Influencing Skills & Communication Psychology Course
Build influence through communication psychology, clear messages and credible relationships. This two-day influencing skills course in Malaysia covers rapport, ethical persuasion, media interviews, stakeholder engagement and difficult conversations with Sharves Bala.
Course overview
This 2-day masterclass equips PR, Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs, Media, Public Affairs and Marketing professionals with practical psychological and communication techniques to influence perceptions, build trust, handle difficult conversations, engage stakeholders and communicate confidently under pressure. Participants will explore how people think, interpret messages, make decisions and respond to influence—then translate these insights into practical communication strategies.
Programme: The Psychology of Influence 2030: NLP, Strategic Communication, Media Persuasion & Stakeholder Engagement
Which course should I choose?
Choose Psychology of Influence for rapport, message framing and the communication behaviours used in difficult situations. Choose Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Relationship Building for stakeholder mapping, engagement planning and longer-term relationship management.
What you will learn
- Apply communication psychology and selected NLP techniques to improve interpersonal communication.
- Identify psychological drivers behind audience behaviour and decision-making.
- Develop persuasive messages for different audiences and situations.
- Build rapport and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
- Communicate confidently during difficult and high-pressure situations.
- Handle challenging media interviews and unexpected questions.
- Apply strategic framing and reframing techniques.
- Develop effective crisis communication responses.
- Manage difficult stakeholder conversations and resistance.
- Strengthen personal influence, credibility and executive communication presence.
Course outline
Explore the 8 modules covered in the programme. The sequence and emphasis can be tailored to participant needs.
DAY 1 — UNDERSTAND • CONNECT • PERSUADE
The Psychology of Influence 2030
- The psychology behind influence and decision-making
- How people perceive, interpret and respond to messages
- Rational vs emotional influence
- Trust, credibility and perception
- Understanding the modern audience
- The Influence Mindset
NLP & Communication Psychology
- Introduction to NLP principles
- Language patterns and psychological responses
- Building rapport and connection
- Communication styles and preferences
- Active listening and behavioural observation
- The psychology of questions
- Verbal and non-verbal influence
Strategic Persuasion & Message Influence
- Principles of strategic persuasion
- Understanding audience motivations
- Emotional triggers and decision-making
- Framing and reframing
- Storytelling for influence
- Building powerful key messages
- Persuasion without manipulation
Strategic Communication & Influence
- Communication strategy vs communication activity
- Audience-centred communication
- Message architecture
- One Message, Multiple Audiences
- Simplifying complex information
- Communicating difficult or unpopular decisions
- Creating memorable and impactful messages
DAY 2 — INFLUENCE • ENGAGE • PROTECT • LEAD
Media Persuasion & Spokesperson Mastery
- Understanding the media mindset
- Preparing for media interviews
- Delivering concise and credible answers
- Handling difficult and unexpected questions
- Bridging and message control techniques
- Managing hostile or leading questions
- Voice, body language and executive presence
Stakeholder Psychology & Strategic Engagement
- Understanding stakeholder motivations
- Stakeholder influence mapping
- Building trust and credibility
- Influencing without formal authority
- Managing expectations and resistance
- Creating stakeholder alignment
- Turning relationships into strategic partnerships
Crisis Communication & Reputation Influence
- Psychology of communication during crisis
- Managing fear, uncertainty and speculation
- Speed vs accuracy
- Crisis messaging and holding statements
- Managing rumours and misinformation
- Media and stakeholder pressure
- Protecting organisational reputation
- Communicating with confidence under pressure
Influencing Difficult Conversations & Leading Through Communication
- Psychology of difficult conversations
- Managing resistance and defensiveness
- Strategic questioning and active listening
- Empathy and emotional control
- Reframing conflict
- De-escalation techniques
- Saying “No” professionally
- Influencing across departments
- Building personal influence and executive presence
- Ethical and responsible influence
Ethical influence and difficult conversations
Lectures, global references, practice sessions, activities and games connect communication psychology with practical workplace situations.
Who this course is for
PR, Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs, Media, Public Affairs and Marketing professionals.
Before you join
Consider a communication situation involving audience resistance, a difficult conversation or stakeholder expectations. Use anonymised examples and confirm any preparation requirements with ISDS before joining.
How to join this Psychology of Influence course in Malaysia
This influencing skills training suits PR, corporate communication, corporate affairs, media, public affairs and marketing professionals. Ask ISDS about a two-day public class in Malaysia or an in-house programme based on the communication situations your team handles.
Kursus Kemahiran Mempengaruhi dan Psikologi Komunikasi di Malaysia
Kursus 2 hari bersama Sharves Bala untuk profesional PR, komunikasi korporat, hal ehwal korporat, media dan pemasaran. Peserta meneliti psikologi komunikasi, pembinaan kepercayaan, pemujukan beretika, temu bual media dan perbualan sukar dengan pihak berkepentingan. Kelas awam dan latihan dalaman boleh dibincangkan mengikut keperluan organisasi. Sila sahkan kelayakan HRD Corp (HRDF), pengaturan tuntutan, yuran dan tarikh dengan ISDS sebelum membuat tempahan.
Your trainer
Sharves Bala
A corporate communications strategist and executive trainer with more than 20 years of experience in PR, media relations, reputation management and stakeholder engagement. Her sessions use practical frameworks, case studies and simulations.
Trainer availability is confirmed for each programme.
Get the full course brochure by email
Enter your contact details to receive the full course outline, learning outcomes and learning approach by email.
Questions about Psychology of Influence
Which communication situations does this influencing skills course cover?
The eight modules connect influence and message psychology with stakeholder conversations, media interviews, crisis communication and cross-department relationships. You examine how audiences interpret messages, build trust and respond to persuasion.
How are NLP and communication psychology covered?
A dedicated module introduces selected NLP principles, language patterns, rapport, communication styles, active listening, behavioural observation and the psychology of questions. These topics are applied to interpersonal communication alongside the wider influence curriculum.
Does the programme address ethical persuasion?
Yes. The curriculum explicitly includes persuasion without manipulation, ethical and responsible influence, empathy, emotional control and saying no professionally. It links persuasive messages with credibility, trust and audience needs.
How does this differ from Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Relationship Building?
Psychology of Influence concentrates on the communication behaviours behind rapport, persuasion, interviews and difficult conversations. The stakeholder engagement course focuses more deeply on mapping stakeholders, planning engagement, facilitating dialogue and maintaining relationships over time.
Who teaches the Psychology of Influence course?
Sharves Bala is the assigned trainer. Trainer availability is confirmed with your programme arrangements.
How long is the Psychology of Influence course?
The course runs for 2 days. Ask ISDS about the next public session or an in-house schedule for your team.
Is the Psychology of Influence course HRDF claimable?
Ask ISDS to confirm HRD Corp (formerly HRDF) eligibility and claim arrangements for this programme before booking. Where applicable, claims are arranged through our partner, Orange Revolution.
Will I receive a certificate for the Psychology of Influence course?
Public-class participants receive a certificate of participation. Ask ISDS about certificate arrangements for in-house training.
How much does the Psychology of Influence course cost?
Ask for a quotation or an in-house proposal. Share your course, team size and preferred dates, and we will confirm the format, fees, inclusions and any HRD Corp claim arrangements.