Overview
Influence isn’t limited to job titles. Whether you're leading a project, advocating for an idea, or working across teams, your ability to build momentum and gain buy‑in often depends on relationships, credibility, and how you communicate.
Influence Matters explores how influence works in modern workplaces and how it can be applied ethically and effectively. The course combines insights from neuroscience with established principles of persuasion to help you understand how people make decisions, respond to persuasion, and build trust. You’ll examine different bases of power, including positional, personal, mindset, and societal power, and how these show up in everyday workplace situations.
Learning focuses on practical application. You’ll develop rapport‑building skills, learn how to lead without formal authority, and practice strategies for gaining support across diverse and multi‑generational workplaces. The course also addresses the difference between influence and manipulation, helping you recognize unethical tactics and protect yourself and others from unwanted pressure.
By the end of this course, you’ll leave with a personal influence development plan, practical strategies you can apply immediately, and a clearer understanding of how to influence others with integrity in both professional and personal contexts.
This course is ideal if you:
- work in an office or professional role and need to gain buy‑in for ideas without relying on formal authority
- are a skilled trades or technical professional influencing outcomes across teams, projects, or job sites
- bring leadership or professional experience from another country and want to navigate influence in Canadian workplace cultures
- want to build stronger relationships, advocate for your ideas, and influence ethically in complex workplace environments.
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to:
- explain the value of influence in the workplace, its components, and who can access it
- apply relationship-building and rapport techniques to enhance your influence in the workplace
- use the principles of persuasion to improve your workplace influence
- analyze different bases of power and implement strategies to extend your influence ethically
- evaluate influence tactics to protect yourself from unwanted or manipulative influence
- distinguish between influence and manipulation to maintain ethical integrity in leadership.
To request a course outline, contact ConEdAdvising@sait.ca.
If you're certified by a professional association, this course may qualify for continuing professional development (CPD) hours to help maintain your certifications/designations. Please check with your association to confirm eligibility.
This course aligns closely with the business competencies outlined in Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Blue Seal Certificate framework and may support your application. Learn more about earning the Blue Seal using SAIT Continuing Education courses.
Entering into Influence Matters through SAIT Continuing Education and Professional Studies I expected to learn with the intent to grow personally. The expectations set were far exceeded. I can't wait for the next course to take me further in my professional career.
April Zacharias
Upcoming dates
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Registration closes seven days before the start date for on-campus, online scheduled, and blended courses, and one day before the start date for online self-paced courses.
After you've completed this course
Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account.
Costs
Textbook and reading list
Included in the purchase of this course, you’ll receive:
- Course content accessible online in Brightspace (D2L)
- Learning materials/hand-outs distributed in class (in-person delivery).
Technology
To be successful in this course, you’ll need:
- Access to your own computer or laptop with standard hardware/software requirements
- Internet access.
Note: Bringing your laptop to class is not required (in-person delivery).
Financial support
Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants, including the Canada Alberta Productivity Grant.
Applicable certificates
This course applies to the following certificate programs:
- Certification type
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Certificate of Achievement
- Certification type
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Certificate of Completion
Train your team
Interested in group training opportunities for this course? Tell us about your organization's needs, and one of our training consultants will contact you within one business day.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.