experience our content firsthand with free webinars
Time and again we find that our best selling point is simply to just show people the power of these insights. And there’s no better way to do that than with a free webinar. You can register for our upcoming ones by entering your email below.
The Five Principles of Influence
Thursday, October 23rd from12:30-1:15 PM ET
THE FIVE PRINCIPLES OF INFLUENCE
principle 1:
the human brain is not a computer
Humans are not perfectly rational creatures. Our brains were not built to maximize accuracy, but rather to find an optimal equilibrium between accuracy and effort. As a result, people are prone to a set of common cognitive “errors” that are both systematic in nature and predictable in direction. Understanding the patterns of the cognitive biases and heuristics to which we are all susceptible allows us to better anticipate how one will think and behave and, consequently, position us to better influence those processes.
principle 2:
our social nature matters
Who we fundamentally are can be a tricky thing. We act one way in our social circles, another in our professional networks, and yet another way with our families and loved ones. Whether we like it or not, our character has a great deal of fluidity based on our social context. Individuals who understand how the presence of others moderates behavior have a distinct advantage over their less-informed peers. A conceptual grasp of how particular social dynamics can moderate processes like conformity, groupthink, and compliance can prove an immensely valuable asset in your ability to influence.
principle 3:
our political sensibilities matter
Liberals and conservatives differ more than just inside the voting booth. Individuals on opposite ends of the political spectrum diverge emotionally, psychologically, and philosophically. These differences create irreconcilable world views, wherein people can be presented with identical information yet process it in disparate ways, ultimately receiving two fundamentally different messages. Understanding how political orientation impacts how messages are received allows us to design the most potent communication strategies for influencing opposing constituencies.
principle 4:
OUR APPROACH matters
Many people operate under the assumption that, if someone is provided with strong enough arguments for why they should change their minds, then they’ll be forced to shift their opinions; that persuasion is, in essence, about “overpowering someone with logic.” But humans are complex and sometimes stubborn creatures, and often being told “you have to do this” is all the motivation they need to look for ways to do the exact opposite. Consequently, persuasion is never an act of force, but rather a process: of gaining someone’s trust, their respect, and ultimately their willingness to consider an alternative point of view. Thus, in many ways, persuasion is less about your argument than it is about your approach.
principle 5:
our structure and presentation matters
The color gray is neither light nor dark; rather, its brightness depends on the color to which it is contrasted. Next to a white pillow, a gray blanket looks dark, yet next to a black coat it appears light. Similarly, persuasive appeals can gain or lose impact depending on what information is included (or omitted) and how it is framed. The content you present is important, but what you choose to include and how you choose to include it is equally critical. One must pay attention to not only the substance of their offering, but also the careful construction of its presentation.
“THE BEST ON THE PLANET AT WHAT HE DOES”
Founder and CEO JonRobert Tartaglione is a psychologist and behavioral scientist by training. He’s studied the factors that influence how people think, behave, and make decisions at several of the world’s top universities, culminating in a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cambridge.
His motivation behind starting Influence 51 was simple: to bring powerful, research-backed insights on how to use psychology and behavioral science to develop more effective leaders, more persuasive communications, and more successful strategies to the individuals and organizations who could actually use them.
But it’s not just fascinating, cutting-edge content that sets JonRobert apart; it’s how he delivers that content. Entertaining, engaging, and immediately applicable - there’s a reason he’s been called “the best on the planet at what he does.”
We don’t think it will take you long to see why.
-
![]()
"I was blown away"
"I had the chance to attend the Five Principles of Influence preview course, and I was blown away by how intentionally the experience was designed. JonRobert doesn’t just teach ideas—he builds a bridge from principle to practice. Whether it was the psychology of strategic communication, loss aversion, framing, or the behavioral roots of influence, he offered a clear conceptual starting point, walked us through real-world applications, and layered in stories and research that made it all stick. One of the most fascinating moments was when he broke down why liberals and conservatives frame values so differently—nuanced, evidence-based, and deeply relevant to how we influence across divides. But beyond the content, it’s JonRobert’s facilitation style that stands out. He brings clarity without oversimplifying, invites insight without overwhelming, and shares knowledge with both humility and depth. If you’re trying to create behavior change, shape better outcomes, or simply communicate more powerfully—this course is a must."
Mohit Gurnani, Northwestern School of Education and Social Policy
-
![]()
"His impact was tremendous"
“JonRobert came in and instantly became one of our most highly-requested consultants. His impact was tremendous. He has a unique ability to explain insights from psychology and behavioral science in a way that is simple, applicable, and extraordinarily engaging. Whether you're looking to develop smarter leaders, design more effective strategies, or just gain a competitive edge, I can't recommend him highly enough.”
H Walker, Director, McDonald’s
-
![]()
"Absolutely Captivating"
“JonRobert is absolutely captivating...easily one of my most highly-rated and requested consultants.”
LeeMichael McLean, Director, Vizient
-
![]()
"Engaging, Thought-Provoking, and Effective"
“JonRobert was engaging, thought-provoking, and effective. His style worked great for our National Marketing and Communications cohort. He presented the content in a way that capitalized on inherent human behaviors and connected them to Stand-specific examples in the areas of message framing and voter turnout. His presentation was memorable and direct.“
Johanna Mateo, National Marketing and Communications Director, Stand for Children
-
![]()
"His Insights are Invaluable"
“Using psychological strategies to influence attitudes and behavior might sound overwhelming, but JonRobert has consistently made it easy for us to understand and apply. As professionals who spend their days trying to build relationships and impact decision-making, his insights are invaluable.”
Michael Geary, Former CEO, SMPS
-
![]()
"Nothing Short of Amazing"
“The three-day webinar series JonRobert presented was nothing short of amazing! The presentation content was interesting and applicable for nearly any profession. We couldn’t have booked a better program speaker to deliver value to our membership. Highly recommended!”
Janel Bales, Marketing Coordinator, Wallace Engineering, Education Director, SMPS Oklahoma & Paige Criswell, Senior Proposal Coordinator, Garver, President, SMPS Oklahoma
-
![]()
"Truly An Expert In His Field"
“JonRobert's learning experiences have been very valuable to BGCA. He is truly an expert in his field, but beyond his mastery of the content itself, his greatest gift is his ability to distill complex concepts into actionable insights in an engaging, thought-provoking, and relatable way. His sessions have empowered our leadership team to lead with greater impact, creating a culture of collaboration and purpose across our National Office and network of more than 5,000 Boys & Girls Clubs.”
Felicia Robinson, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
-
![]()
"Incredibly Impactful"
“What an impact JonRobert made with his presentation. Delivered superbly to a diverse audience, he was able to explain many gems around messaging that everyone could grasp, engage with and use. His ideas will certainly be incorporated to enhance our future message framing!”
Damian Leonard, Marketing Manager, Ronald McDonald House Charities UK
-
![]()
"What I Learned in Just Two Hours Was Memorable, Significant, and Incredibly Relevant"
“JonRobert is engaging, articulate, and intelligent. I have to be honest: I've taken part in many trainings, but what I learned in just two hours with JonRobert was memorable, significant, and incredibly relevant.”
Jill Fink, Executive Director, Food Moxie
-
![]()
"One of the Best...Not to Be Missed"
“Our attendees have consistently said he delivers 'one of the best seminars' and is 'one of the best speakers at the expo.' He provides a very unique set of insights that are extremely valuable in understanding consumer psychology which you can incorporate in any industry. His sessions are not to be missed!”
Patricia Copela, Manager, Clarion UX
-
![]()
"Stop Reading this Testimonial and Hire Him Now"
“JonRobert masterfully blends lessons of behavioral science and pop culture together, challenging your own assumptions about the world - and people - around you. His presentations are engaging, thought-provoking, and certain to entertain. Stop reading this testimonial and hire him now.”
Andy MacCracken, Co-Founder, National Campus Leadership Council
