Still Not Getting Results? You’re Solving the Wrong Problem

By: Dr.  John Austin, PhD

You laid it out step-by-step.

You were clear. Maybe even repeated yourself…twice.

And still… they didn’t do it.

Sound familiar?

Behavioral science has a blunt answer: knowing isn’t doing.

We like to believe that once people understand what’s expected, they’ll magically follow through. 

But here’s the kicker—most performance problems aren’t about knowledge.

They’re about the environment people operate in. You know, the one that leaders build every day. 

Think about your own life:

• Ever skipped the gym, even though you knew you “should” go?

• Ever driven faster than the speed limit, even while staring right at the sign?

• Ever told your kid it’s bedtime, and watched them do anything but go to bed?

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 It’s not about knowing. It’s about the surroundings, the setup, the context. The same thing happens at work.

Leaders waste time blaming people for “not doing what they were told,” when the real fix is to design the environment that supports the right behavior.

That means:

• Setting fewer, clearer expectations

• Giving timely feedback

• Building in positive reinforcement

• Removing the invisible friction that gets in people’s way – ask them what’s frustrating them and then really listen. 

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 If you’re tired of repeating yourself, start shaping the environment instead of shouting the message.

That’s how you get results. 

You don’t need louder instructions—you need smarter design.

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