The Science of Persuasion and Influence — Because Winging It is Way Too Risky

Some People Are Natural. Most People Aren’t. Both Can Learn.

Let’s be clear about something from the start.

Persuasion and influence are not personality traits reserved for the naturally charismatic. They are skills. They are learnable. And they are grounded in a body of science that has been studied, tested, and refined for decades.

Some people stumble into these skills intuitively. Good for them. But the rest of us — the majority — need to learn them deliberately. And once you do, the difference in how you show up in any room, any meeting, any presentation, is remarkable.

When Do You Actually Need These Skills?

More often than you think.

You need persuasion and influence skills when you need people to take a specific course of action, when you need them to accept and believe a particular set of information, and when you want them to genuinely embrace a new way of thinking — not just nod along and then go back to doing what they’ve always done.

That covers a lot of territory. Safety managers presenting new procedures to reluctant staff. Community volunteers trying to shift the direction of their not-for-profit. Local government candidates making their case to voters. Fundraisers who need donors to feel compelled to give. Leaders who need a boardroom to say yes.

If you’ve ever walked out of a presentation thinking “I didn’t land that the way I wanted to” — this program is for you.

What You’ll Learn

This is a practical, fully participative program. No sitting in rows taking notes while someone reads from slides. You’ll be doing, practising, and applying from the very start.

Here’s what the program covers: the science and psychology behind influence and persuasion — why people say yes, and what gets in the way. How to design and structure a presentation that builds toward a compelling conclusion. The nonverbal communication skills that make or break your message. And here’s the part that surprises most people — many of the skills you’ll develop are ones you already have. You just didn’t know you had them, or how to use them effectively.

The Part Most People Underestimate

Here’s a truth that every great communicator understands.

Your words are only part of the story. In many situations — especially when you need to persuade and influence — your nonverbal communication is more powerful than anything you actually say. How you stand. How you move. Where you look. What your hands are doing. The pace and tone of your voice.

This program takes a deep dive into the nonverbal side of persuasion and influence, because getting this right is often the difference between walking away with a yes or walking away wondering what went wrong.

Who This Program Is For

This program works across a wide range of roles and industries. It’s for managers who need staff to genuinely embrace new procedures — not just comply with them. Community leaders and not-for-profit volunteers who want to make a real difference. People running for local government or other elected positions. Fundraisers and charity advocates. And anyone whose job, volunteer role, or ambition requires them to move people from where they are to where they need to be.

You’ll Learn. You’ll Laugh. You’ll Learn Some More.

That’s the Walk Tall promise on every program I run.

The science of persuasion and influence is fascinating once it’s presented the right way — and I’ve been presenting it that way for over 35 years to audiences across Australia and internationally.

You’ll leave with a toolkit of practical skills you can use at your very next presentation, meeting, or community engagement. And you’ll wonder why nobody showed you this earlier.