Switch to the Dutch version/Switch to the English version
  1. Home
  2. All courses
  3. Communication & Personal effectiveness
  4. Conversation skills
  5. Influencing Skills (7 days)

Influencing Skills programme (7 days)

In this six-month programme you develop a natural, persuasive style of influencing. You learn to steer, negotiate and connect with others' interests from your own strengths.

4,6 on Google NRTO quality mark

Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so feel free to book now.

For a team or department? Arrange your own group, at your premises or ours. Request a quote
  • Your natural influencing style strengthened
  • Directly applicable to your own practice
  • Intensive six-month programme
  • Personal coaching and peer supervision included
  • With a follow-up day for lasting results
JorisMarjorieGarbrandJeroen

Your trainer: Joris, Marjorie, Garbrand or Jeroen 383 evaluations in total, averaging 8.6. View the trainers

In six months you become a professional in natural influencing. You learn to convince, negotiate and connect from your own strengths, with an eye for the other person's interests. Three blocks, peer consultation, webinars, online coaching and a follow-up day ensure lasting results.

Description

In Learnit's Influencing Skills programme, you work over six months on a natural, convincing style of influencing. You gain insight into your own role, your preferred style and the interests of the people around you. You also practise practical skills such as profiling yourself, negotiating, arguing, directing and taking a stand.

The programme consists of three blocks of two course days on location, preceded by a personal intake and a 360-degree feedback report. Between the blocks you work independently on assignments, e-learning and self-study. You form a peer supervision group with a few fellow participants and attend two in-depth webinars. You also have an online coaching session with your trainer and make a video recording of a practice situation on which you reflect.

Two months after the final block there is a follow-up day. You refresh the course material and discuss, on the basis of your own practical examples, how to develop your influencing skills further. Thanks to the combination of theory, practice and immediate application in your daily work, influencing does not become a trick but a skill that suits who you are.

Topics

Over six months you build up a natural, convincing style of influencing step by step. You work on your own role, on tuning in to the other person and on deepening your skills in practice.

Your own role in influencing

  • Rules and techniques of influencing
  • Verbal and non-verbal influencing
  • Applying personal persuasiveness
  • Speaking in a motivating and inspiring way
  • Giving feedback and setting boundaries
  • The influencing model
  • Recognising and applying influencing styles
  • Steering a conversation
  • The power of wanting, thinking, empathising and believing

The role of others in influencing

  • Encouraging, persuading, exploring and inspiring
  • Listening and making a connection
  • Recognising interaction patterns
  • Collaborating and dealing with resistance
  • Using push and pull energy
  • Complimenting and influencing through attitude change
  • Negotiating and dealing with conflicting interests

In-depth

  • Influencing unconsciously
  • Switching tactically between styles
  • Influencing at individual and group level
  • Practising with case material from your own working practice

Result

After this programme you influence others in a natural and convincing way, from your own strengths. You know what your preferred style is, you recognise the style and interests of the other person and you adapt your approach accordingly.

You can:

  • reflecting on your strengths and pitfalls as an influencer;
  • apply the most important rules, techniques and styles of influencing;
  • convincing, motivating and inspiring people from your own strengths;
  • steering a conversation, negotiating and dealing with resistance;
  • recognising interaction patterns and connecting with the other person;
  • influencing consciously and unconsciously, both an individual and a group.

You have the confidence to choose the right way of influencing in any situation.

Target audience

The Influencing Skills programme is intended for anyone who wants to become better at influencing others without disregarding their interests. You work with people a great deal, you want to get colleagues, customers or clients on board with your ideas, and you are looking for a natural, convincing style that suits you.

You already have some work experience and you notice that persuasiveness is becoming increasingly important in your role. Think of advisers, project leaders, managers, professionals and specialists who want to present their ideas more effectively and negotiate more successfully.

Teaching method

This six-month programme consists of three blocks of two course days on location, a personal intake and a follow-up day after two months. You receive a 360-degree feedback report and work on assignments from your own practice.

Between the blocks you deepen your knowledge through e-learning, self-study and two webinars. You have an online coaching session with the trainer and meet with a small peer group to exchange experiences. In addition, you make a video recording of a practice situation, on which you reflect.

The combination of theory, practice and immediate application in your day-to-day work makes for a high learning return. This way you build your own natural influencing style step by step.

Prior knowledge

No specific prior knowledge is required for this programme. It is useful, however, if you regularly find yourself in situations where you want to convince others or bring them along, so that you can apply the material directly to your own practice.

Comments

This programme lasts six months and consists of three blocks of two consecutive course days, supplemented by an intake, a follow-up day, peer review sessions, webinars and online coaching. Allow for approximately three hours of self-study per week between the blocks.

Practical information

Education level
Suitable for all levels
Preparation time
None
Included
Course materials
Certificate
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance
Cancel
Free up to four weeks before the start (cancellation terms)

Language

The course is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer speaks English. English-language course materials can be used. If at least 3 participants register, the course can also be given entirely in English.

In-company

Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.

Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.

Request a quote

All start dates

7 training days. In date order.

  • Thu 4 Feb to Fri 28 May 2027 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 7 January Enrol
  • Wed 28 Jul to Wed 17 Nov 2027 The Hague · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 30 June Enrol

No suitable start date? Send us a date request, and we'll look at the options together.

This course for your team?

Plan your own group on a date that suits you, at your office, at our premises or online. We tailor the content to your day-to-day work, and training a whole group is cheaper than individual bookings.

  • Your date and location
  • Tailored content
  • Multiple groups or an academy are also possible
  • More than 25 years' experience
Request a quote No obligation, an adviser will be in touch shortly

The trainers for this course

Ratings from participants after completing their course, across all courses by this trainer.

Joris

Trainer in communication and leadership 8,6 from 129 evaluations

Marjorie

Personal development trainer 8,9 from 126 evaluations

Garbrand

Trainer in communication skills and leadership 7,8 from 84 evaluations

Jeroen

Trainer in communication and leadership 9,5 from 44 evaluations

What others say about this course

"Very good course in which you learn at your own pace. Definitely recommended."

Participant

"Very nice school to learn a variety of training with dedicated experts."

Participant

"It was an enjoyable course."

Participant

"Fine course"

Participant

"Enjoyable and instructive course. A good balance between knowledge transfer and practical exercises. Very practically applicable in my own work."

Participant

Training formats

In-company

Bespoke trainingOn request
  • 100% for your group
  • Bespoke training
  • At your place or ours
Request a quote

Workshop

Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request
  • Suitable for events
  • Interactive and inspiring
  • Large groups too
Request a quote

Private training

At our place or yoursOn request
  • 100% just for you
  • Achieve a lot in little time
  • Whenever you want
Request a quote

Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel free of charge?

Yes. Up to four weeks before the first day of the course you can cancel free of charge, without giving a reason. You then receive a credit note or, if you have already paid, a refund. If you cancel later, you pay part of the course fee: 25% between four and two weeks before the start, 75% in the two weeks before it and 100% in the final week. Moving to another start date is free of charge up to two weeks before the start, after that 50%. Sending a colleague in your place is always possible. Read the cancellation terms.

How long does Learnit's Influencing Skills programme take?
The Influencing Skills programme lasts 6 months and consists of 7 course days: 3 blocks of 2 course days and a follow-up day after 2 months. In addition, you have a personal intake, online coaching with your trainer, 2 webinars and 2 peer supervision meetings. Between the blocks, you spend around 3 hours a week on assignments and self-study.
What will you learn in the Influencing Skills programme?
You will learn to influence people in a natural, persuasive way from your own strengths. The programme covers rules and techniques of influencing, verbal and non-verbal communication, the influencing model, steering conversations, negotiating, dealing with resistance and recognising interaction patterns. You practise with real-life cases, video recordings and peer review, so that you develop your own influencing style and can influence both individuals and groups effectively.
Who is the Influencing Skills programme suitable for?
The Influencing Skills programme is suitable for anyone who wants to learn to influence others without disregarding their interests. Think of managers, advisers, project leaders, account managers and professionals who want to have more impact in conversations with colleagues, clients or stakeholders. No specific prior education is required. You are, however, expected to practise actively with real situations from your own work.
How is the Influencing Skills programme structured?
The programme consists of 3 blocks of 2 training days, spread over 6 months. You start with a personal intake and a 360-degree feedback report. Between the blocks you work on assignments (around 3 hours a week), attend 2 webinars, take part in 2 peer supervision sessions and have an online coaching session with your trainer. Two months after the final block there is a follow-up day.
Do you receive a certificate after the Influencing Skills programme?
Yes, on completing the Influencing Skills programme you will receive a certificate of participation from Learnit. The condition is that you attend all 3 blocks of 2 course days, take part in the peer review sessions and the follow-up day, and complete the assignments and video recording. The certificate demonstrates that you have successfully completed the full 6-month programme.
Which teaching methods are used in the Influencing Skills programme?
The programme combines classroom training days with practice-oriented working methods. You work with a 360-degree feedback report, a personal intake, three blocks of two training days, assignments from your own practice, an online coaching session with the trainer, two peer supervision sessions and a video recording of a practice situation. Two webinars and a follow-up day after two months deepen the material further.
What is the difference between this Influencing Skills programme and a short course on persuading or negotiating?
A short course focuses on individual techniques, such as principles of persuasion or negotiation tactics. Learnit's Influencing Skills programme spans six months and works on three levels: your own style, attuning to the other person, and going deeper at individual and group level. You receive a 360-degree feedback report, a personal intake, three blocks of two course days, two webinars, two intervision meetings, an online coaching session with the trainer and a follow-up day after two months. You also make a video recording of a practice situation of your own to reflect on. Because the programme is spread out, you integrate influencing into your daily work instead of learning isolated tricks. Choose a short course if you want to brush up on a specific technique, and this programme if you want to develop your influencing style structurally.
How much time does the Influencing Skills programme take besides the course days?
In addition to the six course days and the follow-up day, allow around three hours a week for self-study and assignments between the blocks. You spread that time over studying the material covered, e-learning, carrying out practical assignments and preparing a video recording of a practice situation. You also schedule two peer supervision meetings with fellow participants yourself, without supervision, and attend two webinars and one online coaching session with the trainer. The programme runs over six months, so the workload is spread out. Anyone who cannot free up this time investment will get less out of the programme than someone who consistently applies the assignments in their own working practice.
What makes this programme more effective than reading a book or taking a single course on influencing?
A book or a short course gives you techniques, but no feedback on your own behaviour. In this six-month programme you work on your influencing style over a longer period, so that new skills really stick. Three elements make that difference. You receive a 360-degree feedback report, which shows you how others currently experience you as an influencer. You practise in three blocks with cases from your own working situation and record yourself on video. And between the blocks you work in an intervision group, receive online coaching from the trainer and attend two in-depth webinars. After two months there is a follow-up day on which you mirror your progress against examples from practice. That combination of insight, practice and reflection is something self-study rarely achieves.
How do I know whether this programme suits me, and when is it better to take a short course first?
The Influencing Skills programme suits you if your work regularly requires you to bring others along without formal authority, for example as an adviser, project leader, manager or specialist. You invest six months and roughly three hours a week alongside the six training days. So choose this if you want to work on your influencing style structurally, not just on one specific conversation technique. A shorter course makes more sense if you mainly want to sharpen one concrete skill, such as negotiating or giving feedback, or if you do not yet have practical situations in which to practise. The programme works with a 360-degree feedback report, peer supervision, video recordings and your own case material. That only really pays off if you have enough working context to apply the material.
What happens to what I have learnt after the final block, or am I on my own then?
The programme does not stop at the final block. Two months after block 3 there is a follow-up day on which you look back, together with the trainer and the group, at how influencing is working out in practice. You discuss your own cases, refresh the course material and decide where you want to develop further. That is an important difference from a one-off course: knowledge only sticks once you reflect on it after a few weeks of practice. In addition, during the programme you form an intervision group with fellow participants. Those contacts often continue afterwards, so that you have a sparring network for difficult influencing situations at work. The total duration including the follow-up day is about 6 months.
Can I combine this programme with a busy job, and what do you expect from me in terms of effort between the blocks?
Yes, the programme is designed for working professionals. The six training days are divided into three blocks of two consecutive days, spread over roughly six months. Between the blocks you spend around three hours a week on assignments, e-learning and self-study. In addition, you arrange two peer supervision sessions with fellow participants, an online coaching session with your trainer and two webinars yourself. You also make a video recording of a practice situation of your own and reflect on it. Allow for an average time investment of four to five hours a week in total outside the training days, with peaks around the assignments. Because you work with cases from your own practice, a large part of that time coincides with your day-to-day work. A clear diary on the training days themselves is essential, however.

Others also viewed

Influencing skills and powers of persuasion

Read our blog

11 practical tips for conflict handling7 obstacles to effective listeningTen conversation techniques for refuting a statementThis is how you give good advice!

Next start: Thu 4 Feb to Fri 28 May 2027 in Amsterdam

Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so you can secure a place now.

Choose a date Request a quote
€ 4375,-excl. VAT · next start Thu 4 Feb
Choose a date