Communicating with Diplomacy, Impact and Influence

About

Course Objectives:

• Build a foundation of influence and credibility to communicate strategically and diplomatically

• Handle sensitive information and delicate situations

Are you good at getting your ideas across, excellent in meetings and most of all, seen as an effective and assertive communicator who inspires, motivates and gains the attention of your audience?

Do you know how to handle sensitive information or the ‘hard decisions’ in a way that gains buy-in instead of creating resentment or anger?

Do you actively use feedback as a way of enhancing your communications?

The ability to communicate with a discerning level of diplomacy, persuasiveness and influence seems to come naturally to some people. They seem to possess an unflinching confidence and an innate ability to communicate and connect with people at all levels in just the right way. People with this competency are able to encourage, motivate and influence their teams and other people to achieve the desired results. They are also more likely to be successful at handling delicate situations.

You are good at what you do but how do your communication skills stack up?
It may not come as a surprise to you that in spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals still continue to struggle to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively.

Your ability to communicate effectively is paramount to achieving your highest potential, because when communications break down, it can create unnecessary roadblocks that can stand in the way of achieving not only your business goals but your desired career progression too.

To help address the needs of many who have expressed their desire to be able to communicate with savvy and finesse, Communicating with Diplomacy, Impact and Influence is a course designed specifically to help you build a foundation of influence and credibility, and increase your confidence whilst striking a fine balance between getting along with others, and understanding when and how you may be able to influence their actions.

SEVEN GREAT REASONS TO ATTEND THE COURSE

1. Evaluate your personal communication style and identify what may be influencing your communication style
2. Learn to communicate with your peers or customers with credibility and  diplomacy to achieve desirable outcomes
3. Identify and understand what can detract from your credibility
4. Develop empathy for effective communication
5. Deliver feedback that inspires accountability and self-redirection
6. Understand power plays and how you can break the cycle
7. Be able to resolve conflicts and negotiate for a win-win situation

Outline

Day One
Evaluating Personal Communication Styles
• What is your personal communication style?
• How could your personal communication style be influencing the way you communicate with others?

The Communication Process
• Elements of the communication process
• Understanding and overcoming communication barriers
• The roles of active listening, critical thinking and empathy in the communication process
• Taking an ‘outside-in’ approach to your communications
• Crucial characteristics of effective communication
• The importance of feedback and paraphrasing
• Five axioms of communication
• Time management: it’s role in effective communications
• Use of questioning: checking the message has been received

Imparting the Vision
• Effectively communicating an organisations vision, mission and values and their relationship to your strategic plan
• How and why it can sometimes get lost in translation

Communication Barriers
• Identifying and understanding the personal barriers that may be influencing your communication style
• Exploring communication barriers
• Squaring off your fears 
• Putting things into perspective

Power Plays: How They Can Influence the Communication Process
Understanding the common power plays that can occur in the communication process and how to break the cycle
• The role of conditioning people to a way of thinking
• The role of power plays in the drama triangle
• Breaking the cycle

Credible Communications
• The importance and role of credibility in diplomatic, impactful and influential communication
• What can detract from your credibility?
• Role of consistency and authenticity
• Building credibility in the eyes of your audience

Assertive Communications
• The role of assertiveness in the communication process
• What is assertiveness?
• Characteristics of assertiveness
• How does it differ from other forms of communication?
• Tools to assertive communications

Day Two

Moving from Compliance to Commitment
• Insights to help you to move people from compliance to commitment through your communications
• Working with your ‘circles of influence’
• Organisational control vs. self management: What do you need to let go of?
• The power play: Using co-operative power in the influencing process
• Why rational argument doesn’t always work
• The role of feedback to secure commitment

Communicating Change
• A framework and approach for communicating organisational change
• A blueprint for organisational change
• Factors to consider during the communication process
• How will you know if it’s worked?

Role of Emotional Intelligence (EI)in the Communication Process
• Understanding the role of EI in the communication process
• What is EI?
• What is the role of EI in the communication process?
• Elements of EI applicable to effective communications

Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• Tools and tips for handling difficult situations
• Identifying different types of conflict
• Assessing levels of conflict
• Conflict resolution skills - assertion skills, listening, empathy etc.
• Identifying different forms of conflict behaviour
• Characteristics of a win-win scenario
• Negotiation styles - compromise, collaboration, competition, accommodation and withdrawal or avoidance

Course Approach
Through discussing experiences and sharing of ideas, we believe you will gain maximum benefit from this course. Throughout the course, time has been allocated for discussions, simulations and practical activities that allows you to put your learning experiences into practice. You are also welcome to bring your issues and get valuable professional advice and tips from the trainer. 

Facilitator

Donna Andronicos

Donna Andronicos is accredited in Emotional Intelligence and as a Professional Career Coach, Retirement Coach and Life Coach. Coaching and training facilitation are Donna’s twin passions and she has worked with individuals and teams over the last 8 years to help them to develop their capability, clarify their direction and overcome barriers to enable them to achieve their personal and professional goals.
 
Working with both private and public sector organisations in the UK and New Zealand over the last 22 years, she brings a wealth of experience to her facilitation from various roles within the Change Management, Leadership and Capability Development and Training arenas with organisations such as Telecom, Fonterra, Forum Corporation, Royal NZ Plunket Society, WINZ and The National Bank.
 
Donna brings an energetic and interactive style to her facilitation, which engages you at both a personal and professional level and helps you to translate your learning experience to your own work environment and role.

In-house Training

Prices and Registration

* Early bird price available when you register and pay before the dates listed.