Ron McMillan

Ron McMillan is a leading social scientist, keynote speaker, and a co-founder of VitalSmarts (now Crucial Learning), a corporate training company that has transformed the way organizations handle conflict. He is one of the co-authors of the New York Times bestsellers Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability, and Influencer. McMillan’s work focuses on the specific behavioral skills required to handle high-stakes interactions. He has spent decades researching the differences between top performers and average employees, identifying that the most successful individuals are those who can speak up and address sensitive issues without destroying relationships.\n\nMcMillan’s expertise is not just theoretical; he has consulted with leaders at Lockheed Martin, the US Army, and numerous Fortune 500 companies to implement culture change. His methodology centers on the concept of "dialogue"—creating a pool of shared meaning where people feel safe enough to be honest. He teaches that silence is often more damaging than violence in a corporate setting, as it leads to unresolved problems and hidden resentment. McMillan’s writing is practical and script-based, providing readers with the actual words and frameworks they need to navigate difficult conversations. He is a master of turning soft skills into hard, measurable results.