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Course Outline

What is Communication

  • Different communication styles
  • Communication flow
  • Framing conversations
  • Non-verbal communication: Definitions & principles
  • Written communication
  • Telephone etiquette and skills

Exercise/Case Study

Understanding Communication

  • Characteristics of a successful communicator
  • Essential qualities for effective communication
  • Defining persuasion and influence
  • Self-belief, confidence & assertiveness
  • Push and pull communication styles
  • Framing communication strategies

Exercise/Case Study

Communication Style

  • Adapting a range of communication styles to suit the context
  • Learning to respond thoughtfully, rather than react impulsively
  • Open, leading, and closed questions
  • The Funnel technique
  • Understanding core values
  • Questioning techniques to uncover values and build relationships

Exercise/Case Study

Overcoming resistance

  • Causes of resistance
  • Strategies for managing resistance
  • A practical six-step guide
  • Conflict management
  • Handling challenging situations without emotional involvement
  • Presenting your argument with impact while respecting others' values

Exercise/Case Study

Poor Communication

  • Common examples and reasons for frequent occurrence
  • The Ladder of Inference
  • Top-down, bottom-up, or 360-degree communication
  • Collaborative versus dictatorial approaches
  • Selecting the optimal style and understanding why it is effective

Exercise/Case Study

Putting it all Together

  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Questioning & active listening
  • Asking powerful questions
  • Conveying the key message effectively
  • Making effective requests
  • Promises: blessing or curse?
  • Strategies for continuous improvement in communication skills

Exercise/Case Study

The Art & Skill of Persuasion

Understanding Persuasion

  • Characteristics of a successful persuader
  • Essential qualities for effective persuasion
  • Influencing and persuading, distinct from manipulation
  • Defining persuasion and influence
  • Principles of effective influence
  • Self-belief, confidence & assertiveness
  • Understanding push and pull persuasion styles
  • The psychology of persuasion: fundamentals

Example/Exercise

Preparing to persuade

  • Building trust
  • The "Mocking Bird" Theory
  • Non-verbal communication cues
  • Establishing trust and rapport
  • Discovering others' wants or needs through listening and questioning
  • Perception: how you view situations versus how others perceive you

Example/Exercise

Explore what others want

  • Defining clear objectives for the persuasion effort
  • Effective questioning techniques
  • Recognizing the values and motivations of others
  • Honing listening skills and overcoming barriers to active listening
  • Identifying individual 'filters' and strategies to overcome them
  • The power of positive thinking: preparing for persuasion discussions

Example/Exercise                    

Communication Style

  • Selecting the appropriate communication style based on the situation
  • Learning to respond, rather than react
  • Open, leading, and closed questions.
  • The Funnel questioning technique.
  • Understanding values and persuading around them
  • Questioning techniques to uncover values and build relationships

Example/Exercise             

Overcome resistance

  • Selecting one of six assertiveness levels without compromising others' values
  • Applying a practical six-step Influence Model
  • Using FAB (Features, Advantages, Benefits) to match customer needs
  • Managing conflict: handling difficult situations without emotion
  • Presenting your case with impact, considering others' values

Example/Exercise                    

State your case persuasively

  • Presenting at the appropriate stage.
  • Adopting strategies that resonate with you
  • Stating your case assertively and convincingly.
  • Knowing your audience
  • Gathering relevant content
  • The 10/80/10 rule for structuring presentations
  • Delivering a compelling presentation

Example/Exercise    

Handling Objections

  • Identifying frequently encountered objections.
  • Pre-empting objections.
  • Developing appropriate responses.

Example/Exercise

Negotiation Skills for Finance Professionals

Introductions

  • The negotiation process
  • Negotiation objectives
  • Communication skills of the effective negotiator
  • Assessing information
  • Establishing parameters
  • Defining the 'win-win' outcome

Case Study/Discussion Point

The 'Interests'

  • Interests overview
  • Difference between positions and interests
  • Identifying and prioritizing your own interests
  • Common mistakes when handling interests
  • When is negotiation advisable?
  • Elements of an effective negotiation

Case Study/Discussion Point

The 'Options'

  • Generating and evaluating possible options
  • Identifying your ideal outcome
  • Common errors in generating options

Case Study/Discussion Point

Understanding Negotiation Outcomes

  • Evaluating the options
  • Projecting the likely conclusion
  • Determining if there is a 'win' or if a compromise is preferable
  • Setting clear objectives
  • Being willing to concede when it makes sense

Case Study/Discussion Point

The Negotiating Process

  • Making proposals and managing concessions
  • Breaking deadlock
  • Agreeing on a remedy
  • Understanding the negotiator's role
  • Key stages of the process
  • Giving information
  • Reading signals
  • Developing a plan.
  • Reviewing assumptions
  • Navigating the meeting/discussion process
  • Probing to deepen understanding
  • Reaching agreement

Case Study/Discussion Point

Challenges

  • Different personality types
  • Behavioral approaches & body language
  • Deadlocks, standstills & concessions
  • Tricks, traps & tactics
  • When & where to negotiate: electronic media are often not ideal

Live Practice

  • Simulations 
  • Debrief

Presentation Skills for Finance Professionals

The Essentials - The Presenter - You

  • Conducting 'essential checks'
  • Presenting the 'right' image
  • Using words, tone, and body language effectively
  • Leveraging the qualities of your voice
  • Acknowledging and overcoming nerves
  • Using relaxation techniques
  • Enhancing impact through mannerisms and gestures
  • Qualities of a successful presenter

Example/Exercise

The Essentials – The Material – What Are You Going to Say

  • Performing a needs analysis
  • Drafting the basic outline
  • Researching, writing, and editing
  • Establishing a clear purpose
  • Using successful information gathering techniques
  • Choosing the best route through your material
  • Identifying key points
  • Creating strong openings and closings
  • Understanding the pros and cons of different visual aids
  • Making your content big, bold, and brilliant

Example/Exercise

The Essentials – The Audience – Who Will You be Saying it To

  • Knowing your audience to develop appealing presentations
  • Building rapport
  • Keeping them engaged and on your side
  • Working with questions
  • Handling difficult people
  • Understanding group dynamics

Example/Exercise

Next Step – Delivery Methods

  • Basic methods
  • Advanced methods
  • Basic criteria to consider
  • Choosing from a range of communication styles depending upon the situation
  • Listening and Hearing: They aren't the same thing
  • Asking questions
  • Communicating with power

Example/Exercise

Next Step – Communication Skills

  • Defining Communication
  • Mental preparation
  • Physical relaxation techniques
  • Projecting confidence in front of the crowd
  • Non-Verbal Communication Skills
  • Body language
  • The signals you send to others
  • It's not WHAT you say, It's HOW you say it
  • Presenting your case with impact,

Example/Exercise

Perfecting your skills

  • Injecting humor
  • Asking the audience questions
  • Encouraging discussion
  • Dealing with questions
  • Creating Fantastic Flip Charts
  • Creating Compelling PowerPoint Presentations
  • WOW your Audience
  • Vibrant Videos and Amazing Audio

Example/Exercise

What is Mediation

  • Textbook definition
  • Mediation in practice
  • Effective and ineffective mediation
  • A SWOT analysis
  • The goals of mediation
  • Reaching a compromise
  • WinWin – is this always possible
  • Plugging the gap between avoidance and formal action

Exercise/Case Study

Understanding Mediation

  • The principles of Mediation
  • What can it achieve.
  • When is it appropriate
  • Are there times when mediation is inappropriate
  • Taking a strategic approach
  • Alternative dispute resolution practices
  • HR Policies: help or hindrance in conflict situations

Exercise/Case Study

Preparing for Mediation

  • Essential skills.
  • Critical discussions
  • Understanding why people behave the way they do in conflict
  • Identifying the issues
  • Exploring potential compromises
  • Least worst outcome
  • BATNA/WATNA
  • Setting the parameters

Exercise/Case Study

Mediation

  • Structuring the process
  • Creating a 'safe' environment
  • Building rapport and trust
  • Maintaining impartiality
  • Facilitating win-win outcomes
  • Managing destructive conflict
  • Resolving deadlock
  • Engaging resistant parties constructively
  • Closing the mediation
  • Confirming the outcome
  • Selecting alternatives
  • Follow-up and review mechanisms

Exercise/Case Study

 35 Hours

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