THE POWER OF HABIT

Author: Charles Duhigg.

The book addresses the power of habits and their influence on personal and professional
life. Duhigg, a journalist, blends scientific data with captivating narratives to highlight the
importance of habits in creating our daily lives.
The book is divided into three sections: individual habits, organizational habits, and
societal habits.
Individual Habits: Duhigg introduces the Habit Loop, a framework consisting of three
key elements - cue, routine, and reward. The cue triggers a routine, which leads to a reward,
reinforcing the habit. Individuals can modify or replace bad habits with better ones by
understanding the Habit Loop. The Golden Rule of Habit Change emphasizes that the key to
change is keeping the same cue and reward while swapping the routine.
Organizational Habits: The author highlights the importance of 'keystone habits' that can
create a domino effect on other habits within an organization. Keystone habits, like strong
communication or a focus on safety, can lead to better teamwork, increased productivity, and
overall organizational success. Duhigg uses case studies from companies like Alcoa and
Starbucks to demonstrate the power of these transformative habits.
Societal Habits: Duhigg dives into the habits that drive societies and how they can be
harnessed to create large-scale change. He discusses the concept of social habits, which are
influenced by pressure and group dynamics. By understanding and manipulating these habits, it
is possible to create social movements or shifts in societal behaviour.
In conclusion, "The Power of Habit" provides insightful knowledge on the science of
habit. By understanding the fundamental processes that drive our habits, people, organisations,
and society are able to make choices to change their behaviour and bring about enduring
beneficial change.