Sometimes a nudge is all that’s needed
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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.