How do I use "nudge theory" to manage a small team?

Do you want a more productive team — without using extra resources?

Or empower your team without being overbearing?

Learn about nudge theory and how you can use "nudges" to lead small teams effectively!

Photo by Antonio Janeski on Unsplash

Nudge theory is an approach that gently influences people towards a desired decision.

It's a concept from behavioral economics popularized by authors Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein.

"Nudges" aim to make processes smoother and make it easier to influence behavior and achieve goals. They're usually low-cost and easy to put in place.

Nudge Theory Example

Consider a school cafeteria. With salads and fruits placed at eye level and ultra-processed foods being more difficult to see, students are "nudged" to make healthier decisions.

Not a Nudge ❌

1. Incentivizing team members to go for walks during breaks to promote healthy living

2. Penalizing employees for submitting their outputs late and calling them out during team meetings

3. Removing perks for employees who don't practice sustainability in the workplace

Nudge 👉🏼

1. Having a leaderboard showing the number of steps each employee has taken for every week

2. Using a project management software that clearly shows expected deadlines and tasks

3. Posting visual reminders near exits to remind people to turn off the lights before leaving the room

Here are examples of useful nudges to help you manage small teams.

1. Make Nudges the Default

Default rules set acceptable behavior in teams. You can set up default processes like "Clean as You Go" in pantries or "No emails on weekends" to help set desired behavior for your teams without costing a dime.

Share default rules during orientation and onboarding. You can also share your own workflows and lead by example.

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2. Make Nudges Easy

People often opt for the easier choice that doesn't cause too much friction, so make it easy for your employees to choose the desired behavior.

For instance, you can encourage more collaboration in your team by rearranging your furniture! This can allow people to sit and brainstorm together at work.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

3. Make Nudges Visible

Attract people's attention through visual guides, like sticking reminders to refill the coffee machine if someone takes the last of the prepared coffee, unplug the printer when not in use, or to encourage asking help when they feel stuck.

4. Make Nudges Timely

Timely reminders will ensure that employees can deliver on time. Set up scheduled reminders for tasks that are almost due, or create a shared calendar that's visible to everyone. Set up regular check-in meetings that work for you, like 15 minutes daily or 1 hour weekly meetings.

5. Make Nudges Cool

Encourage actions that are done well, share them publicly, and explain what they mean for your team. This helps establish accepted behaviors so the others can follow.

Give a team shoutout when your cafeteria has reduced weekly food waste by 10kgs. This helps encourage others follow this is a desired behavior.

The more specific and local the nudge, the easier it is for a person to follow.

With the help of nudges, you can help empower your team while achieving your desired results. Reflect on these points as you plan for your nudges.

• Where does the team often get stuck?

• What behaviors do I want to encourage?

• How can I implement nudges that align with our desired culture?

• Where can I support the team's decision-making?

• Am I being respectful of each member of my team?

• Which nudge should I try first? How can I ask the team for feedback?

Check out more resources below to help you manage your team using principles of nudge theory: