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Leadership and Influence

The only thing you get to change is yourself, and in the prerequisites to this course we’ve given you real tools to do that. Now, use those tools to influence the course of your future, your team's future, and your organization's future. Make a plan for yourself that will help you help others, and learn skills to make it happen.

Listening and being sure of your values underpins everything that comes with professional influencer and leadership soft skills. We’ll go on to look at self-assessment and leadership planning, negotiation, addressing and resolving conflict, and successfully identifying and promoting circumstances you want.

After this course, you will be able to:

- state your own mission and plan with confidence

- negotiate and persuade

- deal with difficult people

- contribute to crafting a working environment you want to work in

The prerequisites for this course are Courses One and Two of the Specialization "Professional IQ: Preventing and Solving Problems at Work".

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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Teaches learners how to confidently state their mission and plan for their future

Enhances negotiation and persuasion skills, crucial for leadership

Provides effective communication techniques for handling difficult conversations

Emphasizes alignment and fit within an organization, fostering personal and professional growth

Prerequisites require prior completion of Courses One and Two of the same Specialization

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Reviews summary

Practical skills for professional leadership

According to learners, this course offers practical strategies and tools for developing leadership and influence skills. Students found the content on negotiation and difficult conversations particularly useful for immediate professional application. While the course provides a solid foundation, some learners felt that certain topics could benefit from more in-depth exploration or less theoretical focus. Overall, it is considered valuable for career growth, especially for those looking to enhance soft skills.

Builds on prior courses in the series.

"Important to note that this course requires taking the previous two in the specialization."

"It definitely felt like a continuation, so the prerequisites are essential for context."

"Glad I took the prior courses, as this one builds directly on concepts introduced earlier."

Helps develop essential interpersonal skills.

"The focus on listening and values really resonated and helped my interpersonal skills."

"This course significantly improved my ability to handle conflict and give feedback."

"I feel more confident in my communication and persuasion abilities after this course."

"Really helped solidify my understanding of core principles for leadership soft skills."

Provides tools directly applicable to work.

"I found the techniques for difficult conversations immediately applicable in my workplace."

"The negotiation strategies presented are incredibly practical and changed how I approach discussions."

"This course gave me concrete tools I could use right away to influence situations effectively."

"It provides practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work"

Some topics could be explored more deeply.

"While broad, I wished there was more depth on complex influence tactics."

"Felt like some modules only scratched the surface of important concepts..."

"Could use more in-depth coverage on complex topics or advanced strategies..."

"Provides a good overview, but for truly mastering skills, deeper dives might be needed."

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 Leadership and Influence with these activities:

Attend a management or leadership workshop

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Review core management concepts and leadership techniques to refresh your foundation and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Leadership

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Research and identify relevant workshops.
Register for a workshop that aligns with your learning goals.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions and activities.
Take notes and reflect on the key concepts covered in the workshop.

Read 'Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion' by Robert Cialdini

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Delve into the principles of persuasion and influence to enhance your ability to effectively communicate and negotiate during leadership scenarios.

View Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes on key concepts.
Identify examples of persuasion techniques in your own experiences.
Apply the principles learned from the book in your interactions with others.

Conduct a mock negotiation

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Engage in role-playing scenarios to practice negotiating strategies and develop your confidence in handling challenging conversations.

Browse courses on Negotiation

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Identify a negotiation scenario related to the course content.
Prepare your arguments and research relevant information.
Find a partner to role-play the negotiation with.
Conduct the mock negotiation, practicing active listening and persuasive communication.
Reflect on the negotiation process and identify areas for improvement.

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Form a study group with classmates

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Engage with peers to discuss course concepts, share perspectives, and provide support for one another's learning journey.

Browse courses on Leadership

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Reach out to classmates and invite them to form a study group.
Set regular meeting times and locations.
Prepare discussion topics and questions based on the course material.
Actively participate in discussions, share insights, and provide feedback to group members.
Summarize key learnings and action steps after each meeting.

Develop a personal leadership plan

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Create a roadmap for your personal leadership development, setting clear goals and strategies for growth.

Browse courses on Leadership

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Reflect on your leadership strengths and areas for improvement.
Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) leadership goals.
Identify the skills and knowledge you need to develop to achieve your goals.
Develop a plan for acquiring these skills and knowledge.
Monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed.

Volunteer at a local non-profit or community organization

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Gain practical leadership experience through hands-on involvement with organizations that embody the principles of collaboration and social impact.

Browse courses on Leadership

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Research and identify non-profit or community organizations that align with your interests and values.
Reach out to the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Commit to a regular volunteer schedule.
Actively participate in volunteering activities and contribute your skills.
Reflect on your volunteer experiences and how they enhance your leadership capabilities.

Contribute to open-source projects related to leadership

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Engage with the open-source community to contribute to leadership-oriented projects and gain valuable experience in teamwork, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Browse courses on Leadership

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Identify open-source projects focused on leadership, team management, or organizational development.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
Join the project community and connect with other contributors.
Make code contributions, participate in discussions, and collaborate with others.
Showcase your contributions on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Career center

Learners who complete Leadership and Influence will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sales Manager

Sales Managers must be able to influence and persuade customers to buy their products or services. This course can help Sales Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Sales Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for generating new business for their companies. This requires the ability to influence and persuade potential customers to buy their products or services. This course can help Business Development Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Business Development Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Public relations manager

Public Relations Managers are responsible for managing the public image of their organizations. This requires the ability to influence and persuade the media and other stakeholders. This course can help Public Relations Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Public Relations Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public relations manager

Project Manager

Leading a team to success in project management requires more than technical skills; it requires the ability to influence and persuade stakeholders. This course can help Project Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Project Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Marketing Manager

In marketing, influence is essential for creating successful campaigns. This course can help Marketing Managers develop their influence skills by teaching them how to persuade, negotiate, and communicate effectively. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Marketing Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Lawyer

Lawyers are responsible for representing their clients in court and other legal proceedings. This requires the ability to influence and persuade judges and juries. This course can help Lawyers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Lawyers lead their clients to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Politician

Politicians are elected officials who represent the interests of their constituents. This requires the ability to influence and persuade voters. This course can help Politicians develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Politicians lead their constituents to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Politician

Management Consultant

As a Management Consultant, you regularly work with stakeholders to create and enact strategic plans. Negotiation and influence are key skills for a Management Consultant, and this course can help you hone these skills. You will also learn how to give and receive feedback, which is important when working with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Human Resources Manager

From hiring and firing to managing employee relations, a Human Resources Manager must be able to influence and persuade others to get the job done. This course can help Human Resources Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Human Resources Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business. This requires the ability to influence and persuade others to get the job done. This course can help Operations Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Operations Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for leading and managing nonprofit organizations. This requires the ability to influence and persuade donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. This course can help Nonprofit Managers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Nonprofit Managers lead their teams to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Community Organizer

Community Organizers are responsible for bringing people together to solve problems in their communities. This requires the ability to influence and persuade people to work together. This course can help Community Organizers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Community Organizers lead their communities to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Teacher

Teachers are responsible for educating students. This requires the ability to influence and persuade students to learn. This course can help Teachers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Teachers lead their students to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Social Worker

Social Workers are responsible for helping people in need. This requires the ability to influence and persuade people to change their lives. This course can help Social Workers develop these skills by teaching them how to negotiate, communicate effectively, and build relationships. Additionally, the course's focus on leadership and planning can help Social Workers lead their clients to success.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Account Executive

Develop the brand that will bring you professional and personal success as an Account Executive. Understanding how to influence, persuade, and negotiate are key skills for an Account Executive to have, and this course may be useful in building a foundation for that. This course also helps you establish a plan of action so you can reach your goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Account Executive

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Leadership and Influence.

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Strengthening Your Soft...

Save

Goleman discusses the key qualities of effective leaders, including self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to influence others. would be a valuable addition to the course as it provides a comprehensive overview of the essential skills and qualities of successful leaders.

HBR's 10 Must Reads on Strengthening Your Soft...

Kindle Edition

The Ultimate Guide to Developing Leaders

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the key principles and practices of leadership and influence. It is particularly useful for those who are new to leadership roles or who are looking to improve their leadership skills.

The Ultimate Guide to Developing Leaders: Invest in...

Hardcover

The Ultimate Guide to Developing Leaders: Invest in...

Kindle Edition

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

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This classic self-help book provides a framework for personal and professional success. Covey's principles are highly relevant to the course material, as they emphasize the importance of setting goals, prioritizing tasks, and developing strong relationships with others.

Leadership and Influence

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What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical skills for professional leadership

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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