How to Keep People Engaged? The Goldilocks Principle

Finding the perfect balance for peak engagement – a principle every trainer, L&D professional, and manager should master.

In today's episode of our podcast, "No More Boring Learning," we delve into a model that's indispensable in the toolkit of every trainer, learning and development professional, and indeed, manager. But before we dive in, let's ponder for a moment – who was Goldilocks? Known as Goudlokje in Dutch, this character from the English fairy tale 'The Three Bears,' first published in 1837, has much to teach us.

The tale recounts the story of three bears residing in a forest abode. They make porridge and leave it to cool as they take a walk. Along comes a girl, named Goldilocks for her golden blonde hair, who finds the house unoccupied and ventures inside. She tests three chairs, breaking one, and chooses the most comfortable one to sit on. She tastes the three bowls of porridge, consuming the one at just the right temperature (not too hot, not too cold, but just right). She then tries out the beds, finding only one that meets her standards (not too hard, not too soft, but just right) and decides to sleep in it. Upon the bears' return, they're shocked to discover their home in disarray. Goldilocks, embarrassed, flees never to return.

So, what then, is the Goldilocks Principle? It's a concept applied across myriad disciplines.

In developmental psychology, the 'Goldilocks Principle' pertains to children's preference to focus on tasks that are neither too simple that they become bored nor too complex that they are incomprehensible.

It challenges us, as L&D professionals and managers, to ensure that people have just the right amount of challenge and growth. Tasks that are too easy lead to BOREDOM or dull training, causing engagement and performance to wane over time.

Conversely, overly challenging tasks that make learning or work too daunting can lead to failure, insecurity, and a dip in performance and morale.

The key is to aim for the Goldilocks zone – sufficient challenges, the right amount of stretch!

Conversations with clients and participants about this principle often yield incredibly enlightening insights!

Jeanne
(Yes, my hair is Faux-Goldilocks 😉)

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