Storytelling and influencing: Communicate with impact

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/communicate-with-impact

Introduction

**Course Review: Storytelling and Influencing: Communicate with Impact on Coursera** In today's fast-paced and competitive work environment, the ability to communicate effectively and influence others is not just desirable; it's essential for success. For professionals aspiring to elevate their leadership skills, the **"Storytelling and Influencing: Communicate with Impact"** course offered on Coursera stands out as a compelling choice. This course dives deep into the art of persuasion and effective communication, blending theoretical knowledge with practical applications to transform how you convey your ideas and engage with your audience. ### Overview The course begins with a clear premise: An ambitious vision for an organization requires more than just enthusiasm; it demands the ability to communicate that vision persuasively to rally support from colleagues and stakeholders. Over the span of five weeks, participants explore various aspects of storytelling and influence, aiming to harness essential leadership skills that are critical in real-world settings. ### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **The Necessary Art of Persuasion: Understanding What Matters to Your Audience** - The course launches with a focus on the audience, underscoring that effective communication hinges on understanding their motivations and preferences. This week introduces persuasive communication theories, engaging participants in concepts such as information processing, motivational appeals, and decision-making. The foundation laid here is crucial for any aspiring leader, ensuring the message resonates with its intended audience. 2. **Telling Your Story: Developing a Dramatic Narrative** - Storytelling is a powerful tool, and this week emphasizes creating compelling narratives. Participants learn how to construct a storyline that captivates listeners, from an engaging beginning to a powerful conclusion. Techniques such as employing emotions and metaphors are highlighted, enabling learners to connect complex ideas in relatable ways. This practical skill is beneficial not only in professional pitches but also in everyday conversations. 3. **Connecting with People: Developing Authenticity and Building Rapport** - Authenticity is key to influence, and this section delves into building trust and rapport with others. It examines verbal and non-verbal cues to foster genuine interactions, teaching professionals how to read situations and adapt their communication style. The ability to connect authentically with team members can significantly enhance collaborative efforts and foster a positive work environment. 4. **Talk the Talk: Creating Impressions and Guiding Influential Conversations** - Meetings can be either a productive space for dialogue or a pitfall of unproductivity, and this week offers insights into running effective sessions. Participants learn to plan impactful meetings, avoid common pitfalls like groupthink, and manage impressions during discussions. The tools provided here are invaluable for ensuring that meetings lead to meaningful outcomes rather than unproductive tangents. 5. **Painful Truth: Dealing with Objections and Overcoming Resistance** - The course wraps up by addressing one of the most challenging aspects of communication: handling objections. This week prepares participants for potentially uncomfortable conversations, teaching strategies to understand and mitigate resistance. By mastering the art of addressing objections, learners can defend their proposals with confidence and clarity, a vital skill in any leadership role. ### Recommendation **"Storytelling and Influencing: Communicate with Impact"** is highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills, whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting your career. The structured learning format—integrating video lectures, quizzes, and written assessments—ensures participants can engage with the material deeply and effectively. Moreover, the course emphasizes practical application, encouraging learners to practice techniques in their professional lives. The skills gained are not only applicable in formal settings like meetings or presentations but also extend to everyday conversations and negotiations. Enrolling in this course provides a unique opportunity to develop a robust set of skills that will empower you to influence, persuade, and connect with others more effectively. In a world where communication can make or break an idea, investing in this course can be a decisive step toward achieving your professional goals.

Syllabus

The necessary art of persuasion: Understanding what matters to your audience

At the heart of persuasive communications is a solid understanding of your audience and what they find appealing. This week you will learn the basic theory of persuasive communication, including models of information processing, motivational appeals, message acceptance, fast and slow decision making and rules of effective human interactions.

Effective storytelling starts with developing persuasive content, and then structuring a dramatic narrative that will spark the imagination. In week 2, you will learn how to apply storytelling principles like shaping the beginning, building the middle, and making the ending powerful. You will learn how to find the winning idea for your story, colour it with emotions, and use metaphors to quickly connect concepts in people’s minds.

Developing rapport and trust is a crucial aspect of persuasion, in fact, it crucial for any form of supportive human interactions. Often times, this means being able to read a situation and adapt the approach accordingly. In week 3, you will learn how to speak authentically, and how to quickly build and maintain rapport. The means by which this can be accomplished include the use of verbal and non-verbal cues and the techniques of matching and mirroring the body language and vocal qualities of the other person.

Group meetings can create lasting impressions, which is why it important that they are well run. But, more often than not, such meetings are unproductive. Stress and tension in meetings are also common. In week 4, you will learn how to lead influential group conversation by planning an effective meeting, be aware of the do’s and don’ts in meeting, avoid groupthink, and how to make better decisions. You will also learn the power of impression management.

Not all conversations are positive. Some are painful but necessary, like handling objections and overcoming resistance. In week 5, you will learn how to prepare for stressful conversations and deal with objections.You will understand the nature of the objections, why people make them, and then how to reduce their resistance, and defend your proposals against these objections.