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
Testimonials (3)
The excercises were really fun
Jakub - AXA XL
Course - Business Communication Skills
Charisma of trainer and knowledge.
Bartosz - AXA XL
Course - Business Communication Skills
Open atmosphere without judgment