ELE brings leaders together across companies and industries to work through the messy stuff: decisions, risk, handoffs, execution drag, and what it takes to move from idea to action.

UPCOMING CALENDAR

LATEST IDEA EXCHANGE

RECENT INSIGHTS

WHO WE ARE

About ELE

Companies In Our Network

Contact ELE

Figure out if ELE is for you. Straight answers on what ELE is, who it’s built for, and how contributing members actually work together. Still have a question? Contact us.

<div style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #333; line-height: 1.8; max-width: 850px; margin: auto; text-align: justify; font-size: 18px;">
We’ve all been there: you launch a world-class leadership program, the feedback scores are off the charts, and yet… six months later, nothing has changed on the ground.
In Designing for Behavior Change, Stephen Wendel tackles the "Intention-Action Gap" head-on. This isn't a book about the psychology of why people want to change; it’s a rigorous, practical manual on how to design environments that make change inevitable. For ELE members, this represents a shift from being "content providers" to "architects of behavior."


<hr style="border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 2.5rem 0;" />

<h5 style="font-size: 1.75rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-top: 2.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.2rem; border-left: 5px solid #cc0000; padding-left: 15px; text-align: left; line-height: 1.3;">The Blueprint: Understanding the CREATE Model</h5>
Wendel moves beyond vague theories of habit-building and introduces the CREATE framework—a mental checklist for any leader trying to influence how their team operates. To drive a specific action, an individual must go through these stages:

<ul style="padding-left: 25px; margin-bottom: 2rem;">
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Cue: Is there a clear trigger that tells the person it’s time to act?</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Reaction: What is their immediate, intuitive response to that trigger?</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Evaluation: Do they consciously see the value in performing the action?</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Ability: Is the action actually easy to do, or is there too much "friction"?</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Timing: Is the person being asked to act at the exact moment they are able to?</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Experience: Does the action feel rewarding enough to make them want to do it again?</li>
</ul>
<blockquote style="background-color: #fdf2f2; border-left: 5px solid #cc0000; padding: 20px 30px; margin: 2.5rem 0; border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0; font-style: italic;">
The Core Insight: Most corporate training focuses heavily on "Evaluation" (convincing people it matters), while neglecting "Ability" and "Cues" (making it easy and obvious).
</blockquote>

<hr style="border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee; margin: 2.5rem 0;" />

<h5 style="font-size: 1.75rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-top: 2.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.2rem; border-left: 5px solid #cc0000; padding-left: 15px; text-align: left; line-height: 1.3;">Why It Matters for the ELE Community</h5>
As senior leaders in HR and Talent, your product isn't just "training"—it’s transformation. Wendel’s approach is relevant to ELE members for three specific reasons:

<ul style="padding-left: 25px; margin-bottom: 2.5rem;">
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1.2rem;">Moving Beyond Motivation: We often blame "lack of engagement" for failed initiatives. This book argues that if an employee isn't changing, the problem is likely in the system design, not the employee's willpower.</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1.2rem;">Data-Driven Design: Wendel provides a structured way to measure and iterate on behavioral outcomes, turning "soft" HR initiatives into hard, measurable results.</li>
 	<li style="margin-bottom: 1.2rem;">Practical Lab Alignment: This aligns perfectly with ELE’s "Action Lab" philosophy. It gives us a shared language to deconstruct complex organizational challenges and rebuild them into seamless employee experiences.</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-style: italic; color: #444; background-color: #f4f4f4; padding: 30px; border-radius: 12px; border-right: 5px solid #cc0000;">Designing for the future of work requires us to move past mere information delivery and toward intentional habit architecture. By applying these behavior design principles, we can shift the needle on culture and performance in a way that is both measurable and sustainable. It’s time to stop asking if our people are "learning" and start asking if our design is making it easy for them to succeed.</div>
</div>

Designing for Behavior Change

Engagement &amp; Culture

Strategy

dirk.tussing

learning design

Change Management

leadership development

talent development

systems thinking

employee experience

Performance Improvement

patricia.ouzounian

organizational culture

behavioral science

Habit Formation

L&amp;D strategy

human-centered design

performance architecture

behavior design

frictionless growth

CREATE model

A very well written research and examples of the science of achieving greater things. Debunks several myths in our profession such as the importance of understanding learning styles. Important reading for any Talent Development professional.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights.
We live in a world that’s obsessed with talent. We celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But admiring people who start out with innate advantages leads us to overlook the distance we ourselves can travel. We underestimate the range of skills that we can learn and how good we can become. We can all improve at improving. And when opportunity doesn’t knock, there are ways to build a door.
Hidden Potential offers a new framework for raising aspirations and exceeding expectations. Adam Grant weaves together groundbreaking evidence, surprising insights, and vivid storytelling that takes us from the classroom to the boardroom, the playground to the Olympics, and underground to outer space. He shows that progress depends less on how hard you work than how well you learn. Growth is not about the genius you possess—it’s about the character you develop. Grant explores how to build the character skills and motivational structures to realize our own potential, and how to design systems that create opportunities for those who have been underrated and overlooked.
Many writers have chronicled the habits of superstars who accomplish great things. This book reveals how anyone can rise to achieve greater things. The true measure of your potential is not the height of the peak you’ve reached, but how far you’ve climbed to get there.

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

leadership

innovation

jane.shlaes

growth mindset

heather.tunison

Personal Development

cognitive psychology

success strategies

psychology of success

performance optimization

michelle.eide

Behavioral scientist Alison Fragale offers powerful new insights and a practical playbook for women to advance in any workplace, full of tips, tricks, and strategies to help secure that elusive corner office.

Over decades of research, speaking engagements, and mentorship, psychologist and professor Alison Fragale encountered recurring questions from high-powered and early-career women alike: How do women thread the needle of kindness and competence in the workplace? How can women earn credit for their accomplishments, negotiate better, and navigate complex office politics without losing the goodwill of their peers?

Fragale investigated and determined that many women's workplace issues boil down to what psychologists call status: the perception of them by others. No amount of power—no degree, title, or paycheck—will raise a woman's workplace stature unless it also affects how others see her. Acknowledging this roadblock, Fragale pulls back the curtain on how we can change how others see us by developing our standing as a "likeable badass." By cultivating perceptions of warmth and assertiveness, women can achieve the kind of reputation that leads to a seat at the table and a fulfilling career path.

Likeable Badass is equal parts behavioral science and life hacks, weaving together rigorous research with actionable advice and impactful stories from a diverse array of women. This is a warm, heartening book written for women, their allies, and anyone who struggles to rise and wants evidence-based, practical strategies for success, served with a side of inspiration and humor.

Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve

angie.zeigler

Coaching

marty.murrillo

mentorship

Self-Improvement

Professional Growth

Women in Leadership

Negotiation Skills

"business psychology"

women in business

workplace success

career advancement

likeable badass

Alison Fragale

women's empowerment

status perception

workplace strategies

workplace politics

women leaders

career tips

office dynamics

assertiveness

warmth in leadership

women's workplace issues

career hacks

inspiring women

gender equity

workplace confidence

catherine.hebel

Working parenthood can be overwhelming, frustrating, and riddled with guilt. It can also be a source of joy, inspiration, and creativity. Balancing rich scientific research with friendly, supportive tips and anecdotes. Yael Schonbrun offers a toolkit to help even the most stressed of working parents grow the good while better managing inevitable challenges. She banishes the idea that the key to ultimate working parenthood is the ability to do it all. Instead, the key is to learn how these roles, together, can help you thrive!
<h3>Key Aspects of the Book</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>Based on Science, Not Just Opinion: The strategies in the book are rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a form of mindfulness-based behavioral therapy. This provides a strong, research-backed framework for the advice.</li>
 	<li>Focus on Mindset: The book is not about productivity "hacks" to fit more into your day. Instead, it's an "inside-out" approach that teaches you how to change the way you think and feel about your roles.</li>
 	<li>Practical Strategies: The book outlines 12 specific strategies, such as getting clear on your core values, practicing mindfulness, and viewing the transition between roles as a form of "micro-rest." These are designed to be actionable and manageable for busy parents.</li>
 	<li>Embraces Imperfection: Work, Parent, Thrive encourages you to let go of guilt and accept that some things are out of your control. It helps you focus on what truly matters to you, rather than on the pressure to be perfect in every area of your life.</li>
</ul>

Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection

Login