The Necessity of Strangers: The Intriguing Truth About Insight, Innovation, and Success

"Is it possible that we are blind to one of the most exciting sources of innovation in our midst? The strangers among us the UPS driver, the co–worker from a different department, neighbors who are older, younger, or otherwise different from us could be invaluable allies in our quest for true creativity, if only we knew how to reach out to them. The Necessity of Strangers is a guide to breaking out of the hive mind and forging the connections that can make us better thinkers and better people." Dan Pink, author, To Sell Is Human and Drive "Alan Gregerman has done it once again making a compelling case for the relatively simple, yet powerful, concept of opening ourselves up to the knowledge and insights of others. The Necessity of Strangers is a provocative, relevant, and practical guide to meeting the challenges facing business leaders today." George Schindler, president, United States and Canada, CGI "Are you ready to learn about the power of strangers? From the products we buy at the grocery store to the innovations we adopt at the office, strangers shape our behavior in some amazing ways. Get ready for Alan Gregerman to show you how." Jonah Berger, professor of marketing, the Wharton School; author, Contagious "The Necessity of Strangers will change the way you think about innovation and collaboration. Alan Gregerman?s powerful stories, clear examples, and practical guidance show us that strangers are more essential to our growth and success than we ever realized, challenging us and our businesses to reimagine how we engage and inspire our employees, customers, and partners." Chip Conley, founder, Joie de Vivre Hospitality; author, Peak and Emotional Equations "The Necessity of Strangers captures the remarkable value and wisdom of learning from people we too often discount or simply pass by. Their different perspectives may serve as the real catalyst for helping us innovate, create better products and services, increase profits, re–energize people, improve our communities, and reach our full potential." Beverly Robertson, president, National Civil Rights Museum