the nugget

Attribution Error: People overestimate the role of individual characteristics as causes of behavior and underestimate the role of the situation.

While Thomas Jefferson famously wrote about three self-evident truths, today we’ll focus on two of our own:

1) Behavior is influenced by the situation

2) Most people don’t know about #1

As a leader, you can try to change the person…

...or the environment. Often changing the environment will be both CHEAPER and MORE EFFECTIVE.

For example, Schiphol airport (in Amsterdam) had a cleanliness problem in their men’s restrooms (read: urinal “spillage”). Changing the personality and/or values of travelers from around the world to induce them to be more…precise in the bathroom would be nearly impossible.

Instead, Schiphol airport changed the environment by painting a small fly in every urinal. The result? An 80% reduction in spillage!

the application

If you’re a football fan, you’ve probably watched the Manning Cast on Monday nights at some point this season. It’s informative, it’s funny, and it’s an all around unique and enjoyable way to watch your fantasy football team lose for the fourth straight week (we’re not bitter, you’re bitter).

During the Week 3 broadcast, 2x Super Bowl winning Quarterback and New England Patriot assassin Eli Manning flipped a double bird on live television while retelling a story.

ESPN was unable to blur the image in time, resulting in a sheepish apology from Manning and a flurry of FCC complaints, such as “Eli Manning used profane gestures that were despicable and unacceptable.”

Notice anything about these complaints? They all make the fundamental attribution error. They blame the mistake on Manning’s actions being “despicable” and “offensive”, rather than acknowledging the role of the situation:

• Eli was not in a studio because of the pandemic – did he forget that the broadcast was live because he was sitting at home on his couch?

• Eli is new to broadcasting – did anyone tell him what he is and isn’t allowed to do on air?

• Eli actually asked if he could show the gesture – did anyone from ESPN tell him not to?

• Peyton even encouraged Eli to show the gesture!

It may be easier to blame individuals for incidents like these, but to avoid similar mishaps in the future, these viewers should ask ESPN and the FCC to implement environmental/situational changes.

the insight

As a leader, you can dramatically improve the effectiveness of your team by focusing on changing the situation, rather than simply trying to improve the individuals themselves.

What small changes can you make in the workplace, team culture, or incentive system to make a powerful change? What will be your painted fly?

the ask

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