Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

Kerry Patterson and his coauthors argue that leadership is almost entirely a matter of behavioral influence. They present a framework centered on identifying three or four high-leverage "vital behaviors" that trigger a chain reaction of change. The book details six sources of influence that drive these behaviors: personal, social, and structural motivations and abilities. By examining case studies ranging from the eradication of the Guinea worm parasite to radical recidivism reduction in prisons, the authors demonstrate how individuals can alter habits by manipulating these six specific categories of environmental and psychological incentives.

This book is intended for managers, project leaders, and community organizers who face deep-seated stagnation or resistance within their teams. Readers use these strategies to diagnose why a specific behavior persists despite attempts to fix it. They walk away with a systematic map for analyzing human motivation and a toolbox for designing interventions that go beyond simple verbal persuasion. The text provides a repeatable method for replacing ineffective incentives with structural changes that make new habits easier to adopt and maintain.

Growth-minded and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?