Washington, D.C.--Every day, leaders of companies and organizations face the challenge of building support for new ideas and change. The frustration that ensues when a really great idea isn't adopted or when buy-in isn't achieved can be extremely stressful, and in some cases, a detriment to the company. The Energy Bar™, a new, no-cost online tool, provides a simple, but powerful solution. Developed by Rick Maurer, advisor to Fortune 500 companies and a best-selling author, The Energy Bar enables leaders to hone their skills and quickly identify techniques to better communicate ideas and win the hearts and minds of stakeholders. The result is a collaborative approach to moving people from resistance to engagement and support.

The Energy Bar is an interactive online assessment Maurer created using his 25-plus years of experience working on influence and change. The tool efficiently takes users through a series of three questions answered via one simple click and an interactive slide bar. Depending on the answers supplied, the Energy Bar offers suggested steps to take. Additional resources available with each proffered solution include insights in an accompanying video and ebooks and articles.

Who benefits from the Energy Bar?

Maurer's approach to helping people engage and influence others more effectively--the basis for the Energy Bar tool--has been implemented in companies such as Lockheed Martin, Sandia Labs, Deloitte & Touche, Verizon, and Charles Schwab, among others.

Dr. David Williams, President, Great Southwest Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), credits the Energy Bar approach with enabling the growth experienced by their council's executive committee.  Williams and his executive team used the Energy Bar as an analysis tool to set the stage for creating targeted objectives in increasing membership, strengthening volunteer membership, and improving their financial position.

Williams said the impressive results were measurable a year after implementing the approach.

"Although, nationally, BSA membership was down 2.7 percent, we experienced a two percent growth," Williams said. "We have not only grown our membership, we have countered the national trend by nearly five percentage points."

The Great Southwest Council also experienced an increase in funding and the quality of leader training. For these accomplishments, the Council received BSA's distinguished Journey of Excellence Gold Award.  The first time this award has been granted to the council.

"In my opinion, the Energy Bar approach was critical to achieving this success," Williams said.

Why do so many ideas die at work?

Companies experience a variety of changes that require the "buy-in" of employees to be successful. "It could be new software, a new quality improvement system, or getting organized after a merger. The list goes on," Maurer explained. "The Energy Bar approach was born in answer to the question: Why do people support some changes and resist others?"

Over the past 25 years, Maurer has communicated his approach in a way that quickly resonates with leaders and their teams. "One of my client groups was getting tied up in a convoluted discussion about a project and where their stakeholders were positioned on the cycle of change. I stopped them and said, 'Forget all that.'"

Maurer then drew a horizontal line across the whiteboard. "I told them to think of resistance and support as a bar of energy. At one end is resistance, at the other end is support.'"

The group immediately began formulating ideas for influencing the movement of energy from potential resistance from others to that of support.

"I love how people have been able to use the Energy Bar effectively and creatively without any more instruction than the introductory 3-minute video on the website," said Maurer. My hope is that many people I may never even meet will use the tool and adapt it."

For users who want to delve deeper into the Energy Bar approach and Maurer's expertise, Maurer offers coaching for individuals and project teams. He also provides presentations and training workshops on the topics of leadership, influence, and change.

For more information and to use the tool, visit www.energybartools.com.

About Rick Maurer

Rick Maurer serves as an advisor to leaders in Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. His expert opinion has been sought by CNBC, NBC Nightly News, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Economist, and many others. He is the author of Beyond the Wall of Resistance and Why Don't You Want What I Want?

Maurer works closely with clients in the United States and several other countries to develop change strategies unique to their organizations.