When we think about peer pressure, our minds often drift to the warnings we heard in adolescence about avoiding the negative influences of our peers. It turns out however, peer pressure isn’t always a bad thing and in fact, it can be a potent catalyst for positive change, even for adults. At The Roundtable, we leverage the power of positive peer pressure in our group coaching programs, and have witnessed firsthand how it can help leaders build and sustain momentum as they work towards their goals.
The evidence
Peer pressure is essentially any social influence of our peers, impacting our behavior, mindset, decision-making, and performance. In group coaching, we see the power of positive peer pressure as leaders vocalize their goals, regularly share progress updates and make clear commitments on next steps. A peek into social psychology research backs up our observations from group coaching with some pretty compelling evidence on how peer pressure can actually help propel us forward.
- Motivation and Accountability
According to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology individuals are more likely to adhere to their goals when they are part of a group with similar aspirations. Their key findings include:
- 70% of participants who shared their goals with a peer group achieved them, compared to only 35% who kept their goals private.
- Regular group meetings increased commitment and follow-through, demonstrating the power of accountability in a peer setting.
- Enhanced Performance
Research by the American Psychological Association (APA) highlights that positive peer pressure can drive improved performance. In a study of athletes, those who trained in groups showed greater performance increase than their counterparts who trained alone:
- Group-trained athletes improved their performance by 24% compared to a 10% improvement in those who trained alone.
- The presence of peers provided motivation, pushing individuals beyond their own expectations
- Learning and Skill Development
A study conducted by Harvard Business School found that peer learning groups enhance skill acquisition and retention:
- Participants in peer learning groups had a 32% higher knowledge retention rate.
- The power of truly learning together fostered a deeper understanding of complex subjects and improved problem-solving skills.
Putting the Positivity in Peer Pressure
In our work at The Roundtable, we see the unique difference that peer pressure offers in group coaching that you just can’t replicate in traditional training or 1-1 coaching. There are a few secret ingredients, however, that we know are essential to ensuring it is the healthy, positive kind of pressure and not the kind that our parents warned us against.
- Carefully select your peer group
If you are looking to get peer support in pursuing a goal, consider other individuals who have similar goals and values to you. Seek out peer connections who are motivated, ambitious, and supportive. This can be a professional network, a formal group, or a group of friends with shared interests.
- Set Clear Goals and Share Them
Trust and candour are key in building relationships where you can truly feel accountable to each other. Create a clear, concrete goal and share it with members of your peer group and encourage them to do the same. When everyone is aware of each other’s objectives, it creates a collective sense of purpose and accountability.
- Establish Regular Check-Ins to Build Accountability
Agree to regular check-ins with your peers to help keep each other accountable. Ask for feedback and accept support that might be useful.
- Celebrate Successes and Learn from Failures
Remember the goal is progress, not perfection. When pursuing any goal you will have wins and setbacks. Acknowledge and celebrate achievements and use failures as learning opportunities. Discuss with your peers what went wrong and what you might do differently next time.
Peer pressure can be a powerful motivator that helps you achieve your goals. If you would like to explore peer coaching to help accelerate your development or the development of one of your team members, registration for our upcoming Roundtable for Leaders Open Enrollment program is now open with six seats left!
