When we come into contact with other people, whether face to face, online or in writing, we encounter ‘the Difference Moment’. What I mean by this is that how we respond to one or more other people can be positive or negative. Our part in the interaction can contribute positively to enriching and empowering the other person(s) and ourselves, but it can also contribute negatively to the other person(s) by disempowering and diminishing them, while diminishing ourselves in the process. This is the ‘Difference Moment’, the critical moment at which our reaction has positive or negative consequences.

This course provides a basic introduction to the importance of ‘influencing skills’, the skills we can use to try and make sure that the difference we make is a positive one. After a short video introduction the course offers four video-based lessons: 

• What are influencing skills? This lesson clarifies what is meant by influencing skills and gives some examples of them in action. It gives a flavour of how and why influencing skills are so important when it comes to making a difference.
• Tools for making a positive difference (Parts I to III) Skills are a good starting point, but practical tools also have an essential part to play. These three lessons therefore use the ‘Getting CLOSER’ framework to outline some of the useful tools that can be drawn upon.

There is also a module companion workbook that you will need to print out before you start the course. It contains space for notes plus an exercise relating to each of the three lessons. This is an important resource for you, as it will help to extend and consolidate your understanding and provide you with a set of notes to act as a reference source for future development.