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Northwestern University

Leadership Through Social Influence

This course will provide learners with a systematic general framework for analyzing persuasive influence situations. Learners will be able to identify different challenges faced by persuaders and to fashion appropriate strategies for addressing those challenges. The broad goal is to provide learners with not only an extensive persuasion tool kit, but also with an understanding of how different tools are useful in different situations. Specifically, the course will address four broad topics: strategies for influencing people’s personal attitudes; strategies for affecting social factors influencing behavior; strategies for affecting people’s perceived ability to undertake the desired behavior; and strategies for inducing people to act on their existing intentions.

Status: Communication
Status: Leadership
Course4 hours

Featured reviews

PR

4.0Reviewed Jun 29, 2020

Extremely well explained, though perhaps some peer-graded assignments and not just quizzes would have been more appropriate to put our newly-acquired knowledge into practice.

LB

5.0Reviewed Mar 29, 2026

Professor O'Keefe lays out what should be obvious but what we too often do not consider prior to attempting to drive change. This was very well-organized, clear, and practical! Thanks Dr. O'Keefe!

AC

5.0Reviewed Oct 4, 2022

I​nformation delivered very clearly, quizzes were hard enough to actually challenge my knowledge. The course was basic but a great overview of the fundamentals of influening

HM

5.0Reviewed Dec 4, 2024

This course is very well design. The teaching methodology by the instructor during course is awesome. This course is worth taking and highly recommended for business leaders

MM

5.0Reviewed Oct 3, 2020

Excellent material. Most important for leaders and equally important for beginners in Corporate organizations. Grooms attitude, openness and behavioral success at work p

HD

5.0Reviewed Jul 13, 2020

Excellent points of learning. Social Influencing has huge role to play to get buy-in from stakeholders. This course helps in learning these critical nuances in a simple and lucid way.

FS

4.0Reviewed Aug 9, 2020

I've loved this course from the beautiful presentation of course material form the professor to how this course changed my mindset towards becoming a leader or following g a leader

LS

5.0Reviewed Feb 21, 2016

Great course. I learned so much about influence and how it is manifest in the workplace. I also got skills in how to use influence to get ideas accepted and moved forward.

MA

5.0Reviewed Sep 6, 2024

الدورة الوحيد الي أعدت اختبارها بسبب صعوبتها لكن استمتعت صراحتا بالتجربة فعلا أفادتني والتجربة عدة مرات معناتها إن الشخص يحرز تقدم ومع التكرار يستفيد!

CM

5.0Reviewed Apr 26, 2022

Great facilitation and questions. i have learned a lot from this and i will apply in my work and community development services i provide to my constituency.

DK

5.0Reviewed Jul 29, 2018

I found Professor O’Keefe's insights and his storytelling to be highly engaging. His videos helped me see new ways I can help my colleagues seize new opportunities to help our team. Thank you.

CI

5.0Reviewed Apr 27, 2020

This course has given me a better perception about how to become relevant in my organizations circle and most importantly i have learned outstanding ways of effective dialogue.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 335

Michal Ziaja
5.0
Reviewed Feb 6, 2019
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Reviewed Jul 10, 2025
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3.0
Reviewed Jun 27, 2020
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5.0
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