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Course Outline

Foundations of Communication

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

Exercise/Case Study

Decoding Communication

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

Exercise/Case Study

Adapting Communication Styles

  • Selecting appropriate communication styles based on context
  • Learning to respond rather than react
  • Open, leading, and closed questions
  • The Funnel technique
  • Understanding values
  • Questioning techniques to uncover values and build relationships

Exercise/Case Study

Managing Resistance

  • Identifying causes of resistance
  • Strategies for handling resistance
  • Practical six-step guide
  • Conflict management
  • Handling difficult situations with emotional intelligence
  • Presenting your case effectively while considering others' values

Exercise/Case Study

Addressing Communication Breakdowns

  • Common examples and reasons for frequent failure
  • The Ladder of Inference
  • Top-down, bottom-up, or 360-degree approaches
  • Collaborative versus dictatorial styles
  • Selecting the optimal style and understanding its advantages

Exercise/Case Study

Integrating Skills

  • Providing feedback
  • Questioning & Listening
  • Asking powerful questions
  • Conveying the key message
  • Making effective requests
  • Promises: blessing or curse?
  • Strategies for continuous improvement in communication

Exercise/Case Study

The Art & Skill of Persuasion

Understanding Persuasion

  • Attributes of a successful persuader
  • Essential qualities for influencing others
  • Influencing and persuading without manipulation
  • Defining persuasion and influence
  • Principles of effective influence
  • Self-belief, confidence & assertiveness
  • Understanding push and pull persuasion styles
  • Persuasion psychology: Basics

Example/Exercise

Preparing for Persuasion

  • Building trust
  • "Mocking Bird" Theory
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Establishing trust and rapport
  • Discovering others' needs through listening and questioning
  • Perception: How you view situations vs. how others view you

Example/Exercise

Exploring Others' Perspectives

  • Setting clear objectives for your engagement
  • Effective questioning techniques
  • Recognizing values and motivations of others
  • Refining listening skills and overcoming barriers to active listening
  • Identifying individual filters and overcoming them
  • The power of positive thinking in preparation

Example/Exercise

Communication Style

  • Selecting appropriate communication styles based on context
  • 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

Overcoming Resistance

  • Selecting a level of assertiveness without compromising others' values
  • Applying a practical 6-step influence model
  • Using FAB to align with customer needs
  • Conflict management: Handling difficult situations without emotion
  • Presenting your case with impact, respecting others' values

Example/Exercise

Persuasive Case Presentation

  • Presenting at the optimal stage
  • Adopting effective strategies
  • Stating your case assertively and convincingly
  • Knowing your audience
  • Gathering content
  • The 10/80/10 rule for structuring presentations
  • Delivery techniques

Example/Exercise

Handling Objections

  • Identifying common objections
  • Pre-empting objections
  • Developing appropriate responses

Example/Exercise

Negotiation Skills for Finance Professionals

Introductions

  • The negotiation process
  • Negotiation objectives
  • Communication skills of an effective negotiator
  • Assessing information
  • Establishing parameters
  • Understanding the "win-win" outcome

Case Study/Discussion Point

The "Interests"

  • Understanding interests
  • Difference between positions and interests
  • Identifying and prioritizing your interests
  • Common mistakes in handling interests
  • When is negotiation advisable?
  • Elements of effective negotiation

Case Study/Discussion Point

The "Options"

  • Generating and evaluating potential options
  • Identifying your ideal outcome
  • Common errors in option generation

Case Study/Discussion Point

Understanding Negotiation Outcomes

  • Evaluating options
  • Predicting the endpoint
  • Deciding between a "win" or compromise
  • Setting clear objectives
  • Knowing when to walk away

Case Study/Discussion Point

The Negotiating Process

  • Making proposals and exchanging concessions
  • Breaking deadlocks
  • Agreeing on remedies
  • Understanding the negotiator’s role
  • Key stages of the process
  • Giving information
  • Reading signals
  • Creating a plan
  • Reviewing assumptions
  • Navigating the meeting/discussion process
  • Probing for deeper 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 – limitations of electronic media

Live Practice

  • Simulations
  • Debrief

Presentation Skills for Finance Professionals

The Essentials - The Presenter - You

  • Conducting essential checks
  • Projecting the right image
  • Using words, tone, and body language
  • Leveraging vocal qualities
  • Acknowledging and overcoming nervousness
  • Using relaxation techniques
  • Using mannerisms and gestures to enhance impact
  • Qualities of a successful presenter

Example/Exercise

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

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

Example/Exercise

The Essentials – The Audience – Who Will You Be Speaking To

  • Knowing your audience to develop appealing presentations
  • Building rapport
  • Gaining and keeping audience support
  • Working with questions
  • Handling difficult individuals
  • Understanding group dynamics

Example/Exercise

Next Step – Delivery Methods

  • Basic methods
  • Advanced methods
  • Basic criteria to consider
  • Selecting appropriate communication styles based on context
  • Listening and Hearing: Distinctions
  • Asking questions
  • Communicating with power

Example/Exercise

Next Step – Communication Skills

  • Defining communication
  • Mental preparation
  • Physical relaxation techniques
  • Projecting confidence
  • Non-Verbal Communication Skills
  • Body language
  • 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

  • Incorporating humor
  • Engaging with questions
  • Encouraging discussion
  • Handling questions effectively
  • Creating effective Flip Charts
  • Developing Compelling PowerPoint Presentations
  • WOW your Audience
  • Vibrant Videos and Amazing Audio

Example/Exercise

What is Mediation

  • Standard definition
  • Mediation in practice
  • Effective vs. ineffective mediation
  • SWOT analysis
  • Goals of mediation
  • Reaching a compromise
  • Win-Win – Is it always possible?
  • Bridging the gap between avoidance and formal action

Exercise/Case Study

Understanding Mediation

  • Principles of Mediation
  • Capabilities and achievements
  • Appropriate contexts
  • When is mediation inappropriate?
  • Strategic approach
  • Alternative dispute resolution practices
  • HR Policies: Help or hindrance in conflict?

Exercise/Case Study

Preparing for Mediation

  • Essential skills
  • Critical discussions
  • Understanding conflict behavior
  • Identifying issues
  • Exploring compromise
  • Least worst outcome
  • BATNA/WATNA
  • Setting 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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