What is "Forcing Function"?

 

In all my years of executive coaching, one thing predicts whether you will make progress towards your goals more than any other: what do you have at stake?

A forcing function is a catalyst that changes your default behavior in the future by aligning your short-term incentives with your long-term goals.

Having a forcing function means that you have skin in the game. Show up and deliver or there will be consequences. Forcing functions create a demand upon your attention (i.e. “elevating to consciousness”). A forcing function aligns your current goals and your future context, putting you in the best position to execute.

Anyone can dream big, but how do you go about getting the work done? Ideas are great, but without the proper execution, they’ll remain just that — ideas. 

What are the benefits of forcing functions? Here are three reasons they are incredibly useful tools. 

  1. Forcing functions change our future default, aligning short and long-term incentives.

  2. Forcing functions create a timeline to track progress towards a larger goal.

  3. Forcing functions give “last-minute bursts” of motivation where what we have so far is consolidated into a deliverable form.

When playing poker, time is the ultimate forcing function. You are up against the clock for every decision. Raise or call the bet in under 30 seconds or your hand is automatically folded. 

When coaching executives, forcing functions are catalysts that change your default behavior in the future by realigning your short-term incentives with your long-term goals. Forcing functions usually take the form of a commitment or a pre-scheduled event (i.e. function) which forces you to take action and produce a result. Forcing functions act as buffers from distraction, making it easier to focus on the work that matters the most.

The next time you’re starting a project, ask yourself:

  • What do you have at stake?

  • What is incentivizing you to take action?


Examples of a forcing function include a recurring meeting, an appointment with a trainer or coach, or a soft deadline where any progress is presented.

Forcing Function Example #1: Morning Meeting

A team has a standard standup meeting every morning at 9:00AM. Every time they have this meeting, they discuss finished items, action items, and things they need help with. 

Forcing Function Example #2: Personal Trainer

Every Tues/Thurs at 4:00PM, Greg goes into midtown to meet with his personal trainer, Harry. His appointment lasts for one hour, and he never misses an appointment. This regular schedule helps him carve out time to work out and makes his health a priority. 

Forcing Function Example #3: Soft Presentation

Susan works in marketing, and has a bimonthly presentation to share results, analytics and new learnings to her team. 3-4 days before the team meetings, Susan schedules time with her office friend Patrick to run her presentation by him. Patrick offers her notes and acts as a soft deadline to complete her presentation early. This run-through with Patrick also gives Susan time to edit her presentation and make corrections before the team meeting. 

Why do forcing functions work? 

  1. Deadlines — Goals are rarely achieved without them.

  2. Externalization — Goals are rarely achieved when they only exist inside someone’s head.

  3. Accountability — The desire to appear competent and consistent is a powerful motivator to not show up empty-handed or waste the time of others.

  4. Constraints — Having a deliverable in mind (something presentable!) focuses our efforts and reduces wheel-spinning.

  5. Stakes By raising the bar, we automatically raise our level of performance,

  6. Motivation — Procrastination is treatable and more motivation can be manufactured at any time.

Preventing Procrastination with Forcing Functions

The procrastination equation from Piers Steel accounts for every major finding on procrastination and draws upon our best theories of behavioral science.

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Based on this equation, there are four leverage points to attack for increasing our motivation.

Adding a forcing function attacks all four at once:

  1. Expectancy - Increase our perceived odds of success and receiving a reward as a result.

    Forcing functions reveal previous progress, increasing optimism about success.

  2. Value - Increase our enjoyment of doing the task or the subjective value of the reward we will receive.

    Forcing functions turn projects into a team sport and create accountability.

  3. Impulsiveness - Decrease the number of distractions we will have.

    Forcing functions create intermediate deadlines, reducing the ability to procrastinate.

  4. Delay - Decrease how long it will take to receive a reward.

    Forcing functions open up opportunities for encouragement and feedback on ways to improve, propelling us forward.

Enter Forcing Function.

Forcing functions are so central to our approach that we named our company after the concept. When my performance coaching clients partner with me, I personally become the forcing function for their success. I also help them install new forcing functions into their schedule to ensure that they are continually taking steps towards their goals.

To learn more about how Forcing Function can help you achieve your goals, or are interested in how to set up forcing functions in your life, take our free performance assessment quiz.