Behavior is what people do and say—a means to an end. Behavior is an observable act that can be seen and heard, and it can be measured. Consistent behavior is necessary for consistent results. For example, a youth baseball coach cannot just shout at a 10-year-old pitcher from the dugout to “throw strikes.” The child may not know how and will become frustrated. To be effective, the coach must teach specific techniques – behaviors – that will help the child throw strikes more consistently. This is followed up with effective coaching and positive reinforcement. Sometimes people will make errors despite their best efforts. Therefore, behavior and its causes are extremely valuable as the signal for improvement efforts to anticipate, prevent, catch, or recover from errors. For long-term, sustained good results, a close observation must be conducted of what influences behavior, motivates it, provokes it, shapes it, inhibits it, and directs it!
