Robert Cialdini
Robert Cialdini is a social psychologist and author who helps organisations understand the science of influence and persuasion in business, leadership, and decision-making contexts.
- Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University.
- Author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and Pre-Suasion.
- Books have sold more than seven million copies worldwide and are translated into more than 40 languages.
- Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
- President and CEO of INFLUENCE AT WORK, an organisation focused on the science of influence and persuasion.
Full Profile
Key speaking topics
- Behavioural science of influence and persuasion
- Ethical persuasion in business and leadership
- Behavioural decision-making
- Evidence-based communication strategies
- Behavioural psychology in marketing and sales
- Influence and organisational effectiveness
- Persuasion principles in negotiation and leadership
Ideal for
- Senior leaders and executives responsible for organisational strategy
- Sales, marketing, and commercial leadership teams
- Professionals responsible for communication, negotiation, or stakeholder influence
- Organisations seeking behavioural science insights for business decision-making
Audience outcomes
- Clear understanding of core principles that shape human influence and persuasion
- Insight into behavioural science frameworks used in business communication
- Practical ways to apply evidence-based persuasion in leadership and organisational contexts
- Greater awareness of how decision-making can be shaped by psychological factors
Why organisations work with Robert Cialdini
- Combines academic research in psychology and marketing with practical applications for business influence and communication.
- Author of widely used books on persuasion that inform leadership, sales, and marketing practices.
- Recognised by major academic institutions and elected to leading scientific academies.
- Provides organisations with evidence-based frameworks for ethical persuasion and behavioural decision-making.
Biography
Robert Cialdini is widely recognised for his research into the science of influence and persuasion and its practical application in business, leadership, and communication. His work has shaped how organisations understand behavioural decision-making and the psychological factors that drive human behaviour.
Cialdini is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University. He has also held visiting appointments at institutions including Stanford University, and his academic work has contributed to the development of evidence-based frameworks used across marketing, leadership, and organisational communication.
His contributions to behavioural science have been recognised by leading academic institutions. He has been elected to both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, reflecting the impact of his research on the understanding of influence, persuasion, and decision-making.
Cialdini is the author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and Pre-Suasion, books that have informed professionals across sales, marketing, leadership, and negotiation. His publications have sold more than seven million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Alongside his academic work, he serves as President and CEO of INFLUENCE AT WORK, an organisation focused on the application of behavioural science to professional communication and ethical persuasion. Through his research, writing, and speaking, Cialdini helps organisations understand how influence operates in real-world decision-making and how behavioural insights can strengthen leadership, marketing, and organisational effectiveness.
Talks
An exploration of the scientific research behind persuasion and the approaches that make people most likely to say yes, translated into practical business applications through the six universal principles of persuasion.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding the six universal principles of persuasion that influence decision-making
- Practical ways to establish authority, trustworthiness, and stronger relationships with prospects, customers, and colleagues
- How to apply evidence-based persuasion ethically to encourage action and build lasting relationships
A presentation examining how the principles of influence operate when uncertainty shapes decision-making, and how these principles can be applied effectively and ethically in changing environments.
Key takeaways:
- Recognition and application of the universal principles of persuasion
- Understanding how uncertainty affects decision-making and influence attempts
- Identifying which persuasion principles are most effective under conditions of uncertainty
A presentation explaining how influence begins before a message is delivered, focusing on how the moments leading up to communication shape how audiences receive and respond to it.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding how pre-suasion prepares people to be receptive to a message
- Ethical techniques for redirecting attention to improve persuasive impact
- Recognising and deflecting unwanted pre-suasion
A presentation exploring what scientific research reveals about relationships that enable people to work together, align around shared goals, and achieve meaningful outcomes.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding how certain relationships can facilitate cooperation and shared objectives
- Insights into how rivals or disconnected groups can become aligned around common goals
- Approaches for developing and focusing relationships to support successful collaboration
A presentation examining how leaders use the influence process to guide decisions, generate change, and move people toward positive outcomes.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding the six universal principles of influence and how they shape leadership communication
- How leaders can apply influence ethically to guide change and encourage commitment
- Insights into using persuasion to build lasting partnerships and constructive organisational change
A presentation focused on how the principles of influence can be applied to build trust and strengthen professional relationships while encouraging constructive change.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding the six universal principles of influence
- How principles such as liking, authority, and social proof can be used to build trust
- Applying influence ethically to support mutually beneficial relationships and long-term partnership
A presentation highlighting small adjustments in communication and behaviour that research shows can significantly improve persuasive effectiveness.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding how small changes in words, actions, images, or environments can influence outcomes
- Recognising how minor adjustments can produce disproportionate persuasive impact
- Applying practical, ethical influence techniques that support long-term relationships
A program revealing research-based persuasion strategies that help sales professionals increase the likelihood of hearing yes by presenting their case more effectively.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding the scientific principles that influence people to agree or act
- Learning how small changes in communication can increase persuasive effectiveness
- Applying ethical persuasion techniques that support long-term business relationships
A program focused on persuasion strategies that help marketers present their case more effectively and improve how audiences respond to their message.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding research-based principles that influence audience decisions
- Learning how changes in presentation and messaging can increase persuasive impact
- Applying ethical persuasion strategies that support long-term success
A program exploring the persuasion process and how managers can communicate ideas more effectively to encourage agreement and action.
Key takeaways:
- Understanding the hidden rules of persuasion uncovered by scientific research
- Learning how small adjustments in communication can increase influence
- Applying ethical persuasion approaches that support constructive professional relationships