recognizing effort, lessons learned and persistence in the face of setbacks.