Named a Business Book of the Month by the Financial Times
Advance Praise for Reinforcements:
Daniel H. Pink, author of When and Drive--
"Everyone--seriously, everyone--will benefit from reading Reinforcements. With graceful prose and a firm grasp of the science, Heidi Grant shows how to seek assistance in ways that leave both the asker and the helper feeling positive, effective, and ready to help again."
Dorie Clark, author, Entrepreneurial You and Reinventing You--
"No one can do it alone. Whatever your project, mission, or job, you'll almost certainly need assistance to succeed. Heidi Grant's Reinforcements shows you the path forward."
Art Markman, Founding Director, Human Dimensions of Organizations program, University of Texas; author, Smart Thinking and Brain Briefs--
"As always, Grant provides a masterful blend of theory and practical advice that is as entertaining as it is useful."
David Burkus, author, Friend of a Friend--
"This brief but brilliant book will have a lasting impact on how you ask for (and get) more help in your work and life."
Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, author, Innovation as Usual--
"A powerful, practical book on how to attract allies and gain support for your ideas. Required reading for anyone who wants to get things done with the help of others."
Robert Sutton, professor, Stanford University; author, The Asshole Survival Guide and coauthor of Scaling Up Excellence--
"Reinforcements is a delightful and surprising masterpiece. Grant's compelling weave of stories and studies shows how to ask for help (and how not to), and--believe it or not--why, when you ask others for help, you do them a big favor."
★ 06/15/2018
Social psychologist Grant (associate director, Columbia Business Sch.'s Motivation Science Ctr.; global director of research and development, NeuroLeadership Inst.; Nine Things Successful People Do Differently) directs her attention to asking for help in this new book. Grant acknowledges that such a move is extremely difficult; research indicates that most of us think asking for assistance makes us appear weak and less likeable and that everyone we ask will say no. Results from Grant's research and that of colleagues indicate these assumptions are incorrect. Humans are wired to assist one another and in fact, if we turn down a request for help, we usually feel quite uncomfortable. But as Grant says, knowing whom to ask, how to ask, and the underlying psychological principles involved in the exchange can make all the difference in our willingness to seek help. VERDICT Concise, practical guidance accompanied by applicable real-life examples; written especially for those in management and leadership positions.—Jane Scott, Clark Lib., Univ. of Portland, OR