One of the most effective Compliance interventions I've ever seen involves a brass band and several thousand litres of beer.
Today I'm between visits to the Wiesn (what Munich locals call Oktoberfest, after the Theresienwiese where it's held). I've become fascinated by one ritual there: 𝗘𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁.
If you've been inside one of the beer tents, you'll know it. The band strikes up a familiar tune. Conversations stop, glasses go up, everyone sings.
Then comes the cue: "𝘖𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘻𝘸𝘰𝘢, 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘪, 𝘨'𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘢!" One, two, three, drink.
You don't have to drink, but most people do.
Behaviourally, that's what makes it so interesting. Ein Prosit is a sonic cue and the moment those opening notes play, everyone either knows what's coming and if you're a newcomer you'll work it out pretty quickly. Nobody needs instructions, training or reminders. The sound triggers the ritual, and the environment does the rest.
Thousands of people join in at once. Taking part is effortless. Opting out is possible, but it feels slightly odd and a few songs later, it happens all over again.
The result is a lot more beer being drunk; handy if you're in the business of selling it.
There's a lesson here for Compliance. We tend to assume that changing behaviour means giving people more information, so we write policies, send emails, run training and give people things to remember.
But knowing what to do often isn't the problem. Doing it in the moment where it matters, is.
Ein Prosit nails this. The cue is unmistakable and the desired behaviour is obvious. The environment supports it, other people reinforce it, and nobody is forced to do anything.
You don't have to, but most people do. Not a bad ambition for a Compliance intervention
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