At Electronic Services Inc, we believe in creating a work culture that benefits all.

Recently, we’ve been putting the 5-second rule into practice. If you’ve never heard of this strategy, then it’s time to tune in, you’re about to change the way your tech company works forever!

What is the 5-Second Rule

So what exactly is the 5-second rule, and how do we apply it at our electronic strategies company?

This concept, brought into the spotlight by Mel Robbins, says that if you have an impulse to act on a goal, you have exactly five seconds to get moving. 

Mel Robbins and the 5 second rule to get you out of bed

Simply count backward, 5-4-3-2-1, and then spring into action. Think of this like a countdown to a rocket launch.

The theory in the 5-second rule is that when you act on that initial impulse to do, you outsmart your brain’s lazy tendencies and make things happen, rather than just thinking about them.  This psychological tactic pushes instant action on instinctive aims and can cultivate more engaged, proactive, and healthier work environments, just as it has for others all over the world.

How Can the 5-Second Rule Enhance Work Culture in Your Tech Company?

The beauty of the 5 Second Rule lies in its simplicity. At Electronic Strategies Inc, we are creating a culture where nobody thinks themself out of innovative tasks or great ideas. The goal is to add impetus to your instincts and ideas, empowering you to create change.

The goal of putting the 5-second rule into play is to snap you out of that restrictive state of mind, and force you to share, or act, on your amazing ideas before human doubt creeps in.

Our employees practice this when discussing work projects. They may feel hesitant to bring up an idea because they don’t want to sound silly, but when they take a breath and remember to use the 5-second rule, they share it before any doubt can set in. 

The first step can be small, momentum builds from 1 single action! After bringing this idea into the workplace, we have seen a huge shift in productivity, output, and resolution, and you can too!

Creating 5-Second Habits in Your IT Career

We know that it takes 28 days of consistency to see a new habit form, so how can you practice this at your tech company?

Here are a few tips:

• Create a visual reminder: Write down the 5-second rule on a sticky note or create a poster. Make sure it’s somewhere you’ll see it every day so it can serve as a constant reminder to act quickly and decisively.
• Make it a team effort: Talk about the 5 Second Rule with coworkers and encourage them to try it with you. Take time to foster collaboration and support, motivating everyone to take action. The more people get involved, the more people won’t want to feel left out!
• Set achievable goals: Break big tasks into mini-milestones with deadlines. That way, each piece is more manageable, and you can use the 5 Second Rule to tackle every step. The rule works best with specific, doable goals.
• Practice mindfulness: Pay attention when hesitation and doubt start creeping in and use the 5 Second Rule to shut them down quickly. Don’t give yourself time to overthink or psych yourself out! Act decisively.
• Reflect on your progress: Take a few minutes daily to reflect on how you used the rule and celebrate even small wins. Reflecting on progress reinforces those decisive habits and reminds you of the positive impacts.

Stick with it, and the 5 Second Rule will start to feel natural as you train your and your workforce’s brains to act decisively. With visual reminders, team motivation, achievable goals, mindfulness, and progress tracking, “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, go!” will soon be second nature!

The 5 Second Rule is a powerful tool to combat hesitation and foster a dynamic, action-oriented work culture. It’s not about hasty decisions but acting swiftly on productive instincts. With practice, patience, and celebration of little victories, the rule can become second nature and revolutionize your work day!