The Primes: How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem

The "primes" are universal and unavoidable patterns of group behavior that emerge whenever people attempt to transform systems or collaborate to solve complex problems. Every change agent has felt their effect, but few can recognize, anticipate, and manage them. Unacknowledged, the primes can put any leadership agenda at risk. Once mastered, the primes become a force that drives intended outcomes. The Primes is a field manual for anyone ready to step up to serious challenges, predict and manage inevitable problems, create a brighter future, and produce extraordinary results.

An essential guide for 21st century problem solvers and change agents, The Primes unveils 46 universal secrets of how to:

• Tackle complex problems successfully and deliver extraordinary results on time
• Forge lasting consensus among competing interests and keep teams focused and productive
• Recognize and eliminate the most destructive forces in an organization
• Establish cultures of integrity

The Primes gives leaders the edge they need to succeed. Once the primes are revealed, you'll see them everywhere!

CHRIS J. McGOFF is the founder of The Clearing, Inc., a Washington, DC–based management consulting firm dedicated to supporting change agents as they tackle the most daunting and complex problems facing organizations. For 30 years, Chris McGoff has been helping leaders in the private and public sector reach difficult consensus and solve problems of consequence―those involving the highest levels of stakeholder and technological complexity. Mr. McGoff’s client list includes most of the agencies of the US federal government as well as a wide range of organizations such as IBM, AARP, Consol Energy, DuPont, the United Nations, and Boeing. He is also a sought-after public speaker, senior advisor, and professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy.

For information on training and public speaking related to the PRIMES, visit theprimes.com. To learn more about how the PRIMES can solve problems and bring transformation to your organization, visit theclearing.com.