Influence and Persuasion

Duration: Offered as a 90 minute webinar or 2 days in class

Course Overview

When we talk about influence and persuasion, we often talk about marketing and sales. However, we influence in many ways and with great frequency. If you want a raise, sometimes you need to persuade your boss. If you want to convince your team to adopt a change, help your staff make choices, or choose the best place for lunch, there is often influencing taking place. This course will help participants learn how to influence and persuade in a variety of areas.

Learning Objectives

  • Make decisions about using persuasion versus manipulation
  • Apply the concepts of pushing and pulling when influencing others
  • Describe different techniques for getting persuasive conversations and presentations underway
  • Make a persuasive presentation by using the 5 S’s
  • Apply storytelling techniques to extend influence
  • Leverage concepts of neuro linguistic programming in everyday influence and persuasion

Course Outline

1. Course Overview

2. Understanding Persuasion

  • How Persuasion Works
  • Pre-Assignment Review

3. Preparing to Persuade

  • Pushing and Pulling
  • Communicating with Confidence
  • Frame of Reference

4. Getting Off on the Right Foot

  • Building Rapport
  • Matching and Mirroring
  • Pacing
  • Leading

5. Presentation Strategies

  • Five Points for Any Presentation
  • Preparing with the Five S Pattern

6. Using Stories to Persuade

  • The Importance of Story
  • Storytelling Time

7. Using Neuro Linguistic Programming

  • Defining Neuro Linguistic Programming
  • A Brief History
  • Understanding Common NLP Terms
  • Embedding Positive or Negative Commands
  • Influencing Outcomes

8. Personal Action Plan