Persuasion and Presence for Program and Project Managers from edX

Persuasion is the central to leading leaders. As a program manager or project manager, you may lead a team with many senior contributors. Often they will have more experience, more skin in the game, and more reputation at stake. As a program manager, this task is even greater because your time is limited and your span of control across projects even greater. Being a compelling communicator takes more than what you learned for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam or Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. It takes program or project management experience and this certificate program.

Program managers must persuade quickly, and with great lasting impact. Program and project managers must persuade and manage their leadership presence for program or project success. Even if you are a traditional program or project manager or manage agile programs or projects, persuasive communication is vital to your success. Communicating more persuasively will lead to more effective risk management.

There are complete blindsports in the Project Management Institute, Inc's (PMI)"A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK Guide). Applying those processes and skills are just the basics of efficient communication.

That’s why certified project managers will earn 10 professional development units (PDU) in this program. You will learn the balance needed to communicate effectively.

Aristotle first wrote about balancing logic, emotion, and presence over 2,000 years ago. Creating a balance between ethos, pathos, and logos, the persuader creates a message that grabs the attention of the audience and engages them as people. A person doesn’t understand when they are not paying attention, is not engaged with the speaker, and doesn’t remember what was said. Ethos, pathos, and logos aid the speaker and the listener, by helping to select information to present and how to fashion its delivery for the best effect.

In this program management and project management training course, you will go beyond the communication skills you learned for the PMP exam to gain your project management certification. You will learn about the rhetorical triangle and how to use it to craft persuasive communications. Social media and online collaboration tools require new ways of establishing your presence and generating trust between you and your audience. You will also learn how to create an emotional impact even through text messages and emails.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Explain the rhetorical triad and its use in persuasion.
Establish a compelling and trustworthy presence (ethos).

Create spoken and written messages with emotional impact to build understanding.
Develop psychological safety within your project team and with stakeholders.

Explain the rhetorical triad and its use in persuasion.
Establish a compelling and trustworthy presence (ethos).
Create spoken and written messages with emotional impact to build understanding.
Develop psychological safety within your project team and with stakeholders.

Syllabus

Week One - The Logic, Emotion, and Presence Triad

Module One - Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triad

Module Two - Logos - The Logic of Your Communication

Module Three - Pathos - The Emotions of Your Communication

Module Four - Ethos - Your Communication Presence

Module Five - Perfect Pitch Tool

Week Two - Building an Effective Presence

Module One - What is Stage Presence?

Module Two - Establishing Trust through Your Words

Module Three - Building Trust at a Distance

Module Four - Nonverbal Trust Building

Module Five - How To Up Your Presence Game

Week Three - Using Emotions in Good Communication

Module One - How Emotions Work in Communicating

Module Two - Crafting an Emotionally Compelling Message

Module Three - Communicating Bad News

Module Four - Blending Logos and Pathos

Week Four - Psychological Safety and Persuasion

Project Oxygen

Module One - Defining Psychological Safety

Module Two - Building Psychological Safety on the Program or Project Team

Module Three - Psychological Safety with Logos and Pathos

Module Four - Troubleshooting Psychological Safety Issues

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores persuasive communication, which is critical for project and program managers

Focuses on principles that boost understanding, which can help persuade others

Taught by instructors with expertise in persuasion

Content alligns with project management practices

May require additional knowledge and experience in project management

Covers psychological safety, which is essential for effective communication

Reviews summary

Persuasion and leadership skills for project managers

Learners say that the course on Persuasion and Presence for Program and Project Managers is well-structured, engaging, and relevant to project management. They appreciate the clear and informative videos, real-world examples, and emphasis on psychological safety. The course has helped them develop their communication and leadership skills, build stronger teams, and improve their overall effectiveness as project managers.

The course follows a logical progression, building on concepts and providing ample opportunities for practice and reinforcement.

"The course provides applicative tips to be a persuasive project manager."

"I did the Data Science and Agile Systems Engineering course on EDX from UMD and it was excellent."

"This course made me think about communication in a whole different way."

The instructor is praised for their expertise, clear explanations, and engaging delivery style.

"The professor is great. He has experience in the fild. He talks in a very profesional way."

"I enjoyed the course - Content, Delivery and Relevance. To Dr. Bill Brantley, the course was well delivered."

"Excellent Course if you want to learn basics of Agile and Devops In Project Management."

This fundamental concept forms the backbone of the course, providing a framework for understanding persuasion and communication.

"This is a great course for all program and project managers as it builds core concepts using Aristotle's Rhetorical Triad..."

"It is greate. I would have loved sth more with praxis. But Theory and Exempels were amazing."

"Best course i've taken since organic chemistry. Lots of common sense knowledge well organised and presented."

Students rave about the interesting and well-organized content that kept them engaged throughout the course.

"The course was interesting and provided key points that I am implementing in my role as a lead."

"Excellent course with great information for project management and team management."

"Excellent course with great immersive content. Plenty of real world examples from someone who has actually done the job."

While the course provides valuable theoretical knowledge, some students felt it could benefit from more hands-on exercises or case studies.

"The content is good and interesting, but the format of the course leaves something to be desired."

"Also if there would be a practical case that the learner should deal with independently based on the materials as a final project, this would be even much more effective in equipping learners with the new skills that the course aims to teach/equip."

"I would love this course to also apply the theory to more practical cases so you can see how the different models would be applied."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Persuasion and Presence for Program and Project Managers with these activities:

Identify and connect with experienced program managers or communication professionals

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Seek guidance and support from experts in the field to accelerate your learning and gain valuable insights.

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Attend industry events and conferences
Reach out to individuals through LinkedIn or professional networks
Request informational interviews

Complete online tutorials on presentation skills and emotional intelligence

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Supplement your theoretical knowledge with practical guidance on delivering effective and emotionally resonant messages.

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Identify reputable online tutorials
Allocate time for dedicated learning sessions
Take notes and apply the techniques in your own presentations

Review 'The Art of Persuasion' by Aristotle

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Explore the origins and foundations of persuasion in Aristotle's classic work to solidify your understanding of the course concepts.

View The Rhetoric of Aristotle, Volume 2 on Amazon

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Read the book, taking notes on key arguments and examples
Identify and analyze the rhetorical devices used by Aristotle
Consider how Aristotle's principles apply to modern-day persuasion techniques

Four other activities

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Engage in mock negotiations or role-playing exercises

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Enhance your practical persuasion skills through simulated conversations, allowing you to refine your techniques and build confidence.

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Prepare your arguments and strategies
Assume different roles and perspectives
Practice active listening and empathy
Analyze the outcomes and identify areas for improvement

Attend a workshop on persuasive communication or leadership presence

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Participate in specialized workshops to gain hands-on experience and refine your persuasion skills under expert guidance.

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Register and actively engage in the workshop activities
Network with other participants and industry professionals

Write a persuasive speech on a topic relevant to your program management role

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Apply your understanding of persuasion to a real-world scenario, reinforcing your ability to craft compelling messages.

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Identify and research your topic
Outline your speech, using the rhetorical triangle as a guide
Develop emotional appeals and logical arguments
Practice and rehearse your delivery

Develop a persuasive proposal for a program or project initiative

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Apply your persuasion skills to a tangible deliverable, demonstrating your ability to convince stakeholders and secure support for your ideas.

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Define the problem or opportunity
Research and develop a compelling solution
Craft a persuasive proposal, addressing the needs of key stakeholders
Present your proposal with confidence and enthusiasm

Career center

Learners who complete Persuasion and Presence for Program and Project Managers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Program Manager

Program managers oversee multiple projects that are related to a common goal. They work with project managers to develop project plans, track project progress, and ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a program manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around program goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Project Manager

Project managers plan, execute, and close projects. They work with stakeholders to define project goals and objectives, develop project plans, and track project progress. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a project manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around project decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Sales Manager

Sales managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve sales goals. They develop sales strategies, train and coach sales representatives, and track sales performance. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a sales manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with customers and build relationships with key stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical techniques to assess risk and uncertainty. They work with insurance companies and other stakeholders to identify and define risk management needs, develop and implement risk management solutions, and track risk management results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as an actuary. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around risk management decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Business Analyst

Business analysts analyze business needs and develop solutions to improve business processes. They work with stakeholders to identify and define business problems, develop and implement business solutions, and track business results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a business analyst. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around business decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They work with marketing teams to develop marketing plans, create marketing materials, and track marketing results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a marketing manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with customers and build relationships with key stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts design and implement computer systems. They work with users and other stakeholders to identify and define system requirements, develop and implement system solutions, and track system results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a systems analyst. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around system decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Public relations manager

Public relations managers manage the public image of organizations. They work with the media, customers, and other stakeholders to build and maintain positive relationships. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a public relations manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build relationships with key influencers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Data Analyst

Data analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make informed decisions. They work with data scientists and other stakeholders to identify and define data analysis needs, develop and implement data analysis solutions, and track data analysis results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a data analyst. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around data-driven decisions.

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Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers oversee the human resources function of organizations. They develop and implement HR policies and procedures, recruit and hire employees, and manage employee relations. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a human resources manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with employees and build relationships with key stakeholders.

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Consultant

Consultants advise organizations on how to improve their performance. They may work in a variety of fields, including management, marketing, finance, and human resources. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a consultant. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate your ideas and recommendations to clients. It will also help you to build trust and rapport with clients, which is essential for success in this field.

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Market Researcher

Market researchers collect and analyze data to help businesses understand their customers and markets. They work with marketing teams and other stakeholders to identify and define market research needs, develop and implement market research solutions, and track market research results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a market researcher. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around market research findings.

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Training and Development Manager

Training and development managers develop and implement training programs for employees. They work with trainers and other stakeholders to identify training needs, develop training materials, and evaluate training results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a training and development manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with employees and build relationships with key stakeholders.

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Organizational Development Manager

Organizational development managers help organizations to improve their performance. They work with leaders and employees to identify and address organizational challenges, develop and implement organizational change initiatives, and build organizational capacity. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as an organizational development manager. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build relationships with key influencers.

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Financial Analyst

Financial analysts analyze financial data to help businesses make informed investment decisions. They work with investment teams and other stakeholders to identify and define financial analysis needs, develop and implement financial analysis solutions, and track financial analysis results. The skills you will learn in this course, such as persuasion and communication, are essential for success as a financial analyst. This course will help you to develop the skills you need to effectively communicate with stakeholders and build consensus around financial analysis findings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst