Context Engineering

Summary: Once the behavior is selected, don’t rely on willpower alone. Engineer the context (physical, digital, social) so the behavior is easy, obvious, and the path of least resistance.

The Core Insight

Friction Is Often Decisive. Small amounts of friction can kill behaviors faster than lack of motivation. Reduce steps, remove uncertainty, and place the action in the user’s natural flow.

Guardrails (to keep this credible and ethical)

Context engineering is optimization after fit. If the behavior doesn’t fit the segment/context, polish is a distraction.
Defaults are configuration, not durable behavior change. Use them to reduce setup friction, not to manufacture motivation.
Prefer transparency and reversibility: explain intent, make opt-out easy, and measure downstream outcomes (not just acceptance).

Engineering Levels

1. Default Architecture

Opt-Out vs Opt-In: Where appropriate and ethical, set a default that reduces setup friction (e.g., “Camera ON” at start of call) while keeping opt-out easy and visible.
Pre-Population: Never ask a user for data you already have.

2. The “In-Stream” Trigger

Place the trigger directly in the user’s existing flow (identified in the Behavioral Audit).

Bad: Send an email asking them to log into a portal.
Good: Put the “Approve” button inside the email or Slack message.

3. Physical Constraints

Use “Forcing Functions.”

ATM Example: You must take your card before cash is dispensed. The machine physically enforces the “Remember Card” behavior.
Digital Example: You cannot hit “Submit” until the file is attached.

Output

A Context Spec. A set of design requirements for the product team that removes decision fatigue and friction.