Context  

Gaining the valuable skills to influence and persuade others is vital in business environments.   In business we seek to influence: Customers, Colleagues and Suppliers.  Effective influencing is necessary for successful relationships with clients and colleagues.  Your ability to communicate in a way that is memorable and compelling is a key component.

This programme presents strategies for influencing in business and daily situations. It covers techniques to influence the thinking and behaviour of others and persuade them to your way of thinking.  This workshop is designed to enable the participants to be more confident, influential and persuasive at work through recognising the link between communication skills and the impact they have on others.   It presents strategies for gaining control in negotiation situations and effective methods of getting past obstacles. This programme will explore various approaches to successfully closing a negotiation. Several business scenarios are explored, with tips for effective practical influencing and negotiation techniques to apply to these situations.

Programme Objectives

• Communicate in a more persuasive manner with colleagues and individuals internally and external to the business
• Develop more effective and creative working relationships
• Develop strategies to strengthen rapport building skills
• Explain complicated ideas in a manner which supports understanding and successful outcomes
• Be more confident at meetings and interactions with colleagues and clients
• Be a more active listener and use enhanced persuasion skills to achieve results
• Practice questioning and listening techniques that  can be used to  increase engagement
• Engage in impactful interactions to practice techniques that deepen your influence 
• The importance of the effective  of language, body language and props will be highlighted and put into practice
• Identify personal influencing and negotiation style for best results.

As a result, participants will be able to

• Influence customers and colleagues to embrace ideas and accept their recommendations
• Confidently tackle sensitive or difficult interactions

This programme will provide training across the following areas

• Personality profiling with reference to styles in influencing and persuasion
• Persuasive and influential communication
• Refining your approach and creative a positive impression
• Building engagement with listening and questioning
• Engagement with impactful interaction
• Communicating difficult or sensitive messages while gaining co-operation and minimising conflict
• How to prepare effectively and efficiently, even when under time pressure
• Understanding how to appeal to others  and manage emotions
• Effectively use influencing skills at the appropriate time
• Influence Planning

Methodology

Group work, individual tasks, simulation exercises and participant workbook exercises with a strong emphasis on practical application throughout. This course is extremely interactive providing participants with the opportunity to prepare and practice their skills.  Participants will be provided with a comprehensive workbook which includes exercises and templates for group tasks.  It also provides take away tools and articles for after study and implantation in the workplace. Self Directed learning will expand on the learning from the workshop.