Week $7$: Discussion $>$ Video Case $-$ The Power to Change Anything

Assignment Case

Read the following and post answer to questions below on the discussions area.

Power to Change Anything

Because of their position and experience, managers often are expected to influence others. The most important capacity we possess is our ability to influence behavior, and most of us aren't very good at using it$,$ says Joseph Grenny, one of the authors of Influencer: The Power to Change Anything, which addresses effective ways to influence teams, organizations, and careers. An influencer is a person capable of profoundly affecting persistent, highly resistant problems, like turning around an organization or turning criminal lives into ordinary lives. The common trait influencers share is their ability to positively impact the behavior of others.In any aspect of our lives, from personal relationships to financial well$-$being, Grenny says, we usually can solve the greatest problems we face by influencing the behavior of ourselves or others. Those with the ability to influence others understand that complex behavioral problems are not easily solved. Grenny points out that one of the reasons we lack influence today is that people too often look for the quick fix or "silver bullet" to solve problems that have persisted for years, even decades. Such problems, whether in individuals or among teams, often have deep$-$rooted sources. People can become strongly committed to bad habits or behaviors, just as they can to good ones. Unless you can see and understand what is influencing behavior, you cannot impact it effectively.One of the biggest challenges for organizations is changing the culture, which requires influencing behavior change. Grenny suggests that one way to influence individuals and teams to change an organization's culture is to harness peer pressure. That requires locating opinion leaders throughout the organization, convincing them of what needs to change, and getting them to commit. Once the opinion leaders are on board, others generally come along. Harnessing peer pressure in this way is a powerful source of influence.Grenny points out that to use change as a tool, managers must start by changing workers' hearts and minds. Some people think behavior change can be accomplished through a $20-$minute power point presentation at orientation. Grenny thinks not, and uses Home Depot as an example of an organization that effectively captures employees' hearts and minds. At Home Depot, you don't become an executive until you have earned your apron working on the retail floor. The experiences gained there capture the hearts and minds of future executives and influence behavior more than a brief orientation could ever do$.$Managers trying to bring about change are likely to encounter resistance, especially when workers think they can't do what is being asked or don't see the benefit to themselves. Successful influencers address both of these issues$(1)/(2)$you can do it and it will be good for you$(1)/(2)$whether on the job or in other circumstances. One factor is that people may be motivated but lack the ability and skills to change. Managers should remember that if you want to change people, you not only have to motivate them, you also have to ensure they have the ability and skills needed to change.

Discussion Questions

Please share your thoughts about these questions on the discussion area.

Is it easy to influence behavior?

How can managers influence the behavior of individuals and teams?

Why do individuals resist change? How can they be influenced to embrace change?

ask the class a question related to something observed$/$learned in the video