Influencing
The position
Our client is a non-departmental public body with around 13,000 staff. Staff work with a huge range of people and organisations including community groups, local authorities, government departments as well as industries big and small and the agricultural sector.
Staff need to be able to influence in every direction, both internal and external. Externally, they need to market some key messages in a way that educates and influences people rather than having to resort to enforcement. Internally, they have to liaise with people who have different priorities; different functions inevitably have different views on what the priorities are.
They asked us to design and provide four separate programmes on influencing skills geared to the different working situations in the organisation.
How did we tackle it?
We designed and delivered three modules that form part of the organisation’s personal skills programme:
Influencing people - an actor based programme which gives delegates a hands-on opportunity to practise influencing others. Delegates have the opportunity to bring their own experiences and case studies to help develop new approaches to handling these with the actors.
Influencing organisations - a programme aimed at people who need to influence at a strategic level with organisations. The programme provides them with a practical look at different influencing models and approaches. They are introduced to stakeholder analysis, principled negotiation and provided with practical exercises which help them to see how to apply these models in work.
Business networking - this programme explores how to effectively network both internally and externally. It gives delegates practical tips and ideas on how to make an impact with groups and individuals and how to develop lasting relationships.
What did it achieve?
- Action – participants reported an enhanced ability to get things done
- Lasting internal networks that improved performance
- A more effective approach to working with stakeholders
- More confidence in getting the message across
- The overall programme recently won a training skills award
Email Lucy Neale or phone 0117 315 5243.
