COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Advanced Workplace Influence & Persuasion Skills course. In professional environments, the ability to influence and persuade others is an essential skill for success, especially in leadership roles. This course will define the core concepts of influence and persuasion, explain how they function in team dynamics, and distinguish between genuine influence and manipulation, ensuring ethical practices in professional settings.
Understanding the psychology behind persuasion is fundamental. This section explores key principles such as reciprocity, consistency, and social proof, along with authority and scarcity as influential tools. You will learn how these psychological factors play a significant role in workplace decision-making and interactions.
Building trust and credibility is the cornerstone of influence. You will learn how to establish trust with colleagues and superiors, maintain credibility through consistent behaviour, and leverage trust to create a positive impact within your organisation.
Emotional intelligence is crucial for persuasion. This section will help you understand and manage your own emotions, as well as read and respond to the emotions of others. You will explore how empathy can enhance your ability to influence and persuade in various situations.
Active listening is a key component of influence. In this section, you will develop listening skills that go beyond surface-level responses. You will learn to listen with the intent to understand, gaining insights that can be used to craft more effective and persuasive arguments.
Non-verbal communication plays a significant role in how we influence others. You will explore the power of body language, eye contact, gestures, and posture, learning to interpret non-verbal cues and use them to enhance your influence.
Crafting persuasive messages is vital for effective communication. This section will teach you how to structure arguments for maximum impact, tailor messages to specific audiences, and use storytelling to persuade and inspire action.
Personal branding enhances your influence in the workplace. You will learn how to develop a strong personal brand, communicate your value, and build a reputation as a thought leader, increasing your ability to persuade and lead.
Networking is a powerful tool for influence. This section covers strategies for building and leveraging professional networks to enhance your persuasive abilities. You will also learn how to nurture and maintain strategic relationships over time.
Influencing decision-making processes is essential for gaining buy-in from key stakeholders. You will explore techniques for persuading individuals and groups in decision-making scenarios, framing ideas to influence group decisions, and managing opposition effectively.
Negotiation is a crucial aspect of influence. This section will cover how to apply persuasive techniques in negotiations, create win-win solutions, and overcome resistance in high-stakes situations, ensuring successful outcomes.
Influencing teams and direct reports is key to driving performance and encouraging buy-in. You will learn how to motivate and inspire your team through influence, resolve conflicts, and gain support for new initiatives, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work environment.
In cross-functional collaboration, influence becomes even more critical. You will explore how to persuade colleagues outside your department, communicate goals across functions, and build influence in matrixed or cross-functional teams.
Influence without formal authority is an essential skill in many workplaces. This section covers techniques for leading through influence, building consensus in flat or decentralised organisations, and leveraging informal networks to gain support and achieve organisational goals.
Ethical considerations are fundamental in persuasion. You will learn how to balance persuasion with integrity, avoid manipulative tactics, and ensure that your influence is transparent and fair, maintaining high ethical standards.
By the end of this course, you will have a deeper understanding of how to effectively use influence and persuasion in the workplace, driving positive outcomes, building strong professional relationships, and leading with integrity.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Influence and Persuasion
- Defining Influence and Persuasion in Professional Settings
- The Role of Influence in Leadership and Team Dynamics
- Key Differences Between Influence and Manipulation
2. Understanding the Psychology of Persuasion
- Principles of Influence
- The Power of Social Proof in the Workplace
- Authority and Scarcity as Tools for Persuasion
3. Building Trust and Credibility
- The Importance of Trust in Influencing Others
- Establishing Credibility with Colleagues and Superiors
- Maintaining Trust Through Consistent Behaviour
4. Emotional Intelligence in Persuasion
- Understanding and Managing Your Own Emotions
- Reading and Responding to the Emotions of Others
- Using Empathy to Influence and Persuade
5. Active Listening for Effective Influence
- The Role of Active Listening in Building Rapport
- Listening to Understand, Not Just to Respond
- Using Listening Skills to Gain Insights for Persuasion
6. Non-Verbal Communication and Influence
- The Impact of Body Language on Persuasion
- Understanding and Interpreting Non-Verbal Cues
- Using Eye Contact, Gestures, and Posture for Influence
7. Crafting Persuasive Messages
- Structuring Arguments to Maximise Impact
- Tailoring Your Message to Your Audience
- Using Storytelling to Persuade and Inspire Action
8. The Power of Personal Branding in Influence
- Developing a Personal Brand that Enhances Influence
- Communicating Your Value in the Workplace
- Building a Reputation as a Thought Leader
9. Influencing Through Networking
- Building Strategic Relationships for Influence
- Leveraging Professional Networks for Persuasion
- Maintaining and Nurturing Relationships Over Time
10. Influence in Decision-Making Processes
- Persuading Key Stakeholders in Decision-Making
- Framing Ideas to Influence Group Decisions
- Managing Opposition and Objections
11. Negotiation Skills and Persuasion
- The Role of Influence in Successful Negotiations
- Creating Win-Win Solutions Through Persuasion
- Overcoming Resistance in High-Stakes Negotiations
12. Influencing Teams and Direct Reports
- Motivating and Inspiring Teams Through Influence
- Encouraging Buy-In for New Initiatives
- Using Influence to Resolve Team Conflicts
13. Influence in Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Persuading Colleagues Outside Your Department
- Building Influence in Matrix and Cross-Functional Teams
- Communicating Goals and Objectives Across Functions
14. Influence Without Formal Authority
- Leading Through Influence When You Don’t Have Power
- Building Consensus in Flat or Decentralised Organisations
- Leveraging Informal Networks to Gain Support
15. Ethical Considerations in Persuasion
- Balancing Persuasion and Integrity
- Recognising and Avoiding Manipulative Tactics
- Ensuring Transparency and Fairness in Influence
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.