Student counseling Center organized a training program “Influence Skills and the Art of Persuasion” for Dhofar University students

Within the events, activities and programs of the Student Counseling Center for the spring semester 2023/2024, the Center organized a training program for male and female university students under the title “Influencing Skills and the Art of Persuasion.” It was prepared and implemented by Mrs. Fatima Ahmed Al Gharibi, Counseling Specialist at the Center, on Tuesday and Thursday, April 23 and 25, 2024. The focus of the first workshop was influencing skills, where the following topics were reviewed: introducing influencing skills and their importance to the individual, the circle of influence and interest, the types of direct and indirect influence, negative influence and positive influence, and a video explaining that was shown. The axis of psychological influence and its role as an important factor in a person’s life, and its impact in terms of behavior, thinking, decision- making, actions, etc., were also addressed, in addition to extracting the ways and methods that a person can follow to become a successful influencer. This was done in discussion with the students attending the program, and the first day was concluded with a presentation. Examples of influencing skills mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and the Noble Prophet’s Sunnah. The training program was completed on Thursday, April 25, 2024, with the topic (The Art of Persuasion), which received a wonderful interaction from the audience, as the importance of persuasion skills was presented, and why we need them in our lives, and an introduction to the concept of persuasion and the difference between it and influence, in addition to presenting the most important arts and methods of persuasion that must be A person must master it to be distinctly persuasive, such as self-confidence, honesty, neutrality, respecting the opinions of others, and using the appropriate style with each personality…etc. The model of the rational-emotive theory was also presented as a model of one of the methods of persuasion in counseling psychology and the irrational ideas that must be familiar with and the appropriate persuasive method used for them, as well. Examples of Quranic situations that indicate persuasion were identified, and the program concluded with a podcast presentation summarizing the most important skills in the art of persuasion. Opinions and ideas were exchanged with the students in an enjoyable and attractive manner. The program witnessed interaction and discussions on the part of the attendees, and interventions in the presence of Professor Dr. Nasser Sayed Abdel Rashid, Director of the Center.