Perspective-Taking from Coursera

You can plan what you want to accomplish, but other people will always be a factor. Planning for the actions of others can’t be taken lightly. You need to understand what people want, but you also need to have your influence on the conversation. Ultimately, you can use this knowledge to plan for each scenario.

With the expertise of Dr. Timiebi Aganaba from the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society, the Perspective-Taking course will put the tools, knowledge and strategies of strategic conversation directly into your hands. You’ll learn the fundamentals and get acquainted with your influencing toolkit. Then, you’ll directly apply them in hands-on scenarios.

Perspective-taking has much to do with hearing people out to understand what motivates them. When you understand this, you can start to recognize the logic they use in their own actions. As you recognize and model your strategies according to your own goals, you can also establish influence in conversations. By doing all this, you learn to understand the other party, determine what their strategy is and approach them with what you want in a clear way — all skills that anyone can learn and apply anywhere. Jump-start your perspective-taking journey today!

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Perspective-Taking!

Listening for others' perspectives

Using your influence to make appeals

Discovering options with logic models

Course Conclusion

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines perspective-taking strategies, a fundamental skill in human interaction and collaboration

Taught by an expert from the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society, a leading institution in the study of complex societal issues

Applies hands-on scenarios to reinforce learning and enhance practical application

Emphasizes understanding motivations and establishing influence, essential skills for effective communication and leadership

Suitable for beginners seeking to develop their interpersonal skills

Course completion requires active participation in discussions, which can be time-consuming for some learners

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 Perspective-Taking with these activities:

Watch a video on the importance of perspective-taking

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This activity will help you develop your understanding of perspective-taking and why it is important.

Browse courses on Perspective-Taking

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Find a video on the importance of perspective-taking.
Watch the video.
Reflect on what you learned from the video.

Attend a Perspective-Taking workshop

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This activity will help you develop your ability to understand the importance of perspective-taking, learn techniques you can use to take the perspective of others, and practice taking the perspective of others.

Browse courses on Perspective-Taking

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Find a Perspective-Taking workshop in your area.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.
Reflect on what you learned from the workshop.

Volunteer for a cause that you care about

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This activity will help you develop your empathy and understanding of others.

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Find a cause that you care about.
Contact the organization that supports the cause.
Sign up to volunteer.
Show up and do your part.

Five other activities

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Read the book 'Getting Past No' by William Ury

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This book provides a framework for negotiating with difficult people.

View Getting to Yes with Yourself on Amazon

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Read the book 'Getting Past No' by William Ury.
Take notes on the key concepts in the book.
Apply the concepts from the book to your own life and work.

Practice listening to others' perspectives

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This activity will help you develop your ability to listen to others' perspectives, which is essential for effective communication.

Browse courses on Listening

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Find a partner and take turns listening to each other's perspectives on a topic.
Pay attention to your partner's body language, tone of voice, and choice of words.
Summarize your understanding of your partner's perspective.

Develop a logic model

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This activity will help you develop your ability to think logically and solve problems.

Browse courses on Logic Models

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Identify the problem you are trying to solve.
Brainstorm a list of potential solutions.
Evaluate the pros and cons of each solution.
Choose the best solution and develop a plan to implement it.

Start a project that involves working with others

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This activity will help you develop your ability to work with others and apply the skills you are learning in this course.

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Identify a project that you are interested in working on.
Find a team of people to work on the project with.
Develop a plan for the project.
Execute the project.
Evaluate the project and reflect on what you learned.

Develop a plan for influencing a conversation

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This activity will help you develop your ability to plan for influencing a conversation. It will help you understand the other party's perspective, determine what strategy to use, and approach them with what you want in a clear way

Browse courses on Influencing

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Identify the goal of your conversation.
Identify the other party's perspective.
Develop a strategy for influencing the conversation.
Practice your strategy.

Career center

Learners who complete Perspective-Taking will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers plan, develop, and implement human resources policies and programs. They recruit, hire, and train employees; administer employee benefits; and manage employee relations. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Human Resources Managers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of employees and how to develop and implement human resources policies and programs that are effective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan, develop, and implement marketing campaigns. They conduct market research; develop marketing strategies; and manage marketing budgets. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Marketing Managers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of customers and how to develop and implement marketing campaigns that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, develop, and implement projects. They manage project teams; develop project plans; and track project progress. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Project Managers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of stakeholders and how to plan and develop projects that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers plan, develop, and implement sales strategies. They recruit, hire, and train salespeople; set sales targets; and monitor sales performance. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Sales Managers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of customers and how to develop and implement sales strategies that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers plan, develop, and implement training programs for employees. They assess training needs, design and deliver training programs, and evaluate the effectiveness of training programs. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Training and Development Managers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of employees and how to tailor training programs to meet their needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a wide range of issues. They conduct research; develop recommendations; and implement solutions. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Consultants as it provides insights into the different perspectives of stakeholders and how to develop and implement solutions that are effective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create and develop educational materials for various audiences. They analyze learning needs, design and develop instructional materials, and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Instructional Designers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of learners and how to tailor instructional materials to meet their needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers plan, develop, and implement public relations campaigns. They manage media relations; develop press releases; and manage social media accounts. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Public Relations Managers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of stakeholders and how to develop and implement public relations campaigns that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Event Planner

Event Planners plan, develop, and implement events. They coordinate with vendors; manage budgets; and promote events. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Event Planners as it provides insights into the different perspectives of attendees and how to plan and develop events that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Event Planner

Lawyer

Lawyers represent clients in a court of law. They advise clients on legal matters; prepare legal documents; and represent clients in court. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Lawyers as it provides insights into the different perspectives of clients and how to advise clients and represent them in court in a way that is effective.

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Organizational Development Consultant

Organizational Development Consultants help organizations improve their performance by developing and implementing organizational change initiatives. They assess organizational needs, design and implement change initiatives, and evaluate the effectiveness of change initiatives. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Organizational Development Consultants as it provides insights into the different perspectives of stakeholders and how to develop and implement change initiatives that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Consultant

Judge

Judges hear and decide cases in a court of law. They review evidence; apply the law; and issue judgments. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Judges as it provides insights into the different perspectives of parties and how to conduct hearings and issue judgments that are fair and impartial.

See salaries and explore the career path for Judge

Mediator

Mediators help parties resolve disputes. They facilitate discussions; develop agreements; and resolve conflicts. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Mediators as it provides insights into the different perspectives of parties and how to facilitate discussions and resolve conflicts that are successful.

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Arbitrator

Arbitrators hear and decide disputes between parties. They conduct hearings; review evidence; and issue decisions. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Arbitrators as it provides insights into the different perspectives of parties and how to conduct hearings and issue decisions that are fair and impartial.

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Negotiator

Negotiators help parties reach agreements on a wide range of issues. They prepare for negotiations; conduct negotiations; and close deals. The Perspective-Taking course can be helpful for Negotiators as it provides insights into the different perspectives of parties and how to prepare for and conduct negotiations that are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Negotiator