To Get People to Change, Make Change Easy: the Banana Principle

In the bustling atmosphere of a New York City office, an everyday occurrence at Weight Watchers unveils a profound insight into human behavior: the early disappearance of bananas from the fruit basket, leaving behind untouched oranges. This seemingly trivial event exemplifies what we call the "Banana Principle," a phenomenon observed across numerous companies. But what exactly does this principle reveal about human nature, workplace dynamics, and the power of design in fostering desired behaviors?

Understanding the Banana Principle: At its core, the Banana Principle is about ease and accessibility. The preference for bananas over oranges isn't about taste; it's about the ease of peeling. Psychologists and designers agree that this preference illustrates a fundamental aspect of human nature: our inclination towards the path of least resistance. In workplace terms, this translates to employees gravitating towards tasks or behaviors that require minimal effort.

Applying the Principle to Workplace Change: Imagine spearheading a project to enhance cross-team collaboration. Merely instructing employees to collaborate won't suffice. You need to understand and address the "friction" – the subtle barriers that hinder this interaction. Whether it's the physical layout of the office or procedural bottlenecks, identifying and reducing this friction is key to fostering effortless collaboration.

Friction in the Workplace: Friction is any factor that slows down or impedes desired actions. Just as high-speed trains use innovative methods to reduce friction, workplaces need to identify and eliminate these hindrances. For instance, a consulting firm improved cross-team collaboration by creating open, easily accessible spaces for interaction, thereby removing the literal and metaphorical barriers of doors and cumbersome furniture.

Designing for Desired Behaviors: The physical (or digital) layout of your community can significantly influence user behaviors. Want to encourage brainstorming? Install whiteboards in communal areas. Need more feedback? Create private nooks for discussions. The key is to align your space with your behavioral goals, making the desired actions as effortless as picking a banana.

Introducing Friction to Discourage Behaviors: Sometimes, the goal is to discourage certain behaviors. Here, you should introduce friction, making the undesirable actions as challenging as peeling an orange. A creative example of this is the use of pink lighting in London underpasses to deter teen loitering, as the light accentuated acne.

Practical Applications of the Banana Principle: Companies have ingeniously applied this principle in various ways. Squarespace, for instance, reduced multitasking during training by providing small toys to distract employees from their phones. Warby Parker created a library space for focused work. These solutions didn’t require persuasive speeches; they simply altered the environment to nudge behavior change.

Silent Power of Environmental Cues: The beauty of the Banana Principle lies in its subtlety. Environmental cues, like the presence of toys or the design of a workspace, silently guide behaviors without the need for explicit instructions. This approach is far more effective than trying to verbally persuade people to change their habits.

Reconfiguring Workspaces for Target Behaviors: If you're aiming to foster specific behaviors in your office, think about how you can rearrange the environment to make those behaviors the default choice. It could be as simple as placing recycling bins in convenient locations to encourage eco-friendly practices or redesigning team areas to facilitate better communication.

In conclusion, the Banana Principle is a powerful tool for effecting change in the workplace. By understanding and manipulating the levels of friction associated with different behaviors, leaders can create an environment where desired actions are as natural and effortless as choosing a banana over an orange. This principle teaches us that sometimes, the best way to inspire change isn't through words, but through the silent language of our surroundings.