David Maxfield - co-author of “Influencer: The Power to Change Anything”
Director of Research and Senior ConsultantFor more than twenty-five years, David Maxfield has helped companies by leading research projects involving dialogue skills, performance improvement, and conflict management. David’s career began with his doctoral work in psychology at Stanford University. His impact on organizational performance has been wide reaching as he’s helped clients such as Hewlett Packard, IBM, Ford Motor Company, Covenant Healthcare, and VISA increase organizational effectiveness and become measurably more vital.
Compelling Speaker
Drawing from extensive academic and corporate experience, David delivers topics that are grounded in solid research and application. Speaking in front of more than 500 audiences ranging in size from small retreats to large keynote events, David has been featured at prestigious venues including Stanford and Georgetown Universities, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals. With an unrivaled ability to connect to his audience through engaging stories and captivating examples, David brings concepts to life, motivating listeners to put their newly found skills and knowledge to immediate use.
Cutting-Edge Researcher
David is currently the Director of Research at VitalSmarts, an innovative corporate training company that teaches skills which deliver significant improvements to the results companies care about most. In the past thirty years, David and the VitalSmarts team have helped thousands of organizations, including more than 300 of the Fortune 500, realize widespread and lasting results through its award-winning training programs.
At VitalSmarts, David has led a series of research projects on the role crucial conversations play in the healthcare industry and how they affect medical errors, employee retention, and patient satisfaction. In January 2005, a study was released at a national press conference in Washington D.C. with a panel of high-ranking healthcare officials and experts. Commended for its ground-breaking content and influential solutions, the study received top-tier media coverage. He has recently co-authored the business best-seller Influencer: The Power to Change Anything.
Award Winning Teacher
Praised in the academic world, David has taught at Stanford University and the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. He currently sits on the faculty of Stanford University’s certification program in Advanced Project Management, which was awarded the “2005 Best Non-credit Program” by the Association for Continuing Higher Education. Additional awards David has received include Motorola University’s Distinguished Teaching Award and Stanford University’s Dean’s Award for Innovative Industrial Education.