To strengthen your influential powers, you first have to grasp what makes an influence attempt successful. Professor Brown introduces you to several concepts you'll return to throughout the lectures, including the possible outcomes of persuasive efforts (conflict, compliance, commitment) and the factors that determine these outcomes (agent, target, tactics, context).

What is it about someone that makes him or her so persuasive? Take a closer look at agents: those people doing the influencing. You'll learn what characteristics an influential agent has (including beauty, trustworthiness, and charisma) and you'll see how these characteristics play out in a range of real-world situations.

Turn to two general tactical methods involved in influencing others, each with its own pros and cons. The first: soft tactics, such as persuading with emotion and offering something in exchange. The second (and more threatening): hard tactics such as making a reference to formal authority or building a coalition.