Influencing Skills Course - one day

This influencing skills course is designed to help you to get other people to see things slightly differently, or to get them to do something you need them to do.

It focuses clearly on the interpersonal and communication skills needed to get other people to want to give you their support.

It's a practical course, which will leave you feeling more confident in your ability to influence others.

Course Objectives:

• Dynamics of Influencing
• Spheres of Influence
• Influencing Without Authority
• Seeing Their POV
• Creating Trust
• Building Stakeholders
• Focus Your Energy
• Internal and External Influence
• Your Personal Strengths

Course Content

We tailor all our courses to reflect the needs of the delegates on the day. The course content may include many of the exercises listed below, and any additional material that the trainers feel is relevant.

Introduction

Introduction by Impact Factory on our style of working.

Delegate Input

Here delegates will be asked what they specifically would like from the programme. We will let people know that the workshop is adaptable to their specific needs.

Influencing Definition

We define influencing in small groups.

Then move into a discussion about how people are influenced.

Types of Influencing

A brief look at different influencing arenas and the different types of influencing situations people may find themselves in.

The Other POV

A key piece of work that uses a series of visuals to explore the idea that everyone sees the world differently.

Not only does everyone see it differently, they think their view is the right one, and can't understand why someone does something that in a different way to them.

See What They See

The real skill is being able to see a problem from someone else's vantage point and deal with it from that place.

The other POV gives us a great deal of information that we can use to influence effectively.

It's much quicker than trying to convince the other person that you're right and they are wrong.

Stakeholders

To be a successful influencer you need to identify your stakeholders

• How well you already influence them
• What they need to be influenced
• Where you are putting our energies for the most benefit

This section will give you an easy-to-remember 'grid' to help you focus your efforts.

Creating Trust

Here we explore a variety of ways to leverage and hone your influencing skills.

We also look and how to build and grow trust.

Structuring a Message

Sometimes when aiming to influence others, people can become over-wordy, give too much information and stray from the point.

This is a clear structure that will help you focus on what's really important when you speak to others.

Spheres of Influence

This is a chance to look at the sphere of people you can influence and see how you can grow this sphere.

Also what measures can you take to influence the people you need to whether you know them or not?

Listening and Responding

We'll practise active listening and responding to achieve a powerful outcome.

We examine the use of agreement, but not compromise, and how to build rapport and find common ground to build on.

Practise

Delegates will practise additional tools while looking at specific situations from their own working life.

Personal Take Out

You will have an opportunity to say:

• What you are taking away from the Influencing Course
• What specifically you know you will use
• Where you will practise

Support Plan

An individual Plan of Action identifying your personal take-outs, what you will practise and areas for development.

You will identify what will stop you putting this into practice and what support you need going forward.

We will give out Impact Factory documents to support the course.

You'll get copies relevant hand-outs to remind you of the Coursework.

Ongoing Support

Two weeks after the course one of your trainers will call to see how you are getting on.

You will have email and telephone access to both of your trainers.

You'll also have access to a course web page containing * Handouts used during the course * New supportive material * Impact Factory PDF documents * Recommended reading * Links to our favourite videos