Identifying what needs to change to create new behaviours in your team

Using the COM-B model to develop new habits to allow improvements.

We all know that to make improvements to the way patients experience care we must change the status quo and try something new.

However, making changes in a team setting can often be challenging. Asking people to change their behaviours can often be met with resistance. We no doubt have all been in a situation where a friend or colleague is unwilling to try something new. They may have seen others try and change this in the past unsuccessfully or may feel uncertain about the new methods of working you are trying to introduce.

The COM-B model of behaviour can help identify potential obstacles there may be to change. This will allow you to try different approaches to overcome them.

There are three key elements to this model which need to be present to create new behaviours which can then become habits. These include:

Capability:

Does you team have the capability to change? – If you are being met with “I can’t do that”, think about whether your colleague has the ability to do what you are asking. Do they have the skills, tools and confidence to change? – If not, think about how you can build the capability within this person so they can achieve what you are asking.

Opportunity:

In some cases, your colleague may not lack capability but not have the opportunity to change. An example of this might be lack of time. If you are asking someone to introduce something new such as a patient proforma on a ward, does that staff member have the time to fill it out?

If not, they lack the opportunity to change their behaviour. – How could you make sure they have the time to do this?

Motivation:

Finally, motivation. If your team doesn’t see the necessity to change the likeliness is that they “won’t” do what you are asking. Why do they need to change? – Is there something you can do to make this need clearer?

Or is it that they are concerned with what you are asking? – If a staff member is worried about what implications these changes may have, they may also lack the motivation needed to make them. You will need to address their concerns to allow them to become motivated.