The insights of Self-Defeating Habits of Otherwise Brilliant People® are powerful and self-sustaining. However, many clients reinforce the seminar with a four-hour session where participants apply the principles directly to specific behaviors within their team.

At the end of the meeting the group leaves with a written ‘Code of Conduct,’ a surprisingly effective tool for eliminating behaviors that drive wedges between individuals and groups.

Steps:

Participants individually brainstorm group behaviors that are eroding trust and productivity. Individual lists are combined into a master list.

Through weighted voting the list is narrowed to the top behaviors participants would most like to eliminate.

The team divides into working groups. Each small group tackles one destructive habit and writes a suggested behavior to replace it. The small groups present their drafts to the assembly.

Drafts are modified until all group members are comfortable embracing the new guideline, as their own personal behavior, starting the next working day.

After writing a Code of Conduct, individuals stop irresponsible behaviors that are continuing because, “Everyone does it.” Through participation and inclusion the entire group simultaneously embraces more respectful and professional norms. After the session, the code is made visible throughout the workplace and read at the start of meetings.

Codes are powerful documents that individuals own and honor. They provide an effective way for groups to collectively raise their ethical and professional behavior, reaffirm trust and embrace norms of mutual respect.