Influencer

Becoming an Influencer

You can become an influencer, create positive change, and play a major role in solving major dilemmas as well as small, irritating problems. Behavior is stubborn, but not set in stone. Now, you can learn some methods to help people change – including yourself.

That might sound optimistic, even idealistic, but look at Mimi Silbert: She creates real change through San Francisco’s Delancey Street Foundation, which helps repeat offenders and homeless felons. It doesn’t just give them a meal and hope that they somehow will get better. It guides them to new, productive behavior through work and acceptance. Silbert, like other successful influencers, gets this done by “focusing on just a few vital behaviors.” So, the first step in becoming an influencer is learning to identify “high-leverage behaviors” that will have the maximum overall impact. To find these pivotal behaviors, put aside what you think you know and “study the best.” See what actually works.

Next, search for “positive deviance.” Examine personal situations, organizations or communities that ought to be similar to yours, but that lack the problems you have and want to fix. Analyze...