They're being a nudge, again!

As the holiday season winds down, it’s worth a look at how one well-known brand used this time of the year to execute the art of the nudge – to perfection.

Did it have an impact on you?

You may recall from one of our previous newsletters that the nudge provides people with options, but makes one of the options more appealing than others – and mutually beneficial.

In addition to their Star Dash challenges and listing only grande-sized drinks on their menu boards (both examples of nudges), Starbucks launched yet another digital game – Starbucks for Life.

This season, when you purchased food or drink, you earned a “play” which amounted to the shaking of a virtual snow globe for a chance to win a variety of prizes. (You could also click a link to earn a play without a purchase, up to twice a day.)

It took me a few days to realize just how effectively Starbucks was shifting my behavior. I’m goal-driven by nature. The collection of “plays” fed into that perfectly, sometimes enticing me to pick up a second beverage to sip in the afternoon.

So, this all got me thinking. Could you use the nudge to encourage employee behavior inline with your organization’s values? Would that be an effective option to shape your company culture?

As you put away the holiday decorations and think about the year ahead, let me know your opinion by replying to this email.

In the meantime, it’s not too late to squeeze in a few more shakes of the snow globe on Starbucks for Life – unless I beat you to the grand prize!

Thanks for being involved today,

Tim McCleary
Managing Director
The Involvement Practice