Training Reinforcement

CHAPTER 5An Overview of The 7 Principles of Reinforcement

The 7 Principles of Reinforcement will help you to create a successful reinforcement program and a well-balanced series of messages. There is a strong cohesion among all of the principles. Some drive results by creating a strong foundation for your reinforcement program; others drive participation by focusing on engagement. Both results and participation are essential to making your reinforcement program successful.

This chapter explains how each principle influences a reinforcement program. Before you focus on the cohesion, let me list the principles:

1. Master the 3 Phases of Behavior Change.
2. Close the 5 Reinforcement Gaps.
3. Create Measurable Behavior Change.
4. Provide the Perfect Push and Pull.
5. Create Friction and Direction.
6. Follow the Reinforcement Flow.
7. Place the Learner in the Center.

PRINCIPLE 1: MASTER THE 3 PHASES OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE

If you want to change behaviors effectively, you cannot skip any of the 3 Phases of Behavior Change:

1. Awareness: Learners must understand why the behavior change is important to them.
2. Knowledge/Skills: Learners must know how to change their behavior.
3. Apply: Learners must focus on how to apply your training back on the job. In this final phase, learners should focus on using their newly mastered knowledge and skills in their daily work.

I cover these phases in more detail in Chapter 6.

PRINCIPLE 2: CLOSE THE 5 REINFORCEMENT GAPS

It is easy to determine the knowledge and skills ...