Sometimes a nudge is all that’s needed

If we can help men aim better in public toilets, then surely we can nudge our teams at work towards higher performance and greater job satisfaction.

My daughters came out of a public toilet at a shopping center this weekend. They had a look of disgust on their faces. “It smells SO bad in there!”

I wanted to know just how bad it was, so I asked them if it was worse than a men’s room. Without a moment’s hesitation and with one voice they said: “Oh no dad, not THAT bad!”

One of the less delightful realties of a men’s room is spillage. Although they’re super convenient and a real space-saver, urinals put men’s ability to aim to the test. And I’m sad to say, it’s not a test we always pass with flying colors.

But there’s hope for men! I learned recently of a fascinating example of a small intervention that yielded significant results.

In the men’s restrooms in the Airport in Amsterdam, they put a picture of a fly in each urinal. The idea was that by helping gents focus, their aim would improve. And it worked like a charm. Spillage rates were reduced by 80%!

This story is challenging me as a leader. Of course we need goals and processes, but how can I influence the environment that our teams work in to nudge them towards feeling fulfilled, working in harmony and being productive?

I think it’s an under-explored aspect of corporate leadership and one I want to learn more about and improve in personally.