Written by: Vickie Sullivan | December 12, 2023
Why Great Ideas Face Brutal Pushback
Warning: controversial topic coming in hot.
People have strong opinions about how to help unhoused people. And as a recent Vox article shows, people have built-in beliefs that can prevent effective ideas from being implemented.
The article is about a study conducted in Canada in which researchers gave 50 unhoused people $7,500 (Canadian dollars) and told them to do whatever they wanted with the cash. Over the next year, the researchers followed up with them and compared their outcomes with 65 unhoused people who did not receive money. Both groups had access to workshops and coaching focused on developing life skills and plans.
Separately, the research team conducted a survey asking 1,100 people what they thought people who received unconditional $7,500 would spend it on. They predicted the recipients would spend 81% more on “temptation goods” like alcohol, drugs, and tobacco if they were unhoused than if they were not.
The results of the study proved that the prediction was wrong.
“The recipients of the cash transfers did not increase spending on drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, but did increase spending on food, clothes, and rent, according to self-reports. What’s more, they moved into stable housing faster and saved enough money to maintain financial security over the year of follow-up,” the article says.
Why People Resist Successful Ideas
If emotional buy-in were based on research and results, programs like this would spread to other cities like wildfire. Instead, you find a strong wall of resistance that won’t be placated with data and financial spreadsheets.
We can all fall into this trap when recommending big changes. All the beta tests in the world can’t overcome a culture opposed to change. Emotions eat data for breakfast.
The sooner we realize that even the best ideas must still be positioned, the quicker our recommendations will be implemented. Great results are not enough. The business case won’t overcome personal experiences and stories.
Listen: 2 Stories That Pave the Way for Big Changes
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