Change Anything

Outline

Change Anything (2011) explains why willpower alone rarely changes bad habits, and how to succeed by changing the forces around you. Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler describe six sources of influence, personal, social, and environmental, that shape behaviour, and show how to use them to improve careers, health, finances, and relationships. The book is based on research with thousands of people.

• Willpower alone rarely changes bad habits, so relying on motivation by itself is a weak plan.
• Behaviour is shaped by six sources of influence: personal, social, and environmental forces working together.
• Lasting change comes from reshaping the forces around you, not only from trying harder inside your own head.
• The same approach applies to careers, health, finances, and relationships, so one method covers many goals.
• The authors base their advice on research with thousands of people rather than on theory alone.

Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler are the team behind VitalSmarts, now Crucial Learning, a company that trains people in communication and behaviour change. Together they have written several bestselling books on workplace communication and influence. Their works include Crucial Conversations, Influencer, and Change Anything.