George Bradt has led the revolution in how people start new jobs – accelerating transitions so leaders and their teams reduce their rates of failure and fulfill potential. He is Chairman of PrimeGenesis, author of ten books on onboarding and leadership, two books on back-to-school chats, 700+ columns for Forbes, and eighteen plays and musicals (book, lyrics & music). Bill Berman is a seasoned business psychologist with more than 30 years’ experience as an executive coach, senior line manager, clinician and academic. He has consulted to CEOs, C-suite leaders, and general/functional managers since founding Berman Leadership Development in 2004. He has published more than 50 articles and books on a variety of subjects. They are co-authors of “Influence and Impact: Discover and Excel at What Your Organization Needs From You The Most.” (Amazon, 2022)

“Influence and Impact” provides an easy-to-follow, common-sense approach to building influence at any level of an organization. It is divided into five parts: Part I: The Disconnect, Part II: The Solution, Part III: Plan A, Part IV: Plan B, and Part V: Helping Others Build Their Influence and Impact. In the Introduction, the authors define influence as “the indirect or intangible effect you have on others, based on what you do, how you do it, how you communicate it, and who you are.” According to them, the purpose of this book is to help readers understand themselves, their role in their job, and how to influence their organization. The section also summarizes each part and what the reader can expect. Each chapter includes tips, worksheets, and tools to help readers focus and take appropriate actions to do the job that is expected of them. There are also real life examples of workers who have benefitted from their expertise and practical advice.

Books on leadership, influence, and business advice are not a rare commodity. What makes ‘Influence and Impact’ unique is that it covers all the stages of a person’s career, ranging from preparing for an interview, to getting more recognition at work and aiming for more satisfaction from a job. Using real life stories, practical advice, and worksheets to help readers individualize the content, it is an extremely useful guide for modern business practices. The language is easy to understand which makes the reading pace steady. Highlights include Chapter 12: Make a Plan to Move On: Sometimes You Need a Fresh Start – provides insight into how to prepare to move on from a job and tips on job searching, including how to prepare for an interview and Chapter 11: Negotiate for a Better Role Inside Your Organization -helps readers create a Personal Strategic Plan to help them “find a better fit for your strengths within your current organization.” A major takeaway is that as workers, blaming the company for difficulties in job performances is just masking the reality that we all have to adapt to our environment to survive. We may have to adapt, but it is up to each individual worker to find fulfillment and the do the best job they can without casting blame on others or on the company itself. It has valuable information that everyone in an organization can use, from the workers to the managers. ‘Influence and Impact’ by Bill Berman and George Bradt contains important information for building a successful career in any stage and is recommended for readers who understand that there is always something new to learn when it comes to career advice.

“There is extensive social science research, however, that indicates that your ability to adjust to the context you live or work in is directly related to the likelihood of your success.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.