ALL CHANGE IS PERSONAL
Dopamine Reward Circuitry
Hopefully it's not news to you that people aren’t logical decision-makers. They’re driven by emotion, anticipation and reward.
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If a change process feels frustrating, unclear or thankless, employees disengage. But if it sparks curiosity, progress and small wins, their brains light up with dopamine, making them want to keep going.
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Dopamine is the brain’s built-in motivation system. It fuels excitement, drives action and reinforces behaviors.
When we design change efforts with dopamine triggers, we make participation feel more like something employees actually want to engage in.
A few ways to leverage the Dopamine Reward Circuitry in Change Management:
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Create small, achievable wins. Break the change into bite-sized milestones that offer quick wins and build momentum.
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Use progress tracking. Visual indicators like checklists, completion bars or dashboards trigger the brain’s reward response, making people want to keep going.
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Make feedback instant and rewarding. Recognize employees early and often, whether it’s through shoutouts, points systems or leader acknowledgments.
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Tap into curiosity and anticipation. Instead of information overload, release updates and training in micro-learning modules that keep employees engaged.
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Offer choice and autonomy. People feel more invested when they have control. Wherever possible, let employees choose how they engage with the change, whether through self-paced learning, gamified challenges or different communication formats.
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Celebrate effort, not just results. Even small steps forward should feel rewarding, helping employees associate progress with positive reinforcement instead of pressure.
Hooked on Change
How Dopamine Drives Motivation
People don’t resist change. They resist boring, unrewarding change.
— OUR CORE BELIEF —