Find a helpful role model

We learn from one another’s actions. This was shown by social psychologist Albert Bandura in a classic study from 1961, where children got to play in a room together with an adult who suddenly started to strike a doll. Children witnessing the aggressive behavior were more likely to strike the doll themselves when they were left alone. This tendency towards imitation is not unique among children – we carry it into adulthood and out into our working lives. The good news is that it does not apply only to aggressive behavior. We also learn by witnessing the generous and helpful actions of others.