Week 1 Coaching Prep for Behavior Change
- Monie Thomas
- Aug 8
- 4 min read
Week 1 Coaching Prep for Behavior Change
👩💼 For Leaders (Executives, Sponsors)
Goal: Equip them to model and champion secure behavior.
Coaching Prep:
Briefing on cybersecurity risks and strategic importance
Define leadership behaviors: e.g., speaking about security in meetings, enforcing accountability
Create talking points for town halls or team check-ins
Identify resistance signals they may encounter
Meetings to Set Up:
Executive Alignment Meeting
Purpose: Align on messaging, urgency, and leadership role
Attendees: CIO, CISO, project sponsor, key executives
One-on-One Sponsor Coaching Session
Purpose: Personalize support and expectations
Attendees: Project sponsor and Change Manager
🧑💼 For Managers (Team Leads, Department Heads)
Goal: Prepare them to reinforce change and support their teams.
Coaching Prep:
Manager toolkit: FAQs, behavior expectations, escalation paths
Scenario-based coaching: e.g., handling resistance, promoting secure habits
Change impact briefing: what’s changing for their teams
Meetings to Set Up:
Manager Kickoff Briefing
Purpose: Introduce change, clarify role, share tools
Attendees: All people managers
Functional Impact Workshops
Purpose: Discuss specific changes by department
Attendees: Managers + cybersecurity lead + Change Manager
👥 For Employees (End Users)
Goal: Build awareness and readiness for secure behavior.
Coaching Prep:
Behavioral themes: e.g., password hygiene, phishing awareness, reporting suspicious activity
Create microlearning content: short videos, infographics, quizzes
Identify champions: peer influencers who can model behavior
Meetings to Set Up:
Employee Awareness Session (optional in Week 1)
Purpose: Introduce the “why” behind the change
Attendees: All staff (can be virtual or asynchronous)
Champion Identification Meeting
Purpose: Select and brief early adopters
Attendees: Change Manager + HR + department reps
🧩 Coaching Themes to Introduce Early
Would you like help drafting the agenda for one of these meetings or creating a coaching toolkit outline? I can also help design a behavior change campaign with messaging tailored to each group.
what behavior science framework can I use in the early week 1
For Week 1 of a behavior change initiative—especially in a workplace setting like cybersecurity or organizational transformation—it's crucial to use a behavioral science framework that helps you diagnose current behaviors, identify drivers of change, and design interventions that stick.
Here are three powerful frameworks to consider:
🧠 1. COM-B Model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation → Behavior)
Why Use It in Week 1:
It’s simple, actionable, and helps you understand what’s needed for behavior change.
How to Apply:
Use it in kickoff workshops to map current behaviors.
Identify barriers and enablers for secure behavior.
Tailor coaching based on gaps in capability, opportunity, or motivation.
🔍 2. BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model (B=MAP)
Behavior = Motivation + Ability + Prompt
Why Use It in Week 1:
It helps you design tiny habits and identify the right triggers for change.
How to Apply:
Design micro-interventions (e.g., nudges, reminders).
Use prompts like email cues or manager check-ins.
Focus on simplifying secure behaviors so they’re easy to adopt.
🧩 3. The EAST Framework (Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely)
Developed by the UK’s Behavioural Insights Team.
Why Use It in Week 1:
It’s great for designing communications and interventions that people actually respond to.
📚
What are best practices for Week 1 workshops?
Week 1 workshops are foundational for setting the tone, building trust, and aligning participants around behavior change goals. Here are best practices drawn from behavioral science and expert facilitation techniques:
🧠 Best Practices for Week 1 Workshops
1. 🎯 Set Clear Learning Objectives
Use SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Focus on what participants should do differently after the session.
Example: “By the end of this workshop, managers will be able to identify and reinforce three secure behaviors in their teams.”
2. 🧭 Design a Structured Agenda
A sample 60-minute timeline might look like this:
3. 📜 Establish Ground Rules
Ground rules foster psychological safety and productive dialogue
Co-create rules with participants when possible.
Focus on behavioral language, not abstract values.
Examples:
“Step Up / Step Back” – balance airtime.
“Claim Your Perspective” – say “I think…” instead of generalizing.
“Assume positive intent, but ask for clarification.”
4. 🤝 Make It Interactive
Use breakout groups, polls, and live boards.
Encourage storytelling and real-world examples.
Include scenario-based exercises to apply behavior models (e.g., COM-B or EAST).
5. 🧩 Align Content with Behavior Frameworks
Introduce a model like COM-B or BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model.
Use it to analyze current behaviors and design interventions.
Example activity: “Map a common insecure behavior using COM-B.”
6. 📣 Use Champions and Peer Influence
Invite a respected leader or peer to share their commitment.
Frame behavior change as a shared journey, not a mandate.
7. 📊 Evaluate and Follow Up
End with a quick evaluation: What was useful? What’s unclear?
Share a summary and next steps within 24 hours.
Schedule follow-up coaching or microlearning sessions.
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