Building Influence at Work is one of those courses that feels instantly relevant the moment you hit play. Whether you’re early in your career or already managing people, influence is one of those “invisible skills” that quietly determines who gets heard, trusted, and promoted. This Udemy course takes a refreshing angle by grounding everything in real behavioral science instead of vague motivational advice. The vibe is practical, research-backed, and surprisingly easy to digest.
Instructor Reputation
The credibility of Building Influence at Work rests heavily on the expertise of Andrew Luttrell, and this is one area where the course truly excels. Andrew isn’t just another self-proclaimed productivity or leadership guru—he’s a trained social psychologist with a PhD and a deep academic background in persuasion, attitudes, and influence. That academic foundation matters a lot here, because influence is one of those topics that’s often filled with buzzwords, anecdotes, and “trust me, it works” advice. This course takes the opposite approach.
Andrew is very transparent about where his ideas come from. He consistently references peer-reviewed studies from social and management psychology and explains what the research actually shows—not just what sounds good. He also makes a point of discussing the limitations of certain findings, which adds a layer of honesty you don’t often see in online courses. If you’re someone who appreciates intellectual rigor but doesn’t want to wade through dense academic papers, his teaching style is a great middle ground.
Beyond credentials, Andrew is also a strong communicator. His experience hosting the Opinion Science podcast really shows in how smoothly he explains complex ideas. He’s calm, engaging, and conversational, which makes the material easy to follow even when the concepts are nuanced. Student feedback consistently highlights how enjoyable he is to listen to and how well-paced his explanations are. With over 400,000 students, more than 100,000 reviews, and a solid 4.5 instructor rating, it’s clear that his teaching style resonates with a wide audience—from early-career professionals to managers and leaders.
Course Structure
The structure of Building Influence at Work is intentionally clean and efficient, which fits the topic perfectly. Instead of overwhelming you with long, bloated sections, the course is broken down into focused modules that each tackle a specific component of influence at work. Topics like building credibility, increasing visibility, developing rapport, and cultivating executive presence are addressed in a logical progression, helping concepts build on one another naturally.
Each lesson is concise and purposeful. Andrew doesn’t linger on any single idea longer than necessary, but he also doesn’t rush through important concepts. This pacing is something many students praise—it keeps the course engaging while still giving you enough time to absorb and reflect on the material. You can easily fit lessons into a busy work schedule, whether you’re watching during lunch breaks or after work.
A major strength of the course structure is the inclusion of exercises and PDF workbooks in every section. These aren’t generic worksheets; they’re thoughtfully designed to help you translate theory into action. You’re prompted to reflect on your own workplace dynamics, identify opportunities to apply influence strategies, and create a concrete plan for behavior change. This makes the course feel much more interactive and practical than a standard video-only format.
Navigation is straightforward and intuitive, making it easy to revisit specific sections when you want a refresher. The objectives are clearly stated, examples are relevant across industries, and the overall flow feels intentional rather than thrown together. By the end of the course, you don’t just understand the science of influence—you’ve also built a personalized roadmap for applying it in your day-to-day work life.
Content Quality
The content in Building Influence at Work is where the course really earns its praise. What immediately stands out is how well the material balances scientific rigor with everyday practicality. Influence, credibility, and executive presence are often treated as vague or personality-based traits, but this course reframes them as learnable skills grounded in decades of behavioral science research. Andrew consistently explains why certain strategies work, not just how to use them, which makes the lessons feel far more trustworthy and empowering.
Each concept is introduced with clarity and then reinforced with examples drawn from real workplace scenarios. Whether it’s navigating relationships with supervisors, collaborating more effectively with peers, or building rapport across teams, the examples feel relatable and relevant across industries. Student reviews frequently mention how helpful the research studies are, and for good reason—Andrew doesn’t just name-drop studies, he walks you through what was tested, what the results showed, and how those findings translate into actionable behavior at work.
Another big plus is the pacing and focus. The course avoids unnecessary filler and stays tightly aligned with its core goal: helping you build influence in realistic, ethical ways. The exercises and PDF workbooks play a huge role here. They’re designed to help you retain the material and, more importantly, apply it. Instead of passively consuming content, you’re encouraged to reflect on your current habits, identify gaps in your influence, and experiment with new approaches in your daily interactions. This makes the learning stick far more effectively than a lecture-only format.
Overall, the content feels thoughtfully curated, scientifically sound, and genuinely useful. It’s especially valuable for learners who want evidence-based strategies rather than motivational hype. By the end of the course, you don’t just understand influence at a theoretical level—you have a clear sense of how to practice it intentionally in your own work environment.
Overall Course Rating – 9/10
All things considered, Building Influence at Work earns a strong 9 out of 10. Within the first few lessons, it becomes clear that this isn’t just another career-development course filled with generic advice. The combination of research-backed insights, clear explanations, and practical exercises makes it stand out in a crowded category on Udemy. The rating reflects how well the course delivers on its promise to help professionals build real, lasting influence at work.
One of the biggest strengths is its consistency. The instructor’s credibility, the thoughtful structure, and the high-quality content all align smoothly, creating a cohesive learning experience from start to finish. Students aren’t just told what successful, influential professionals do—they’re shown how to adopt those behaviors in realistic, achievable ways. The course also respects the learner’s time, making it easy to progress without feeling overwhelmed or under-challenged.
If there’s a minor downside, it’s that learners looking for hyper-specific industry case studies might want more tailored examples. That said, the broad applicability of the strategies is also one of the course’s strengths, especially for professionals working in diverse roles and organizations.
Overall, this course is an excellent investment for anyone serious about advancing their career through better social skills, communication, and presence. Whether you’re a young professional, a manager, or a leader looking to refine your influence, this course delivers meaningful value—and that solid 9/10 rating feels well deserved.
