BMAN31921 Leading and

Success at Work

Topic 2: Self-control (Improving Self-

Control)

Robin Martin
(robin.martin@manchester.ac.uk
 Boosting Self-control: A
Pessimistic Perspective

Tangney et al. (2004) proposed that some people are

simply better at self-control (high ‘trait self-control’)
• They showed that these people do better
educationally, have lower likelihood of
psychopathology and higher self-esteem, less
binge eating and alcohol abuse, and better
relationships
Lab study shows those with high trait self-control are
less depleted when engaging in self-control (Niven et
al., 2013)
 Glucose Consumption
Idea derives from glucose hypothesis
Series of experiments that involve drinking glucose drink
or equivalent non-glucose drink show increased self-
control performance after glucose consumption (Gailliot
et al., 2007)

Limitations?
Self-control relies on other factors (e.g., motivation)
Some critics of glucose hypothesis (e.g., Beedie & Lane,
2012) as not being evolutionarily likely
Obesity!
 Motivational Incentives

Idea derives from motivational models of self-control

Muraven & Slessareva (2003) show that incentives
enable people to overcome depletion and outperform
non-incentivised participants in self-control
Incentives involved belief that the task will help others
or belief that the task would benefit oneself

Limitations?
Immediate self-control performance may be boosted,
but people are left more depleted afterwards
Can we incentivise our own self-control?
 Self-control Training

Idea derives from strength model

• Muscle analogy – practice makes self-control get
stronger
Training interventions involve practicing a particular
form of self-control (e.g., using non-dominant hand,
eating fewer sweets) to see whether general self-
control performance will improve

Friese et al. (2017) reviews many studies and find very small
effect of self-control training on outcomes
 Self-control Training

Limitations?
Miles et al. (2016) conducted a large-scale study examining
whether self-control training actually translates to real-world
benefits outside of the lab
174 student participants complete either a 6-week training
programme, an ‘active control’, or a ‘no-contact’ control
Trained participants do not perform better at self-control
tasks in the lab and are no better at overcoming unwanted
habits or exerting self-control in everyday life
 External Methods for
boosting Self-control

Yeow & Martin (2013) field experiment evaluates an

intervention to boost self-control
Half of the leaders of student teams are given coaching
on how to self-regulate their leadership behaviours;
the other half do not
Those who have coaching self-report higher self-
regulation ability
Followers also rate those who have had the coaching
as more effective and their teams are more profitable
Clear benefit for improvement
 Implementation Intentions

Webb & Sheeran (2003) show that implementation

intentions (if-then) overcome depletion effects of
prior self-control
Linked to improvements in various positive behaviours
that require self-control, e.g., fruit and veg intake
(Chapman et al., 2009), exercise (Milne et al., 2002)
Also used successfully to change behaviour in
organisations, e.g., attendance at health and safety
training (Sheeran & Silverman, 2003), workplace
recycling (Holland et al., 2006)
 Improving Self-control

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/science-choice/201703/10-
strategies-developing-self-control

1. A Can-Do Attitude
2. Goal Setting
3. Self–Monitor
4. Motivation
5. Confidence
6. Willpower
7. Avoid Temptation
8. The "Why" and "How" Mindsets
9. Self-Control as a Pattern of Behaviour
10. Automated Goals (if-then plans)
 Refection

Based on the information so far, how do you think you

can improve your self-control to improve work
performance?