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Macquarie University

Storytelling and influencing: Communicate with impact

Macquarie University via Coursera

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Overview

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An ambitious vision for your organization's future requires effective communication. This course develops essential leadership skills to communicate and persuade, moving beyond traditional models to master the complex art of influencing. Through video lectures, quizzes, and assessments, you will learn to communicate appropriately in diverse situational and cultural contexts, becoming a highly influential leader. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Develop compelling communication strategies for organizational vision. - Master persuasive communication techniques to influence stakeholders. - Adapt communication styles for diverse cultural and situational contexts. - Lead with impact through effective storytelling and influencing. This course is for aspiring leaders, managers, and professionals seeking to enhance their communication and influencing capabilities. No specific prerequisites are required, but a basic understanding of business communication is beneficial.

Syllabus

  • The necessary art of persuasion: Understanding what matters to your audience
    • A solid understanding of your audience is central to persuasive communications. In this module, you will learn the basic theory of persuasive communication, including models of information processing, motivational appeals, message acceptance, and effective human interactions. To maximize your learning, actively reflect on how these theories apply to your own communication experiences. This foundational knowledge is key to mastering advanced influencing techniques later in the course.
  • Telling your story: Developing a dramatic narrative
    • Effective storytelling begins with persuasive content and a dramatic narrative. In Week 2, you will learn to apply core storytelling principles: shaping compelling beginnings, building engaging middles, and crafting powerful endings. Discover how to find your winning idea, infuse it with emotion, and use metaphors for quick connection. To succeed, actively analyze examples and practice structuring your own narratives. This module is foundational for developing your overall communication and influencing skills.
  • Connecting with people: Developing authenticity and building rapport
    • Developing rapport and trust is crucial for persuasive communication and all supportive human interactions. This module, Week 3, will teach you to speak authentically and quickly build and maintain rapport using verbal and non-verbal cues, including matching and mirroring techniques. To succeed, focus on practicing these techniques in real-world scenarios. This builds on earlier communication fundamentals, preparing you for influential interactions later in the course.
  • Talk the talk: Creating impressions and guiding influential conversations
    • Unproductive meetings are a common challenge. In Week 4, you will learn to lead influential group conversations by planning effective meetings, understanding meeting etiquette, avoiding groupthink, and making better decisions. You'll also explore impression management. To succeed, actively participate in discussions and apply planning techniques. This module builds on your communication skills, preparing you for effective leadership and management in group settings.
  • Painful truth: Dealing with objections and overcoming resistance
    • Not all conversations are easy; some involve painful but necessary truths, like handling objections and overcoming resistance. In Week 5, you will learn to prepare for stressful conversations, understand the nature of objections, and develop strategies to reduce resistance and defend your proposals. For success, practice active listening and role-playing. This module builds on your understanding of audience motivation, equipping you with advanced communication skills for challenging interactions.
  • Winning over hearts and minds: How to pitch a brilliant idea

Taught by

Associate Professor Lawrence Ang and Arabella MacPherson

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Reviews

1.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

4.8 rating at Coursera based on 2465 ratings

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  • Anonymous
    Didn't try the course. It said Free Online Course. First thing they wanted was for me to sign up for a free 7 day trial and tells me financial aid is available. If I had money and could afford to pay back financial aid... I would be enrolling in college instead of trying to learn using free online courses.
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