The power of the social environment: why rules are not always enough

The reactions of colleagues and supervisors act as a subtle reward or punishment system. This subconsciously influences whether employees follow rules or not.

For a long time it was thought that being professional meant: follow the rules and perform well. We now know that reality is not so simple. Human behavior is influenced (unconsciously) by many more factors than just motivation to do well and to follow the rules. Hiring the best people and training them well is only part of the story.

Scientific research confirms this: A person’s behavior is influenced by the reaction of others.

It is still good to have rules and procedures and to make clear what is important and what is expected. But this is not always enough.

Is a rule or procedure not followed and a reminder does not help? If so, it may be because of the (unintended) reward and punishment that comes from the reactions of (key) colleagues and supervisors.

Of course, there may also be other reasons for non-compliance with a rule or procedure. For example, if it conflicts with other goals.

In organizations, there can be a significant gap between theory (the rules) and practice (how things are actually done). We have many dials we can adjust to bring both worlds closer together. One of those is the social environment.

This post has been translated. Do you want to read my posts in Dutch? www.juliaburggraaf.nl/blog

Related blogposts: