A few months ago, I described a situation with a colleague who had struggled in his career due to learned helplessness, the belief that one’s actions have no influence on the outcomes of events or experiences. He had gone from being a go-getter to becoming a no-getter, convinced that nothing he did at work really mattered.
Although I didn’t know it at the time, learned helplessness can be unlearned. However, it takes time and perseverance to change this mindset. So as Eeyore, the mascot of learned helplessness, might say, why bother? Because business owners in particular face repeated challenges and setbacks. Being able to understand and reframe failures is the key to resilience and long-term success.
It’s a big topic, but one way to understand how to unlearn helplessness is to examine an experiment from 1979, where researchers, building on the theory of learned helplessness, tracked the occupants of two nursing homes.
It’s common knowledge that people placed in such facilities often suffer a major decline, both psychologically and physically. Much of that is attributed to learned helplessness and hopelessness — two parallel mindsets.
During the five-week study, the residents of the experimental home were given increased control and choice. The administrator of the nursing home told residents that they wanted them to take responsibility for themselves, pointed out decision-making opportunities available to them, and encouraged the submission of ideas or complaints. A week later, the same administrator went from room to room, individually reinforcing this message. Patients then were given the choice to care for a plant, and were allowed to choose one for themselves. Five days later, those with plants (90% of the residents) were shown how it could be repotted and given a choice of times when they could get the necessary supplies. Lastly, all patients were invited to participate in a newly established resident council, and their ideas were solicited for the agenda of the first meeting.
The findings, even adjusted for variables, were undeniable. The residents in the experimental home scored significantly lower on the Hopelessness Scale, a tool the scientists used to measure the residents’ state of mind. They also became nearly 50% more active than before, whereas the control group remained steady. The results indicated a correlation between positive change on the Hopelessness Scale and increased activity level. In other words, by being given control and the ability to make decisions for themselves, the patients unlearned helplessness.
So what can you do to reverse learned helplessness? One effective way is by setting SMART goals, a method for active goal setting. Your goals should be:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Achievable
R – Realistic
T – Timely
Setting reasonable goals and attaining them will help eliminate the feeling that your actions don’t matter.
