Celebrating the Positive Use of Power in Organizations Michael F. Broom, Ph.D. Foreword by Donald C. Klein, author of New Vision, New Reality

Turf battles, empire building, ego trips, favoritism-power struggles that arise from the win-lose perspective of power-short-circuit organizational communication, suppress creativity, punish those who take responsibility, and produce the gossip and grievances that plague today's workplace. The Infinite Organization moves away from the traditional, finite notion of power to a new paradigm-one that expands and strengthens personal power, interpersonal influence, and the ability to create powerful teams. In this blueprint for win-win performance, Michael Broom details the six principles of infinite power for achieving personal goals and the organization's vision: focus our energy on our own goals; think systemically; learn from differences; operate only from sound and current data; empower ourselves and others to resolve problems; and develop and use a diverse support system. Demonstrating that power is virtually unlimited when accrued through partnering and learning, The Infinite Organization shows how to apply the six principles to leadership, structures and policies, and management practices to ultimately create the focused and passionate culture of the infinite organization.

CONTENTS

1. Power in Organizations
2. Producing Personal Power
3. Building Interpersonal Influence
4. From Effective Groups to Powerful Teams
5. The Infinite Organization

READER REVIEW

Learn to use infinite stores of power and influence to jump-start performance. If you embrace Broom's approach, good things will happen. Read the book, try the techniques, and then read the book again. It may well become the most dog-eared book in your library . . . and you will be better and happier for it.

John Flavin, President, Grosvenor Atlantic Limited

Michael F. Broom, Ph.D. and Donald C, Klein, Ph.D. Purchase

The book presents an energy model of Power as "energy put to use for a purpose." Written in an informal, conversational style, this practical guide to personal and organizational power is grounded in the authors' expertise about interpersonal relations and group dynamics in organizations and communities. The book describes how to convert energy into usable intellectual, emotional, and physical effort. It describes the seven channels of influence that can be used to enlist others' help in achieving personal and organizational goals. It highlights issues of equity that are crucial to creating effective working relationships.

PUBLISHERS REVIEW

Even more than Wheatley, Kanter, and Senge, these authors challenge you to radically alter your view of yourself, the world in which you live and work, and your way of exerting influence in that world. This simply written, incredibly inspiring, and intelligently informative book presents the basics of what you need to know to live a truly win-win personal and professional life.

Charles N. Seashore, Edith W. Seashore, Gerald M. Weinberg Purchase

Offering opinions is the second most necessary ingredient for human life. Studies show that we can go only three minutes without air, perhaps three days without water, maybe three weeks without food…and but three hours without offering somebody our suggestion, responses, or critiques.

The current "hot" topic in management circles is the process of giving, getting, and analyzing advice. This brief and engaging book can be of use to anyone who has to interact with other people, much like Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. You'll enjoy the "read" so much that you may not realize how much you've gained-all in words of one syllable!

• How to offer feedback when asked to do so
• Why feedback tells more about the give than the receiver
• How feedback is distorted or resisted by the receiver's point of view and defense mechanisms
• And how, in dozens of enjoyable vignettes, humans have struggles to understand each others responses.

Here's a book on how to listen, how to give advice, how interpret what others are saying to you-and what you are saying to them? For managers and employees, for teacher and students, for parents and children…for every party to an interaction.

READER REVIEW

I had several 'aha's' reading this clear and entertaining excursion into everyday interaction… Feedback should be given sparingly and taken thoughtfully-with a grain of salt. That one (of many) useful messages demonstrated here.