Nudge, Sludge & Silent Comms

Nudge, Sludge and Silent Comms

Over the next six months we’ll see a burst of new L&D programmes as organisations seek to build capabilities to operate more effectively in a hybrid workplace.

However, without proper consideration of both ‘nudge’ and ‘sludge’, a lot of the learning will fail to stick…

However, without proper consideration of both ‘nudge’* and ‘sludge’, a lot of the learning will fail to stick…

Despite all the best intentions, many L&D programmes often fail to deliver long-term behavioural change.  In this webinar we explored the reasons why and how to prepare the landscape to increase the likelihood of success.

We set the scene by briefly exploring four areas that can contribute to why learning interventions fail to change behaviour.  For example, memory decay and ‘utility’ or the motivation to learn.  Mariam Mirza, OE Cam’s nudge specialist then explained the importance of the habit loop and shared examples of how various organisations have applied nudge theory to bring about behaviour change.

However, nudge theory is only part of the picture… Mike Thackray spoke about the concept of ‘sludge’ and why removing these frictions within the organisation will dramatically increase the effectiveness of learning interventions. But of equal importance is the ‘silent communicators’.  These are aspects of the organisation such as processes, policies or even physical characteristics that actively pull behaviour in an opposite direction and are at odds with what is espoused. Find and remove these, and learning will have an even greater chance of success.

But of equal importance is the ‘silent communicators’.  These are aspects of the organisation such as processes, policies or even physical characteristics that actively pull behaviour in an opposite direction and are at odds with what is espoused…

Our lead presenter was Mike Thackray, a Principal Consultant at OE Cam. Mike has a passion for helping leaders to develop better ways to achieve great outcomes through empowering and engaging others.  Our co-presenter was Mariam Mirza who specialises in applying nudge theory to design creative ways to embed new behaviours.

A recording of this webinar can be viewed opposite.  To download a copy of the slide deck, please use the form below or to talk through how to apply these ideas in your own organisation, please contact mike.thackray@oecam.com

* The term ‘Nudge’ was made popular by the book “Nudge” by Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein (2009)