Aim: Gaining commitment and building relationships

1) What’s it all about?

Our ideas are only valuable if we can persuade others to take action and implement them. This course will help participants build coalition skills when communicating with others. It’s about powerful techniques which can result in gaining commitment while building strong relationships.

2) Why iOpener?

Influencing and persuading people to take action is what the iOpener team does all day every day. Out role is to encourage people to modify, adapt and try something new and in a way which stimulates continued development. This is a key skill which managers in complex matrix organisations must have.

3) How?

We look at who needs to be influenced and why. What do all stakeholders gain? How can you optimise your messaging efforts either on paper or orally? How can you identify potential blocks? We’ll work through all this in a fast-paced day which will provide you with some analytical tools for immediate use.

4) Participants?

This workshop is for up to 8 participants. Participants will work with 2 actors and a facilitator to practise influencing and persuading skills.

5) Outcomes

Participants will:

• Identify goals, drivers and potential blocks for themselves and others
• Work on how to tackle challenging situations and people
• Understand how to deliver a persuasive or influential message: Keeping it Sweet and Simple despite complexity
• Evaluate persuasive and non-persuasive email
• Plan how to handle others’ attempts to persuade or influence

6) Participants cover

• Understanding the differences between persuading, influence and manipulation
• Knowing about your stakeholders
• Introducing the elements of persuading and influencing:
  • Understanding Cialdini to identify how to get buy-in
  • Flexing your style – different methodologies
  • Persuasive and influential messages, both written and oral
  • Overcoming resistance: what + how
  • Managing anger
• Dealing with ‘different’ others
• Learning to say no to others

7) Who should attend?

Participants who need to influence and persuade key stakeholders.

8) Duration

1 day