Blog Post: A personal invitation to Attain The Power to Change Anything

Do you want to influence an individual, group or organization?  Most of us have a spouse, boss, friend, work-team or organization we would like to influence.  I’m not sure if you are familiar with VitalSmarts, the people who brought us two other excellent models:  Crucial Conversations and Crucial Confrontations, but they are a quality group which has brought us many practical tips, tools and techniques for positively influencing one-on-one relationships.  Now they have turned to influencing groups, and I, for one, am grateful.

I recently attended an hour-long presentation on VitalSmarts’ Influencer model and left excited and stimulated enough to try it myself.  At the presentation I’d heard about how a small group had eliminated a horrible disease—the Guinea Worm—from African villages by implementing a key Influencer principle: to solve intractable problems; identify 2-3vital behaviors which will produce drastic change if rigorously implemented.

My first attempt to use the model was to influence a group of friends I’d had in high school that were still loosely connected (but non-functional as a group) due to long standing challenges such as grudges, resentments, etc. to become close, harmonious and well-intentioned again.  How we succeeded is a long story (involving some other Influencertechniques), but the key was identifying just 3 behaviors to rigorously implement:  (1) Speaking to the person you have an issue with first; (2) Asking permission before talking to a third party; and (3) Thanking anyone who brings you an issue to discuss. 

I am personally very impressed with Influencer and with VitalSmarts and sincerely hope you’ll be able to attend one (or both!) of our influencer events next Wednesday:

1.     Monthly Learning Event -- 11:00 - 1:30
The Influencer Model (plus lunch, structured and unstructured networking)

2.     Low-cost Influencer Workshop  ($20) 
2:00 – 4:00 -- Create your own personalized plan to use Influencer techniques in a real situation

The event will take place at the The Turnip Rose on Flower in Orange. Follow this link to register for the event.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Anthony Harmetz, President
ASTD - Orange County
Your Learning Partner