Because adults have a lot of "rules in their heads" about how things work (or how they work best for them) they aren't inclined to change their behavior on the job simply because you say so or even if you tell them why a change is in their best interest. 

One of the ways you CAN assist adults in changing the way they think about a behavior, and the potential benefits of changing that behavior, is through asking questions.

Here is an example: Let's assume you are not registered to vote. You could read a pamphlet (asynchronous learning) or attend a voter registration meeting (how to register, your voter rights) but none of that information is likely to get you to change your beliefs / behavior regarding voting.

What if, instead, you were asked "Why is it considered a privilege, in the United States, to have the right to vote?" or "Why is it important for you, personally, to register to vote?"  NOW you are getting at deeper analysis and thinking. People need to think through and explain their reasoning. Sometimes they will come up with the same answer (not going to register; no compelling reason to vote), but more often than not, they change their thinking and more importantly they change their behavior because they came up with the "answer" on their own (even though you led them to it; but shhhh, that will be our little secret).

Asking the right types of questions is a powerful technique to assist adults in adopting new ways of thinking and behaving.  We challenge you to go through a course you currently teach and simply insert some questions that will cause your learners to think. You'll realize remarkable changes in behavior when you do so.