Persuasion for Policymakers
Persuasion for Policymakers
The ability to persuade and influence is an essential skill for policymakers and public managers. Whether it’s presenting advice to a senior decision-maker, influencing a group in a meeting or convincing colleagues to support an initiative, the ability to persuade is pivotal to effective public leadership. This micro-credential will arm…
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
The ability to persuade and influence is an essential skill for policymakers and public managers. Whether it’s presenting advice to a senior decision-maker, influencing a group in a meeting or convincing colleagues to support an initiative, the ability to persuade is pivotal to effective public leadership. This micro-credential will arm you with the skills you need to persuade and communicate effectively. You will be introduced to the latest thinking in the fields of social psychology, communication, and the art of rhetoric. It is ideal for professionals working in or with governments, including NGO’s, who are seeking a greater understanding of the theoretical concepts and practical strategies needed to craft persuasive communication. Explore the foundations of persuasion and examine critical skills needed for effective communication: Study core elements of the communication process, including storytelling, and learn to apply ‘sticky principles’ to your work to effectively communicate your ideas. Gain tools to better understand the art of rhetoric: Analyse classic rhetorical frameworks and explore their relevance to contemporary policymaking and public management. Assess and compare case studies that demonstrate effective use of rhetorical techniques. Examine how power, influence, and authority shape decision making in government: Compare and contrast power and influence, and use established theoretical models such as the six sources of influence to build rapport and trust. Examine the seven bases of power to unpack how personal power differs from positional power. Understand the importance of narrative and storytelling to governance: Draw on key concepts, including the pyramid principle, to structure arguments and write persuasive public policy stories. Learn to develop narrative storyboards that will help you plan your communication techniques. Analyse and present a real-world example of persuasion in public policy: Use the techniques you’ve learned in this course to present an example of persuasion in public policy or government. You’ll deliver a thoughtful analysis that demonstrates a strong understanding of the art of persuasion.
Skills and learning outcomes: By the end of this micro-credential, you’ll be confident in: Crafting persuasive communication, such as policy briefs, submissions and presentations; Using storytelling to make ideas and proposals more memorable; Influencing and achieving buy-in on policy and projects from decision-makers and stakeholders.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne enjoys an outstanding reputation with world rankings, consistently being placed as Australia’s leading comprehensive research-intensive university, and is one of the world’s top 50 (as per Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015 – 2016 and Academic Ranking of World Universities 2015). There are over 80 different undergraduate study areas and over 270 graduate courses at Melbourne for students to choose from. The University has extensive global networks and has seven campus locations across Melbourne and rural Victoria.
