What is influence, and why is it an important skill to learn?

To influence someone is to affect or change their behavior without the direct use of authority, coercion, or force. Instead, the influencer creates change by shifting the mindset of individuals, groups, or entire organizations, persuading them to adopt the desired course of action of their own free will. The ability to influence can be important for everyday communication and maintaining harmonious relationships in our personal and family lives, but it is also a very important skill for many jobs and career paths. For instance, being able to subtly influence your customers to “get to yes” when you’re closing a deal is an essential talent of sales professionals of all kinds, whether you’re selling shoes or business software. In fact, the world of social media and digital marketing has created a new type of selling called influencer marketing, in which influential personalities and cultural figures post pictures and testimonials with the product being sold. The ability to influence is also essential for leadership roles in any organization, as management positions require you to motivate employees to not only fulfill their roles but to work enthusiastically at the peak of their abilities. The best executives and CEOs are talented at bringing their teams into vision alignment, with strongly shared priorities, values, and focused goal setting that allow organizations to succeed - in business as well as in the recruitment of top-flight talent.

What kinds of careers can I have with skills in influencing?

Influencing skills are important for almost any career that requires working in a team, but they are most important for roles as managers and top executives. Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” has been a mainstay in business school curricula despite being written nearly a century ago because this skill has always been fundamental for success in the business world. The ability to get your team aligned to work together effectively is rare and highly valued; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , top executives earned a median annual salary of $104,690 per year in 2019, including a median pay of $184,460 for chief executive officers (CEOs).

Can I learn how to influence by taking online courses on Coursera?

Absolutely. There is a common myth that the ability to influence others is simply an innate talent that some people have and others don’t, but the reality is that influencing is a skill that is taught at every business school - including schools offering courses online through Coursera. You can learn how to influence others from leading faculty at top-ranked schools like University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and Macquarie University. And even though Coursera lets you learn remotely on a flexible schedule, you can still work with faculty in live virtual office hours that let you practice your influencing skills to an expert audience.

What skills or experience do I need to already have, before starting to learn influence?

Some skills or experience you might need to have before learning influence are strong social skills that allow you to get along with all types of people, such as supervisors, peers, and customers. If you have any sales experience or experience presenting information and concepts to others in person or online, you may already have the skills necessary to learn advanced influencing methods.

What kind of people are best suited for roles in influence?

The kind of people who are best suited for roles in influence are those who are confident in their abilities to motivate and persuade others whether or not they’re in authority roles. Types of people well suited for roles in influence can build and maintain high-quality relationships with diverse groups of individuals. People best suited for learning influence can discern other people’s attitudes, diverse social factors influencing behavior, and why people may or may not act on their intentions.

How do I know if learning about influence is right for me?

Learning influence may be right for you if you want to learn how to develop it so you can become more effective in achieving your organizational goals. Studying the subject may be right for you if you want to understand the framework of power and influence and the dynamics of effective networks, persuasion, and leverage. If you're in any type of role where you need negotiation, communication, and sales skills, then learning influence may be a good choice for you.

What are common career paths for someone in influence?

Common career paths for someone who has studied influence are often found in corporate management in general where the ability to persuade people is paramount. Specific common career paths for people who have studied influence might be product and brand management, research and development, and any leadership position in an organization’s C-suite. Another common career path for someone in influence is blogging where paid or sponsored influencers create content on various social media platforms. The most common career path for someone in influence is in sales where it’s critical to understand how to best persuade customers and clients using various tools, including neuromarketing.

What topics can I study that are related to influence?

There are many topics you can study that are related to influence, such as emotional intelligence, which may help you to work effectively in teams, build cooperative relationships, and exercise effective influence to foster meaningful change. Another topic related to influence that you can study is social psychology to help you understand why people behave in certain ways. Marketing is another strongly related topic to influence that you might consider studying.

Top Influence Courses - Learn Influence Online

Explore the Influence Course Catalog

University of Michigan
Navigating Disruption: Generative AI in the Workplace
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Policy Development, Data Ethics, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Operational Risk, Labor Relations, Automation, Data Security, Personally Identifiable Information, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Workforce Management, Compliance Management, Human Resources, Journalism, Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technologies, Digital Transformation, Education and Training, Natural Language Processing
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Imperial College London
Climate change and health
Skills you'll gain: Policy Analysis, Environment, Environmental Policy, Environmental Issue, Policy Development, Socioeconomics, International Relations, Health Assessment, Governance, Mitigation, Research
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Translating Research to Healthcare Policy
Skills you'll gain: Policy Development, Policy Analysis, Advocacy, Health Care, Public Policies, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Medical Science and Research, Health Systems, Research
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Maryland, College Park
Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Web Analytics and SEO, Digital Marketing, Return On Investment, Media Planning, Consumer Behaviour, Marketing, Marketing Channel, Social Media Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Effectiveness, Marketing Psychology, Network Model, Integrated Marketing Communications, Promotional Strategies, Media Strategy, Business-To-Consumer, Marketing Analytics, Advertising
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Johns Hopkins University
The Persuasive Leader
Skills you'll gain: Persuasive Communication, Leadership, Influencing, Strategic Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Business Leadership, Leadership and Management, Plan Execution, Team Leadership, Communication, Agile Project Management, Decision Making
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado Boulder
Movement Capabilities Depend on Neuromuscular Properties
Skills you'll gain: Kinesiology, Physical Therapy, Anatomy, Human Factors, Health Assessment, Scientific Methods
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Microsoft
Communication with Stakeholders
Skills you'll gain: Stakeholder Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Conflict Management, Strategic Communication, Project Management, Cultural Diversity, Business Communication, Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology, Communication, Relationship Building, Cultural Sensitivity, Governance, Agile Methodology, Change Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
L&T EduTech
Conceptual Planning of Bridges
Skills you'll gain: Engineering Calculations, Structural Engineering, Structural Analysis, Civil Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Practices, Engineering, Engineering Software, Conceptual Design, Architectural Design, Finite Element Methods, Thermal Management, Environment
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Packt
Governance and Risk Management Concepts
Skills you'll gain: Risk Management, IT Management, Risk Appetite, Business Risk Management, Operational Risk, Risk Analysis, Governance, Regulatory Requirements, Organizational Structure, Change Management, Accountability
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Board Infinity
Fundamentals of Cloud FinOps
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Management, Cloud Computing, Cloud Services, Cloud Computing Architecture, Cost Management, Cloud Platforms, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Cost Control, Budget Management, Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS), Expense Management, Billing, Engineering Management, Budgeting, Accountability, Data-Driven Decision-Making
2.9
Rating, 2.9 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Maryland, College Park
Transforming Your Company's Data Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Business Transformation, Persuasive Communication, Employee Engagement, Data Science, Storytelling, Analytics, Influencing, Agile Methodology, Organizational Change, Data Quality, Leadership, Business Analytics, Strategic Decision-Making, Data Analysis, Organizational Strategy, Business Leadership, Technology Strategies
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Practical Neuromarketing Research
Skills you'll gain: Research, Research Design, Consumer Behaviour, Influencing, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Behavioral Economics, Experimentation, Qualitative Research, Data Collection, Market Research, Marketing, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Cultural Sensitivity
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months