Diary entries are intended to help you reflect on the course material. You should prepare diary entries detailing your insights related to the material covered in class sessions 1, 2, an
Diary entries are intended to help you reflect on the course material.
You should prepare diary entries detailing your insights related to the material covered in
class sessions 1, 2, and 3 as well as the corresponding readings. The diary entries for each
class session should be approximately 500 words (approximately 1,500 words in total for this
assignment) and should clearly describe your lessons learned, including how you are
planning to put course material into practice as you develop as a leader. In preparing these
entries, please refer as directly as possible to specific course concepts and readings to
highlight your command of course material. (Any passages you quote directly should be
placed in quotations and a page number and full reference should be provided.) Please submit
these diary entries as a single Word document are intended to help you reflect on the course material.
You should prepare diary entries detailing your insights related to the material covered in
class sessions 1, 2, and 3 as well as the corresponding readings. The diary entries for each
class session should be approximately 500 words (approximately 1,500 words in total for this
assignment) and should clearly describe your lessons learned, including how you are
planning to put course material into practice as you develop as a leader. In preparing these
entries, please refer as directly as possible to specific course concepts and readings to
highlight your command of course material. (Any passages you quote directly should be
placed in quotations and a page number and full reference should be provided.) Please submit
these diary entries as a single Word document
Session 3
Insights and Epiphanies
1
Introduction
Arriving and centering
Review – Takeaways from last class
More generally, how would you describe the change-related techniques we covered last time?
2
Introduction
Today’s session
A different take on personal change (and how to achieve it)
Openness to self-discovery
Freedom of choice
3
Remember This?
4
Wheel of Life
Draw your wheel of life again – and provide satisfaction scores for each domain
Any changes in your scores from last week?
If possible, rank order the importance of each domain on your wheel of life
What psychological tensions (i.e., feelings of stress or unease) are you currently experiencing, either within or across various domains of your life? (e.g., career-related uncertainty, relationship confusion, work-life conflict)
5
A Story…
6
Epiphanies
Habits
(Louis & Sutton, 1991; Wood & Neal, 2007)
Rigidities
(Schulz & Searleman, 2002; Storm & Angello, 2010)
Cognitive entrenchment
(Dane, 2010; Mannucci & Yong, 2018)
Occupational embeddedness
(Ng & Feldman, 2007)
Epiphanies are remarkable cases to the contrary
People Trend Toward Stability (at Work and in Life)
8
Insight and Epiphany
| Definition | Key Drivers | Relevant Literature | |
| Insight | Sudden comprehension – colloquially called the “Aha! moment” (Kounios & Beeman, 2009: 210) | Incubation (Sio & Ormerod, 2009) Mind wandering (Gable, Hopper, & Schooler, 2019) | Problem solving (Kounios & Beeman, 2014) |
| Epiphany | A sudden realization that is personally transformational – that is, a “self-referential insight” (Dane, 2020: 40) | Incubation (Sio & Ormerod, 2009) Mind wandering (Gable, Hopper, & Schooler, 2019) Readiness for change (Dane, 2020; Dane, Baer, Leroy, & Swartz, working paper) | Problem solving (Kounios & Beeman, 2014) Identity and self-concept (McAdams, 1996; McDonald, 2008) Role transitions and career change (Ballard, 2011; Yaden & Newberg, 2015) |
9
Epiphanies Offer Powerful Narratives
Martin Seligman (Seligman, 1999)
I’m a rose gardener, and I was weeding with my daughter, Nikki, who had turned five a couple of weeks before that… Nikki was throwing weeds in the air and running around and dancing, and I yelled at her.
Martin Seligman (Seligman, 1999)
She said, “Daddy, you may not have noticed, but do you remember that before I was five years old… I was a whiner? I whined every day from the time I was three until the time I was five. And, you know… on my fifth birthday, I decided I wasn’t going to whine anymore. And that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I haven’t whined since. And if I can stop whining, you can stop being so grumpy.”
12
Research Questions
| Question | Stage |
| Do people really experience epiphanies (or is this mainly the stuff of fiction)? If so, how do they make sense of the epiphanies they have experienced? | |
| What types of people tend to experience epiphanies? | |
| What types of epiphanies do people tend to experience? | |
| What consequences do epiphanies carry for people’s work and careers? For leadership and social influence? For well-being and satisfaction in life? |
13
Do people really experience epiphanies? If so, how do they make sense of them?
“Suddenly Everything Became Clear: How People Make Sense of Epiphanies Surrounding Their Work and Careers”
(Dane, 2020, Academy of Management Discoveries)
524 U.S. adults randomly selected by a marketing research firm
Provided with a definition of epiphany and asked whether they had experienced one
Instructed to describe at least one of their epiphanies in detail
Exploratory Study
15
During the course of their lives, some people experience sudden insights or changes. These moments, often referred to as epiphanies, can have a strong and enduring impact on how people see themselves, the people in their lives, their job or career, or some other aspect of their life. More specifically, an epiphany is defined as follows:
A sudden and abrupt insight and/or change in perspective that transforms the individual’s concept of self and identity through the creation of new meaning in the individual’s life. (McDonald, 2008: 90)
Have you ever experienced an epiphany (as described and defined above)?
Exploratory Study
16
51% reported experiencing at least one epiphany in their lives
Of those who completed the full survey, 20% discussed a work or career-related epiphany
Exploratory Study
17
I knew I always wanted to go to college but I never knew what I wanted to do, so as I was doing one of my chores I had an epiphany that I wanted to get a degree in the healthcare field and help out others and that’s what I have done… I changed… getting my degree and [figured] out my career path for my life.
Exploratory Study: Epiphany Examples
18
I was working at home as a customer service representative [and] listening to a customer who was having difficulties in her life. While listening, I felt a strong sensation to begin some form of volunteer work to help others overcome strong emotional situations. I began to attend church regularly, became a member and started doing ministry work in my community.
Exploratory Study: Epiphany Examples
19
Research interviews with 22 MBA alumni
Selection based on same definition of epiphany used in the exploratory study – but with a work / career focus
“Have you ever experienced an epiphany related to your work, company, or career?”
Modified grounded theory analysis (Corbin & Strauss, 2008; Pratt, Rockmann, & Kaufmann, 2006)
Interview Study
20
Features of Epiphanies
Release of psychological tension
Sudden
Strong emotions
Serendipity
Downplaying credit
Circumstances
Mystery
Reassembling
Dumbfounding
Readiness
Openness to epiphanies
Attunement to unfolding events
Data Categories and Dimensions
21
Findings
22
Findings
23
Findings
24
Serendipity
Well, at some point, you have to do it in your brain, but I don’t contribute to myself. I don’t think – I would say maybe my daughter did it to me… It was the experience of [having] her. (06F)
Why does there need to be credit? … I mean, something just is… If there’s a blade of grass growing, who gets the credit for that? Is it nature? Is it the person who planted the grass? Is it the wind that blew the grass seed over there? Is it the bird that didn’t eat that particular seed? I mean, is it the rainfall? What gets the credit for it? … It’s all of the above. (04M)
25
Readiness
I also know that there are a lot of epiphanies that I would not be prepared to have. That someone else in the same situation would probably get. (05M)
I give credit to myself for open-mindedness. I give credit to [name] for bringing the pearl. I mean she was the straw, right, that she was the one thing, she tipped it for me. So, I really do give her the credit for bringing it all together. I was just the open receptacle ready, ready for it, right? It’s like when people find God sort of thing, probably not that profound but that’s what it was. (02F)
26
Unless you’re ready for an epiphany to arrive, your mind may not produce one
Implication
27
Personal Change: Two Forms
| Behaviorally-Engineered | Insight-Based | |
| Rate | Slow and steady | Sudden – but generally preceded by psychological tension |
| Emotional Intensity | Generally low | Initially high, then lower |
| Key Drivers | Environmental design, habit modification | Psychological readiness, imagination |
| Relevant Literature | Nudges, habits, implementation intentions | Insight, epiphanies, identity |
| Analogies | Architecture, engineering (e.g., reducing drag on a vehicle) | Discovering a new sense (or seeing / hearing for the first time) |
28
Activity
Self-Reflection Exercise
Self-Reflection Exercise
Today’s session
A different take on personal change (and how to achieve it)
Openness to self-discovery
Freedom of choice
Respect and confidentiality
30
Self-Reflection Exercise
Consider:
At what points in your life have you felt most…
Happy?
Talented?
Purposeful?
Recall the details, including the sights, sounds, and emotions (try to re-experience these moments as vividly as possible)
5 – 10 Minutes
31
Self-Reflection Exercise
Choose a partner – and go to a quiet location on campus
With your partner, share one or more stories related to the topics you just reflected upon:
At what points in your life have you felt most (1) happy, (2) talented, and (3) purposeful?
Pay close attention to whether this exercise produces any epiphanies
Take note of these epiphanies as they arise
Epiphanies can vary in strength
30 Minutes
32
Self-Reflection Exercise
Take another look at your wheel of life
Consider, once again, your rank ordering
Would you change the ordering in any way? That is, have your priorities shifted in some respect?
Consider, once again, the psychological tensions you’ve been experiencing
Have any of these tensions dissipated to some degree?
33
Self-Reflection Exercise
With the same partner as before, discuss your observations – and (potentially) your epiphanies – associated with this exercise
Which domain(s) of your life are you now reflecting upon, in light of this exercise?
Did your rank ordering of the domains on your wheel of life change in any way?
Did any of the psychological tensions you’ve been experiencing dissipate to some degree?
10 – 15 Minutes
34
Self-Reflection Exercise
Class Discussion
35
Looking Ahead…
Unit 1 Diary Entries due this Friday (Sept. 15) by Noon (via “Assignments” in Canvas)
Student ID on diary document (rather than your name)
Points / grades
Read the assigned materials for next class session (Chapter 1 – “The Catalyst” / Chapters 1 & 2 – “The Heart of Change”)
Reading reflections due next Tuesday (Sept. 19) by Noon (via “Assignments” in Canvas)
37
Final Questions?
38
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Session 2
Behavioral Science Strategies
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1
Last Time…
Resistance to change – in organizations and within ourselves (due to cognitive blind spots and implementation-related challenges)
In organizations, resistance to change is not always a problem (it has its functions)
Activities
“Never Would I Ever”
Our attitudes, beliefs, and preferences might not be as stable as we assume
Mindsets
The mindsets we hold can influence our personal and professional development
2
Today’s Session
“How to Change” by Katy Milkman
Today’s material complements the book
Reading reflections – strategies commonly mentioned: fresh starts, temptation building, gamification, default settings, implementation intentions
Benefits and potential limitations of each strategy
Guidelines – Reading Reflections
Use the template
A few sentences per question
Discuss rather than summarize the material
Refer to specific concepts
3
Change is Inevitable
On the one hand, change is difficult
On the other hand, substantial changes of some kind almost always occur over time
How can we actively promote the types of changes that will enhance our well-being and performance in various areas of our lives?
4
Activity
Wheel of Life
5
Wheel of Life
https://www.startofhappiness.com/wheel-of-life-a-self-assessment-tool /
https://goalmuse.com/life-planning/starter-life-planning/life-areas/the-wheel-of-life /
6
Wheel of Life
Select a domain of your life that you would like to improve (based on the wheel of life activity)
List at least three specific challenges you’re facing related to the domain you selected
During today’s session, consider how you can put the course material into practice to help you engage with these challenges
7
Change-Related Strategies
(A Top 5 List)
Change Strategy #1
Redesign Your Environment
9
Environmental Redesign
10
Environmental Redesign
11
Environmental Redesign
12
Environmental Redesign
13
Environmental Redesign
14
Redesign Your Environment
We can redesign our own environment
Keep healthy food in the front of the fridge
Sleep in your exercise clothes
Keep books and other materials you’ve been meaning to read in the open, in arm’s research
Keep the TV clicker out of sight (out of mind)
Make a public commitment to pursue a healthy course of action
15
Change Strategy #2A
Change the Default Option from Inaction to Action
(If Action is Desirable)
The Power of a Single Word
Choice architecture and organ donation
Germany: do you want to be an organ donor
Austria: do you not want to be an organ donor?
99%
12%
Default Options
18
Default Options
Another example: Automatic enrollment in 401(k) program, with opt-out choice
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