The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change
Award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg translates cutting-edge behavioural science into practical self-improvement action, distilling advanced neuroscience into fascinating narratives of transformation.
Why can some people and companies change overnight, and some stay stuck in their old ruts? The answer lies deep in the human brain, and The Power of Habits reveals the secret pressure points that can change a life.
Rob Woods of Bright Spot sees practical applications in this book for fundraisers. He highlights Duhigg’s notion of Key Stone Habits, “the one or two habits that have a positive effect on lots of other helpful behaviours”.
Of course, the best habits will differ according to which type of fundraising you do. Woods recommends that for major donor, community and corporate fundraisers, “one keystone habit that clearly stands out in the ultra-successful is a focus on getting out of the office to have plenty of informal conversations (or ‘cups of tea coffee / tea’) with donors and potential donors”.
How do you make these key stone habits stick? According to Duhigg it is ‘belief’ – belief that they matter, that you can do them, and that the benefits will be worth the effort.
One way of cementing that belief can be to join with others who share that habit or focus. Duhigg says:
‘Belief is easier when it occurs within a community.’
Read Rob Woods’ Key Stone Habits – how could you use them to grow fundraising income?
Buy on Bookshop.org Buy on Amazon“Plenty of business books that try to tap into the scientific world manage to distil complicated research into readable prose. But few take the next step and become essential manuals for business and living. The Power of Habit is an exception.”
