For the past 6 months I’ve been planning to start sending out a monthly newsletter. I’ve done my research and know what to do, but I haven’t done anything beyond that. I have lots of reasons (AKA excuses) for why I haven’t done anything yet, but none of them outweigh the reasons for going forward with my plan. Stanford University researchers Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton wrote about this disconnect between knowing what to do and actually doing it. They called it the “knowing-doing gap.” For example, we all know how to lose weight. Burn more calories that we take in each day, right? Most people aren’t obese because they don’t know how to lose weight. However, actually losing weight involves doing something different from what they are doing today. It involves changing our behavior, our environment, our way of dealing with stress, and who knows what else.

Another great example of this gap was provided by Alan Deutschman, author of Change or Die, in his April 29th keynote speech for the Georgia Coach Association Prism Award event here in Atlanta. It is hard to believe, but statistics show that two years after undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery only 10 percent of heart patients are doing what is required to maintain their heart health. All of these patients know what they need to do—exercise, not smoke, maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, and drink less—yet 9 out of 10 aren’t doing these things.

What does it take to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it? In his keynote, Deutschman said that it takes relationships, repetition, and reframing. I might use different words to answer the question, but the concepts are the same. Here is my formula for lasting change: Intention + Focus + Support + Repitition.

• Intention: Decide to make a positive change in your life.
• Focus: Envision the desired outcome and keep your eyes on the prize. Focusing on what you have to give up could be a recipe for failure.
• Support: Enlist support from the people in your life; set up your environment to propel you forward and to minimize backsliding; and work with a coach.
• Repetition: Lasting and meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and practice to learn new behaviors and replace old habits with new ones.

Notice that the the first three letters of my formula are ‘IFS.’ Ifs are possibilities. A coach can help you see your current situation in a new light, uncover limiting beliefs, and discover new possibilities.

Are you struggling with the “knowing-doing gap” right now? What have you done in the past to close the gap successfully?