Confession: I am a fitbit'er! As a matter of fact, I just earned my New Zealand badge (logged
990 miles) #fitbitnation
This wonderful intervention has me collecting steps, miles, calories, and "W's" from beating friends in daily, weekly, and/or weekendly "who can get the most steps" challenges. Shameless plug - add me as a friend if you dare, [email protected].
As a fitbit'er, I set a daily goal of 13,000 steps. This means that I have walking meetings, I wake up to get early morning gains, and my personal favorite - park super far away to collect the extra steps.
Which is where our story picks up - my subliminal Eye of the Tiger theme music was muted and replaced with the defeated sound of me groaning. My competitive face evaporated and left struggle in its wake. My suit and tie transformed into the supersaturated version under the surgically hot Texas sun as I drug my right and left closer to an air conditioned reprieve. My normal zing and spring was subtracted from my gate because my fitbit was at home charging. Recognizing the plight to the front door, my subconscious kicked in and I found myself asking what in the Texas summer possessed me to park all the way down there? In addition to not getting credit for these extra steps, miles, and calories, I've now accrued a dry cleaning bill.
Turns out, once the gamification wasn't available, I wanted to revert back to my old ways.
What does fitbit need to do in order to change behavior for good?
Leaders, what do your interventions need in order to change people at deeper levels?