The Theory of Change

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Theory of change is the plan for how concretely you're going to accomplish your goal, really grounded in a deep understanding of the field that you're working in. This is your personal story and model for what needs to happen for that goal to be achieved. It's like kind of digging into the details of like how that thing actually happens and then thinking about that when you're actually familiar in your plan.

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What are "forward-chaining" and "backward-chaining", and how do they connect with theory of change? What sorts of mental habits and heuristics prevent you from brainstorming ideas effectively? How can you harness feedback effectively to sharpen your ideas? From whom should you solicit feedback? How can you view your own products with fresh eyes? What are some common struggles people encounter when starting or changing careers, and how can they be overcome? Why are small experiments so under-used? How can we construct a sustainable work life? What are the best ways to rest and recover from overwork and burnout?

Lynette Bye is a productivity coach who works with effective altruists. Before that, she studied the psychology of self-control at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. You can find out more and read her blog at lynettebye.com.

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