The Power of Habit – Why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg
I saw this book and I was intrigued by the title, so I decided to purchase it. A couple of people commented on how good the book was while I was waiting at the cash register, and I felt good about buying the book. It must be a good book since it was the first time that I had received that kind of feedback while waiting to pay for a book.
Habit is defined as the choices that all of us deliberately make at some point, and then stop thinking about but continue doing, often every day.1 Merriam-Webster defines it as a usual way of behaving: something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way.
Charles Duhigg starts the book by describing the habit loop, the main concept of the book. The concept is a three-step process with a “cue” that triggers an automatic response in the brain, then the routine, and finally the reward, which will trigger the whole cycle again during the next cue.2 He then brings an interesting point a few pages later, saying that habits shape our lives far more than we realize. They are so strong, in fact, that they cause our brains to cling to them at the exclusion of all else, including common sense. This is true if you think about it. How many things do we do on a daily basis without thinking that will affect our lives, even when we know that they are wrong or unwise and will degrade our quality of life.
He then describes the habit loop and mentions that craving is what powers the loop. The cue, in addition to triggering a routine, must also trigger a craving for the reward to come.3 People with strong addictions to food, alcohol, and drugs will relate to this statement.
The rest of the book is dedicated to providing suggestions on how to change habits for the better. He goes on to say that for a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible, and often this change only emerges with the help of a group.4 He also introduces willpower into the equation as a way to change habits. “Willpower is something that needs to be exercised, and with time, it will change your habits and spill over into other areas, improving your overall human condition. When you learn to force yourself to go to the gym or start your homework or eat a salad instead of a hamburger, part of what’s happening is that you’re changing how you think. That’s why signing kids up for piano lessons or sports is so important. When you learn to force yourself to practice for an hour or run fifteen laps, you start building self-regulatory strength. A five-year-old who can follow the ball for ten minutes becomes a sixth grader who can start his homework on time.”5
It offers many examples of how you can apply this loop to your personal or work life. One example is Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics crave a drink because it offers escape, relaxation, companionship, the blunting of anxieties, and an opportunity for emotional release. In order to offer alcoholics the same rewards they get at a bar, AA has built a system of meetings and companionship – the “sponsor” each member works with – that strives to offer as much escape, distraction, and catharsis as a Friday night bender. If someone needs relief, they can get it from talking to their sponsor or attending a group gathering, rather than testing a drinking buddy.6 Basically, when you have a craving instead of getting a drink, you will call your sponsor so you can relax and talk, releasing your anxiety and obtaining the reward of not drinking and staying sober. Starbucks also uses this method and describes The Latte Habit Loop or LATTE method that employees use when customers are unhappy. The method consists of listening to the customer, acknowledging their complaint, taking action by solving the problem, thanking them, and then explaining why the problem occurred.7
Overall, an outstanding book that introduces you to the topic of habits, how to identify them, and possible solutions to counter and change them. I highly recommend this book. I’m applying some of the ideas in my own life with the hope of changing some of my peculiar habits.
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 