I think it would depend on the habit.

have you tried hypnosis?

hi spankee,

i am so happy to see you around.

i have found that for myself, if i have a habit that i may be struggling to break, replacing the habit with another activity first with something else really seems to work.
obviously i don't know what your habit it, but i believe this techinique works for just about everything.

ex.
if you have a habit of interupting others when they are speaking to you, just make it a point to bite down on yours lower lip util that person has had a change to convey theie message to you.

it is smoking, wear a rubber band on you wrist and snap it really really hard whenever you get the urge.

or

if it is something like leaving a fridge door open, you could try opening and closing it 300 times in succession everyday while chanting "leaving the refridgerator door is bad...is wastfull and I wish to alter this behavior"

i hope you are able to use something

Most people don't understand the basic psychology of changing habits. It can be done quite successfully, but it needs (forgive the pun) a disciplined approach on both sides. Here's a quick summary in bullet points, email me if you need more information. This is taken from some of the latest scientific research on behavior modfication for people.
1. It has to be your goal to change, not your boss's or your partners.
2. Punishments must be certain, consistent, and truly aversive.
- If punishments are "intermittent" you will only strengthen the undesired behavior - making things worse.
3. Add in a system of rewards to encourage an alternative behavior - the new alternative behavior should "squeeze out" and replace the undesired one.
4. Your "behavioral contract" must last a full 40 days. Thats how long it takes to alter behaviors.
- if your HOH is inconsistent, or "stops" after the full period, you go back to square 1, and have to start all over again.
- Its like taking a course of antibiotics. If you don't finish the course, you make things worse.
5. Your HOH may need some training - this can be complex stuff, but it does work if he maintains his half of the behavior contract, and punishments are sure enough, consistent enough, and aversive enough.
6. Don't try to change too many things at once. only 2 or 3 behaviors can be changed in any one period.

For an entry in to the literature on self-punishment (which this really is, because its a behaivor you want to change): see:
www.psychologicalselfhelp.org/ for starters.

Don't give up. Make sure you have a clear, written, signed behaivor contract with your HOH on this issue.