Leading Through Influence and Persuasion

In today’s collaborative workplaces, leaders are often called upon to drive outcomes without relying on formal authority. In this immersive one-day program, participants develop the mindset and skills to lead effectively through influence and persuasion.

The morning session introduces a practical framework for influencing without authority and explores core influence skills such as active listening, identifying underlying intentions, building trust, and taking accountability. Participants will also engage in role plays to apply these skills and will learn to use proven influence and persuasion models. 

The afternoon session brings the morning’s concepts to life through the powerful lens of the 1957 film "12 Angry Men". Participants will view the entire film, pausing at key moments to analyze how influence and persuasion unfold in high-stakes group dynamics. Guided discussion will highlight how characters build (or erode) trust, assert ideas without authority, and adapt their strategies based on personalities and group behavior. This session offers a compelling opportunity to reflect on the real-world relevance of influence techniques.

Participants emerge from the program with a clear idea of what drives effective influence and persuasion, and how to apply influence concepts and techniques at work.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and apply key factors that drive effective influence and persuasion.
• Build deeper awareness of how trust is established.
• Strengthen communication skills to build credibility, trust and cooperation in any organizational context.
• Learn how to recognize real intentions and adapt to different personalities to improve persuasive impact.
• Improve your effectiveness in team leadership, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Who Should Attend

• New to senior managers in corporations.
• Managers and supervisors in public sector organizations.
• Entrepreneurs seeking to enhance their influencing skills.

Date and Location

Thursday, November 13, 2025, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Creekside Room at Dominican University of California
100 Magnolia Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901

Fees 

Program fees are $1,900 and includes tuition, course materials, breakfast and lunch.

Discounts

• Early Bird Discount: 10% discount ($1,710 after discount) for registrations received before October 13, 2025.
• Group Discount: 20% discount ($1,520 after discount) for 2 or more individuals from a single organization.
• Alumni Discount: 30% discount ($1,330 after discount) for Dominican University of California degree program alumni.

Note: Only one discount may be applied per participant.

For any questions, please email ils@dominican.edu or call (415) 482-1918.