One-off change
A single change is the intentional correction of one selected element of a behavior, system or habit rather than a simultaneous reconstruction of the whole thing.
Definition
In practice, change often becomes more effective when it is small in scale and has a clear point of view. A single change allows you to see what really works, without confusing the effects of many interventions at once. It is especially useful for building habits, behavioral experiments and improving systems.
Key ideas
- Small scale
- Better observability
- Impact testing
Practice and life
Choose one item to change for 7 days, and do not make any further changes until you see the effect.
Common misconceptions
It's a mistake to change five things at once and then not know what worked. It is also a mistake to ignore a small change because it does not look spectacular.
> Often it is not the whole thing that needs improvement, but a single, seemingly insignificant point.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What one thing will I change now?
- How will I measure the effect?
- What won't I change at the same time?