Research Brief
A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.
Presenter
Best Practice Institute
Best Practice Institute
**Senior Executive Board Meeting: October 9 at Novelis in Atlanta, Georgia**
Description
Jonah Berger (author of Contagious: How Ideas Spread) will be presenting on how to create a Contagious Movement around Talent Programs on Wednesday, October 9 at 11:15amET. Learn more about decision making and social dynamics (e.g., social influence) and what makes ideas viral and products spread contagiously.
Who Will Participate
Senior Executive Board members and representatives
This session delves into the fascinating psychological and social mechanisms that cause information and trends to become popular. It examines the underlying principles that make some ideas, products, and behaviors catch on and spread widely, offering insights that are highly relevant for leaders today.
What you'll learn
- The fundamental principles that drive social transmission and virality.
- How subtle psychological factors influence peer-to-peer sharing.
- Strategies for crafting messages and initiatives that naturally spread.
- The role of social currency and triggers in making content contagious.
- Why understanding context is crucial for predicting idea adoption.
Who this webinar is for
- Leaders and managers looking to increase the adoption of new strategies.
- Marketing and communication professionals aiming for greater campaign impact.
- HR and organizational development specialists fostering cultural change.
- Innovators and entrepreneurs seeking to launch successful products or services.
- Anyone interested in the dynamics of social influence and behavioral change.
Why it matters now
In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to effectively spread ideas and gain organizational alignment is paramount. Understanding how ideas become “contagious” provides a strategic advantage for leaders, allowing them to not only communicate more effectively but also to inspire action and cultivate desired behaviors. This knowledge is essential for fostering innovation, driving change initiatives, and building strong organizational cultures in any environment.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can operationalize the principles of idea contagion in several ways:
- Design for shareability: Structure internal communications and project goals with elements that intrinsically encourage discussion and dissemination among team members.
- Identify triggers: Link important organizational messages to everyday occurrences or common touchpoints within the work routine.
- Leverage social proof: Highlight successes and positive outcomes to demonstrate widespread adoption and encourage others to follow suit.
- Create practical value: Ensure initiatives offer clear benefits or solutions that address real pain points for employees, making them more likely to be embraced.
- Facilitate public visibility: Find ways to make desired behaviors or successful project milestones observable to the broader organization, fostering a sense of shared progress and inspiration.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on workplace culture. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Best Practice Institute's direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for workplace culture inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about workplace culture.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.