[SSG nudge Leadership] Preparing for the Long Race with a Small Gift to Myself

- Strengthening Self-Control by Standing Tall and Maintaining Good Posture

Changwook Park, CEO of Korea Knowledge Workers Association (Secretary General of Daewoo World Management Research Association)

Every year at the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, I give myself a small gift. It is a way to encourage myself for living diligently. After giving myself gifts like fountain pens and wallets, two years ago I bought a desk chair, and last year I bought a wristwatch. To celebrate my 60th birthday, I bought a luxury brand watch for the first time ever as a family gift.

Like everyone else, I faced difficulties, but since around this time last year, my activity level has significantly decreased due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Two concerns arose: reduced income due to lecture cancellations and the risk of becoming a "quarantine weight gain" case. Fortunately, I managed to get through the year with online lectures I had been conducting for over five years and my regular exercise routine, but a special strategy was needed.

So this time, as a gift, I purchased a 'Posture Correction Band for Chest Expansion' last month. I wear it while walking, sitting at my desk, and using my laptop or smartphone, ultimately expecting it to help maintain self-discipline. The price is modest, around 20,000 KRW.

The background to buying this is as follows. Since early last year, I increased my desk time due to reduced physical activity and challenged myself with energy-consuming tasks. I wrote columns based on my experience and studies for the media. Writing two articles weekly, four topics every two weeks, I challenged myself with writing that was unavoidable and unyielding. I utilized 120% of my time during weekends, evenings, and spare moments. As a result, I gained the ability to focus for at least 3-4 hours when sitting at my desk. In 2020, I also achieved the publication of two books. I planned and published a book titled "We Have Global Management," a joint work by former Daewoo Group members, and participated as a writer. I also published a book titled "Behind the Scenes of the HR Manager" on my own.

However, in early August last year, I was involved in a traffic accident. While waiting to make a left turn at an intersection, I was rear-ended in a 100% fault accident. The car was repaired and restored, and I was not seriously injured, but I was concerned about my neck. I received treatment once or twice a week at a traditional Korean medicine clinic, but to be more certain, I had an MRI focusing on my neck and shoulders. The impact of the accident was minimal, but it was diagnosed that there was a problem with my cervical vertebrae. They said everyone experiences such phenomena as they age and advised caution with phone or computer work and slouched postures. Since I frequently use a laptop, I immediately purchased a stand to raise the screen height and a Bluetooth keyboard to compensate.

One task still remains. It is to help the Global Young Business Manager (GYBM) training course trainees improve their learning effect over one year and increase their survival skills after employment in Southeast Asian countries. The conclusion was that it was a matter of concentration and self-discipline. There is a deep correlation between posture during lectures and self-study, and the gaps are negatively and fatally affected by smartphones or comfortable postures invading the space of 'self-discipline.' However, when told to 'keep a correct posture,' immediate signs of rebellion appear, and it is common to hear responses like 'My study ability is limited because my parents' abilities are inherited.'

One book caught my eye. It is titled "The Power of Routine (The Power to Keep Going Without Wavering)," co-authored by 20 people. American psychologist Baumeister introduced training that helps improve concentration and self-discipline in his book "The Willpower Instinct." It included ordinary things like maintaining correct posture, not answering 'uh-huh' carelessly but properly saying 'yes,' and flossing before bed. These have great extensibility to other areas, and once they become habits, one can accomplish tasks without much effort and use the saved energy for many other activities requiring self-discipline.

"Correct posture!" caught my eye sharply. It was the scientific basis for the countless scoldings I heard as a child. From then on, I started reorganizing my desk, sitting upright, expanding my chest, and staring straight ahead. Nevertheless, I kept slipping. By chance, I saw an article about posture correction bands in a newspaper, searched online, and immediately bought two. I gave one to an office employee who always complained of shoulder muscle pain. They were smiling, saying it worked after just one day. I also wear mine for 2-3 hours a day, correcting small habits. It is too early to guarantee the effect after only two weeks, but I was able to start the effort to create a good lifelong habit with small efforts.

And I still believe that the most basic nudge activity to create small habits introduced in this column is to execute it directly. Now begins the third act of life, a challenge to overcome the COVID-19 daily life. Just that feeling alone makes me think this year will be manageable.

Park Chang-wook, CEO of Korea Knowledge Leader Association (Secretary General of Daewoo Global Management Research Association)

◆ What is 'Nudge Leadership'?

- 'Nudge Leadership' is not a coercive or directive oppressive method but leads organizational or personal change through small and gentle interventions or motivation. It also transforms oneself into a person who improves human relationships and becomes someone others want to follow through small personal changes. Ultimately, it breathes creativity and passion into organizations or relationships, creating new value and happiness.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.