INFLUENCER: The New Science of Leading Change

NEW YORK, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In every business interaction—from weekly conference calls to high-stakes corporate negotiations—one major element separates successful change efforts from the ones that fail: Influence. In INFLUENCER: The New Science of Leading Change (McGraw-Hill; Paperback and eBook formats: $19; May 14, 2013), Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler, the authors of the bestselling books Crucial Conversations and Crucial Confrontations, show readers how to create rapid, dramatic and long-lasting change by implementing proven influence strategies. The book was a New York Times best-seller when in it was released in 2007 and the paperback edition has been revised and updated with a new subtitle, research and case studies.

INFLUENCER presents readers with the tools they need to create profound and lasting change as well as to solve longstanding problems in their business. The authors combine five decades of research from behavioral scientists and business leaders with the astonishing stories of high-powered influencers who are leading impressive change efforts in the business world and beyond.

The real success behind any change effort is identifying and altering The Six Sources of Influence™ that affect people's behavior: values, skills, support, teamwork, incentives and the environment. The authors teach how to successfully pinpoint and affect these areas in order to change entrenched behaviors across teams and organizations. Their research in this area was named the "Change Management Model of the Year" by MIT Sloan Management Review and shows leaders are ten times more effective at leading successful behavior change when they use the model taught in INFLUENCER.

The book highlights specific examples of large and small-scale influence initiatives, and shows readers how to transform persistent problems into positive change. Readers will learn how to:

• Use three keys of influence to become a true leader
• Identify high-leverage behaviors that lead to rapid and profound change
• Apply strategies for changing both thoughts and actions

The fundamentals illustrated in INFLUENCER are universal. Community organizers, parents, politicians and individuals can apply the breakthrough strategies and techniques taught in the book to change behaviors and make enduring improvements at home, in the community, and around the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS    
Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler are the leaders of VitalSmarts, an innovator in corporate training and organizational performance. VitalSmarts is home to multiple training offerings, including the award-winning Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, Influencer, and Change Anything Training. Each course improves key organizational outcomes by focusing on high-leverage skills and strategies. The Company also has four New York Times bestselling books. VitalSmarts has trained more than 900,000 people worldwide. www.vitalsmarts.com

PRAISE FOR INFLUENCER:

"AN INSTANT CLASSIC! Whether you're leading change or changing your life, this book delivers." -- Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"Ideas can change the world—but only when coupled with influence--the ability to change hearts, minds, and behavior. This book provides a practical approach to lead change and empower us all to make a difference." -- Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

About McGraw-Hill Professional

McGraw-Hill Professional, a division of McGraw-Hill Education, is a leading global provider of print and electronic content and services for the medical, technical, and business communities. Its offerings include reference and certification books for all professional and educational disciplines and online solutions on medical and health, engineering, business, and scientific topics. For more information, visit  http://www.mhprofessional.com.

McGraw-Hill Education is a digital learning company that draws on its more than 100 years of educational expertise to offer solutions that improve learning outcomes around the world. McGraw-Hill Education is the adaptive education technology leader with the vision for creating a highly personalized learning experience that prepares students of all ages for the world that awaits. The Company has offices across North America, India, China, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions available in more than 60 languages. For additional information, visit www.mheducation.com.

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Professional