Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Power of Habit [Chapter 4]

Haley Scholars Spring 2013 Reading Groups

By Cindy Lyles

In this chapter, Duhigg introduces Paul O’Neill, one of the most influential, former CEOs of Alcoa. By instituting routines surrounding worker safety, his leadership made Alcoa one of the safest companies in the world while also skyrocketing profits to record high numbers. Safety may seem an arbitrary target to focus on when rebuilding a company, but O’Neill recognized it as something far greater; a keystone habit.

According to Duhigg, “Some habits have the power to start a chain reaction, changing other habits as they move through an organization” (100). In this respect, keystone habits are more significant than others because they can alter other patterns of behavior. As powerful as they are, however, they can be difficult to identify.

What was one notable way that Duhigg's descriptions and explanations of keystone habits solidified or altered your overview of habits? 

5 comments:

Robyn r said...

Everyone has good or bad habits. They are habits meaning that we tend to do these things so much we don't even think before we do them. I do believe that keystone habits are more significant than others. I look at it as a cause and effect relationship in a way. Because a person may exhibit x(keystone habit) then that results in y(changes in behavior or consequence that aren't wanted). It's important that we identify those keystone habits especially the ones that don't produce an outcome that we like.

Monique Williams said...

According to Duhigg, these keystone habits are simple habits that can benefit other or multiple areas in our life. Although this may sound as if it is a simple concept, it actually can be very difficult.
When reading about keystone habits and their ability to benefit other areas of my life, I instantly thought of exercise. I feel too often I downplay the importance of this habit, when in fact it heavenly influences many aspects of my life. For example, not only do I try to make exercising a priority, but I also try to eat right. I also try to get the right amount of sleep so I can have enough energy when working out. What I hope this shows is that just exercising benefits other aspects in my life like my eating, sleeping habits, and work ethic. Very simple habits can turn into huge things. Exercising is not only beneficial during the time of the workout, but I can feel a difference within myself always.

Yasmyn K. said...

Duhigg's explanation of keystone habits solidify the my overview of habits. For example, throughout each semester at SIUE, I make it my main goal to give my academics most(if not all) of my attention. This includes studying, talking to professors, and anything that is necessary for me to become successful academically. My habits helped establish a very high GPA and a spot on the Dean's List.

Jacquelene Greene said...

Before reading Duhigg's chapter 4, I viewed habits as behaviors that were set in stone. Until now, I did not realize there are certain behaviors that contribute to others to make them habits. For example, Duhigg discusses a situation in which educating teachers about nutrition would prevent the habit of malnourished babies and premature births. Before, I would have never considered all the chain of events or factors that could have been the cause of one habit.

Jacquelene Anneice Greene

Ke'Asha jones said...

now i see habits in a totally different view i never saw habits as a result of chain of reaction events bur after reading this I realized everything I do related to school is based off of chain reaction events because I make it a habit to be studious because of every grade I get from my teachers