Drawing on twenty years of research on the most common positive and negative influencing techniques people use to get ahead, author Terry R. Bacon explains how influence works and how you can use it to lead effectively and reach any goal. In Elements of Influence, he teaches readers why people allow themselves to be influenced and why they resist; how to choose the right influencing approach in different situations; how to be influential without formal authority; and what it takes to achieve success in every kind of organization or professional role--even when working with those from other countries and cultures. We succeed when we're able to influence how others think, feel, and act: getting them to accept our point of view, follow our lead, join our cause, feel our excitement, or buy our products and services. By shedding light on how the act of influencing impacts our daily lives--even when we don't realize we (or others) are doing it--Elements of Influence offers the key to using this tool more consciously and effectively through adaptability, perceptiveness, and insight. Whether you're a business leader, frontline employee, entrepreneur, or stay-at-home parent, this universal resource--filled with tips, exercises, and practical applications--shows how anyone can exert influence to achieve real results.