Social Influence and Persuasion | Why Study It?

I have around 8 years of risk management consulting, building and selling an online business and raising capital for investment managers. My education includes a Bachelors in Business Administration, and M.B.A in Marketing and now I am completing my thesis for my Masters in Liberal Arts with a focus on Psychology. My thesis is on Social Influence and Persuasion and I often get the question: Why would you want to study that topic? or Don't you have enough education already?

My short answer actually comes from Gandhi: Live as if your were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. - Gandhi

My longer answer is no I do not have nearly enough education. I believe that Psychology and specifically the psychology of sales, influence and persuasion is vastly under-studied around the world. Why isn't there a single class on psychology of influence within leading M.B.A. programs when everyone in business and professors all agree that working well with others, communicating effectively, negotiating wisely and networking are all critical cornerstornes to building a successful career?

Social influence tools can help you negotiate the price of a car, communicate more effectively with your employees, build more robust relationships with potential clients and ensure you don't accidentally step on your own toes with every word which comes out of your mouth during a sales presentation.

I will be posting more on this topic and eventually hope to create a list of 101 reasons why you should study the psychology of influence and persuasion.

- Richard

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