Mindset cards

Shape the team’s own behaviour before trying to shape anyone else’s.

Common questions:

• “Why do we need mindset cards? Isn’t this just common sense?”
  → Nope. In pressure, common sense disappears. Mindsets make invisible assumptions visible.

• “Is this just a ‘ways of working’ exercise?”
  → Wrong lens. This isn’t about how you work, it’s about how you think about behaviour. Subtle but critical.

• “Shouldn’t we jump straight to mapping behaviours?”
  → You could. But if your team’s mindset is misaligned, your behaviour efforts will be too. You’ll be solving the wrong problem beautifully.

1. Curious Sceptic

Ask “Why?” one more time

Why it matters
Assumptions hide the real blockers.
Curiosity digs them out.

Live it today

• List every belief about behaviour.

• Circle the ones without data.

• Plan a quick check for each.

2. Bias for Momentum

Small test, fast feedback

Why it matters
Behaviour lives in the wild.
Tiny experiments reveal the reality sooner.

Live it today

• Break the idea into a one‑day test.

• Set a clear pass or fail signal.

• Run it before lunch.

3. System Shaper

Behaviour is a living system

Why it matters
Features, incentives, and culture work together. Change one part and the rest move.

Live it today

• Map where the behaviour starts and ends.

• Note the rules, rewards, and tools in play.

• Look for the hidden lever, not the obvious one.

4. Evidence Beats Ego

Data wins every time

Why it matters
Behaviour is unreliable when people talk about it. Watching actual actions is the only solid signal.

Live it today

• Write the metric that matters on the wall.

• Share test results with the whole team.

• Celebrate kills as much as wins.

5. Influence with care

Do good... or else

Why it matters
Trust takes time to build and seconds to lose. Tricks and shortcuts might work once, but they hurt in the long run.

Live it today

• Let people opt in and opt out easily.

• Be clear about what they gain and what it costs.

• Check for unintended harm before you launch.

Other tools you'll find useful: