The Adoption Cycle
September 10, 2007 – 9:56 pmI just ran across this post over at the Church of the Customer blog, which in turn references this post over on Brains on Fire. What they’re both talking about is the terrific illustration below, which illustrates the Cycle of a Fan.
While their point is the cycle that fans go through in adopting a product, it actually applies to most any theory of idea adoption.
Example A: Project members. At first, someone volunteers, is assigned, or gets drafted into your project. At first, they’re a reluctant participant- after all, this is extra work for them. Over time they see the value of the project, they begin to evangelize that value to others, to take ownership, and become a true member of your team.
Example B: Managing a new department. At first, your employees are wary of you- you’re different, you have different ideas, you are a potential threat. As you begin to sell your ideas to them, work to improve things, they go through the same cycle- participating, adopting your ideas, spreading those ideas to others, taking ‘ownership’ of your leadership ideas and begin to truly follow and trust you. Your department becomes everyone’s department, and the department follows you because they see you as their leader, not just because your job title says so.
Understanding this process of adoption of ideas has great value to you- it applies to your employees, your managers, your customers, everyone you interact with. Understanding how it happens will help you learn how to spread ideas better, faster, and lead more naturally.
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