What Is She Reading? Patti Johnson

Patti Johnson, career and workplace strategist, the CEO of PeopleResults, and a speaker at the Oct. 24 Texas Conference for Women, offers her thoughts on The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg in the first edition of “What is She Reading?”

I started The Power of Habit after it was recommended by Martha, a PeopleResults colleague. It’s a nice blend of research and stories about the power of our habits ~ interesting and easy to read.

I was surprised to learn that 40% of what we do is habitual! Triggers drive our behaviors often without us ever making a conscious decision. The Power of Habit looks at everything from personal habits, such as exercising or smoking, to business and consumer purchase decisions.

Duhigg explains that every habit has a sequence: a trigger, followed by the habit and then the reward. Some habits help us with complex tasks, such as driving, but can also keep us from making the changes we most want to make.

My takeaway, so far, is that we don’t have to be defined by our habits because we can change our triggers and routine. This book gives me a fresh perspective to take a new look at my own habits, as well as potential roadblocks to organizational change.

It’s not a self-help book, but makes you really think about what you do and why you do it.  I recommend it if you want to learn more about how to change a habit in your life or at work.

Patti Johnson is a career and workplace strategist and the CEO of PeopleResults, a change and human resources consultancy she created in 2004.  Johnson and her team advise clients such as PepsiCo, Microsoft, Hitachi Consulting, Frito-Lay and many others on creating positive change in their leaders and organizations. In addition to leading the consulting practice, she is also an executive coach. Prior to starting her firm, she was a senior executive at Accenture. As an expert at SUCCESS magazine, she is an ongoing contributor, as well as a frequent guest on Fox’s “Good Day.”  She has been featured as an expert for media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, MSNBC, “Today Money” and “Working Mother.” She is an instructor for SMU Executive Education and a keynote speaker on ‘Leading Change in Organizations and Careers’.   @pattibjohnson