The Essential Leadership Communication & Interpersonal Skills Programme

Transcription

1 CommsMasters The Hub, Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1DZ commsmasters.com The Essential Leadership Communication & Interpersonal Skills Programme

2 Programme Structure Programme Structure Page CommsMasters

3 Introduction Introduction (MCP) is an advanced-level skills development programme which builds the communication and interpersonal competence essential for success at senior leadership levels. : Builds the deep self-awareness and self-management required to lead with emotional intelligence, which is proven to increase in importance the more senior the leader s role Establishes the political sensitivity necessary to achieve in today s complex business environment, where leaders must get faster results and work across organisational, cultural and global boundaries Embeds the interpersonal skills that senior leaders must have to gain trust, loyalty and commitment amongst those they lead evidence shows that people do not leave organisations, they leave managers Offers the opportunity to undertake post-graduate qualifications in Leadership Communication, enhancing professional credibility and providing that all-important evidence of advanced competence The programme is specifically designed to meet the needs of: Senior leaders who are already skilled communicators and who have a personal interest in honing that ability so that they can operate at the highest possible levels Senior and mid-level managers whose high level of technical and business acumen is undermined by their communication and interpersonal skills High-potential and emerging talent who are being developed to take up senior leadership roles The programme s structure is practical and work-focussed, and provides personal coaching to ensure the new skills leaders develop are sustained long-term. This focus on practical application is underpinned with academic rigour: The MCP can lead to recognised post-graduate management qualifications from Edinburgh Napier University CommsMasters Page 3

4 Programme Overview Programme Overview Practical Focus The emphasis throughout The MCP is on enabling experienced leaders to harness the power of communication to more quickly and easily achieve their business goals and build their leadership effectiveness. Leaders undertaking this programme are eligible to register for a post-graduate management award in Leadership Communication with the Edinburgh Institute at Edinburgh Napier University, and support for award candidates will be woven into the programme throughout. Personal Support from a Master Communicator Coach Before the programme begins each leader is matched with a Master Communicator Coach (MCC) who works with them throughout the programme. Support includes four one-to-one coaching sessions. At the first meeting with their MCC, which takes place shortly after Workshop One, individuals identify the results they want to realise from their participation in the programme and link these to the real business objectives they have to achieve. Their coach supports them at each stage of the programme to ensure that they stay on track. During formal coaching sessions the MCC helps individuals plan how best to apply the learning from the workshops in their business environment. In addition the MCC provides ad hoc support during the programme so that the individual has the support exactly when they need it. Coaching sessions are carried out online, by telephone and face-to-face. 360 Review and Feedback To understand how others currently experience the leader s interaction with them, at the start of the programme delegates select up to nine individuals whose feedback they would value. These individuals comprise people who hold more senior roles, peers, direct reports and others with whom the leader regularly interacts either within or outside their organisation. Individuals selected to give feedback complete an on-line questionnaire and the results are compiled into a comprehensive feedback report. The MCC discusses this with the leader at their first coaching session, helping them pinpoint the specific areas to develop during. The manager has the opportunity to repeat this process as desired at any stage after completion of the programme. Page CommsMasters

5 Programme Overview Learning through Focussed Workshops The MCP includes workshops on four key topics, each critical to success in today s business environment: Workshop 1 The Politically Astute Communicator Workshop 2 Dialogue That Drives Up Performance Workshop 3 Building Board-Level Influence Workshop 4 Difficult People and Difficult Conversations Workshops are held at six-weekly intervals and build in complexity as each different type of interaction is explored. Workshop content is included on pages 7-11 of this document. The combination of input, practice and feedback that each workshop comprises enables leaders to build the highly sophisticated understanding of communication that is required in business today, and the advanced skill levels to apply it. Each workshop introduces practical tools and techniques, and explains the theoretical concepts that underpin them and make them so effective. The emphasis on practical application throughout the programme ensures leaders change their behaviours in the short term. This focus embeds these changes for the long term. Interactive sessions with professional role-players from our partner organisation, Impromptu ( ensure that leaders practice their skills in an environment that is extremely close to real-life. The role-players skill in building demanding interactions ensures that each leader is challenged to just the right level during these sessions. The workshop facilitators provide individual feedback during practice sessions, as do fellow participants, so that learners can immediately fine-tune their interactions and experience the effect of doing so. Learning From, and Sharing with, Fellow Participants Working in small groups ensures that there is scope for individual support and attention from the workshop facilitator, while still ensuring enough interaction so that leaders benefit from the wealth of practical experience that others bring. Membership of the Master Communicator Community On completion of the programme leaders become part of The Master Communicator Community, giving them access to a wealth of knowledge. They can keep up-to-date with research and thinking about the most effective communication in business, ensuring they can continue to build their knowledge and skills CommsMasters Page 5

6 Programme Overview In addition, they have the opportunity to take part in Advanced Master Communicator workshops, enabling them to build the communication skills required in complex organisational situations such as leading international teams, facilitating organisational change and working collaboratively. Formal Recognition of the Knowledge and Skills Developed Formal qualifications that demonstrate competence are increasingly valued by both individuals and organisations. They form an essential element of the continuous professional development (CPD) required by most professional bodies, provide organisations and their stakeholders with the assurance that leaders are of the highest professional standard, and are highly motivating for the individuals undertaking them. We are therefore delighted to be partnering with the Edinburgh Institute of Leadership & Management Practice (EILMP) at Edinburgh Napier University ( The Edinburgh Institute is dedicated to improving leadership and management through practice-based learning. As part of Edinburgh Napier University, it has a proud tradition of dealing with the practical realities that business leaders face on a day-to-day basis. Their focus, in common with that of The MCP, is on improving personal and organisational performance in real and measurable ways. Leaders who choose to combine with the associated Edinburgh Institute assessments will have their progress formally assessed so that they can be sure they are achieving a recognised standard of learning and skill in the field of leadership communication. With the support of their MCC and fellow participants, they complete additional elements to demonstrate their learning. These include case study work, practical exercises and a 4,500-word project about how they have applied their communication learning to their practice. Upon successful completion, individuals will be awarded a post-graduate Certificate in Management Practice (Leadership Communication). Those who wish to build their expertise in leadership communication further still can undertake a Diploma in Management Practice (Leadership Communication). They then have option to go on to complete the Masters course, which involves a final piece of research and submission of a dissertation, leading to the award of an MSc in Management Practice (Leadership Communication). Page CommsMasters

7 Workshop 1 Workshop 1 The Politically Astute Communicator Through completing this workshop, leaders: Learn about the core elements present in every human interaction Build self-awareness regarding the way they interact with others in order to engage with them more effectively Find out about simple changes that they can make immediately to increase the impact of their communication with bosses, peers and subordinates Will be able to consciously and consistently manage their responses at all times during any interaction Will use scientific, psychological and systemic tools that will enable them to analyse the different political environments in which they are operating so that they can decide how best to interact in each individual situation Content covered includes: How our cave-dwelling ancestors impact human interaction in the 21st-century organisation The emotional responses that occur at a subconscious level, too often railroading communication with others, and how to manage these The language that instantly increases impact when interacting with others and the commonly used language that undermines it How to read the political environments in which leaders operate and ways to use this information to increase power and impact Techniques to prepare for those conversations that can be planned and how to respond in the moment in a more consciously effective way Why leaders so often end up with resistance, or at best compliance, and how to engage with others to gain their commitment Workshop Approach This workshop takes leaders through the core elements at play in every human interaction, introducing theoretical concepts and new research from the fields of neuroscience, psychology and systems thinking. During the workshop participants take part in practical activities and discussions to build understanding of, and skill in applying, the insights gained. In particular they explore how to use these within the context of their current working environment and the 2013 CommsMasters Page 7

8 Workshop 1 (cont.) conversations they are currently involved with there. They also reflect on their current practices, building their awareness of the ways in which their current style can be developed so that they more effectively interact with others for the benefit of all involved, and ultimately of their organisation as a whole. Workshops 2, 3 and 4 will build on the core elements covered in this workshop. Page CommsMasters

9 Workshop 2 Workshop 2 Dialogue That Drives Up Performance Through completing this workshop, leaders: Explore why dialogue is central to driving up performance Learn to use dialogue as a powerful tool to create clarity and engagement around key business goals Develop advanced skills in holding one-on-one conversations in a way that engages individuals commitment and ability to deliver Build a solid understanding of the key approaches which create and sustain high-performing teams Learn to skilfully handle challenges within their team to confidently overcome conflict and address difficult team dynamics Content covered includes: Flexing the leadership style when to coach and when to direct Creating strategic dialogue to build clarity and increase the pace of delivery Powerful techniques for holding effective one-on-one conversations What makes a high-performing team and what sustains it Confronting the performance gap within teams Confidently addressing difficult team dynamics Workshop Approach In this module leaders build their understanding of the key concepts introduced in Workshop One, with a specific focus on applying this understanding to drive delivery and increase business performance. They focus on building their skills to hold highly effective conversations, either one-on-one or with their team. They also look at the key dialogue tools that will help them to establish a high-performing team and immediately apply these to situations where they need them most. During the two days participants work in small groups, undertaking a number of challenging practice sessions. They receive feedback about their style and approach from the other participants, the workshop facilitator and the professional role-players. The mix of real-time experience, along with a high level of personal support, gives a solid opportunity to build knowledge and develop skills during the workshop CommsMasters Page 9

10 Workshop 3 Workshop 3 Building Board-Level Influence Through completing this workshop, leaders: Take away tools and techniques that enable them to plan an influential conversation and prepare an influential business proposal Save time and energy by targeting their communications effectively when seeking to influence others Reduce the frequency with which they are met with refusal or resistance to their ideas, and maintain a highly influential style when this happens Skilfully handle challenge and resistance so that they build others confidence and trust in them, and the relationships that increase their influence long-term Content covered includes: The difference between manipulation and politically astute influencing A simple structure for presenting a strategic business idea in a way that influences others to buy into it How to calculate the level of commitment that can be expected when seeking to influence others How to tailor recommendations to the specific needs of the key stakeholders Techniques to overcome resistance to ideas and recommendations Why it is more important to reduce costs than to emphasise benefits if we want others to buy into our ideas How to see No simply as valuable information that increases influence, rather than the end of the line Words to use and those to avoid in order to immediately build influence Workshop Approach Over the two days participants work in small groups to plan and carry out a serious of strategic interactions where they are seeking to influence others. They work with professional role-players from Impromptu. They receive feedback about their influencing style from other participants, the Master Communicator facilitator and the role-players, throughout both days of the workshop. Working in small groups, with a maximum of six participants in each, allows for a high level of personal feedback as well as the opportunity to practise knowledge and skills during at least two interactive sessions. Page CommsMasters

11 Workshop 4 Workshop 4 Difficult People & Difficult Conversations Through completing this workshop, leaders: Build competence in handling the tough conversations that research shows 90% of leaders either avoid or handle ineffectively Plan and practise how to handle the conversations that they personally find most challenging Take away techniques that enable them to begin tough conversations in a direct and constructive way Have the skill and flexibility to handle any response from others confidently and constructively Source: Performance Coaching International, Coaching at Work, 2008 Content covered includes: Ways in which people unconsciously make conversations difficult before the dialogue has even begun A four-step planning process when preparing for a tough conversation How to handle discomfort in order to maintain a constructive approach and manage emotional responses before, during and after tough conversations The reasons why people tend to deal with tough conversations badly, and techniques to avoid these The ways in which individuals mess up the beginning of difficult conversations, resulting in unintended, negative outcomes that make the situation worse How to handle other people s anger, fear and tears Workshop Approach This fourth and final workshop draws together all the material covered during the first three sessions, enabling participants to apply this in even the toughest discussions, whether with groups or with individuals. Day one is largely about practise, exploring the range of scenarios that leaders typically find most challenging and building skill levels to handle these confidently. Leaders work in small groups to examine these difficult scenarios, planning how to approach them effectively and then practising the conversation through work with our professional role-play partners. The final day of this workshop and of the workshop series provides the opportunity for individuals to explore how to apply all their learning to the toughest conversations that they face in the workplace, and are either currently avoiding or would like to handle more effectively CommsMasters Page 11

12 Post-Graduate Qualifications Post-Graduate Qualifications Post-graduate Certificate in Management Practice (Leadership Communication) To achieve the post-graduate Certificate, leaders: Complete as outlined above Prepare a portfolio of their learning, explaining its relevance to their practice Prepare a report which evidences how they have applied their leadership communication learning to their practice and which critically analyses how this has developed them as leaders Make a presentation about their learning and its application The post-graduate Certificate is completed over a seven-month period. Post-graduate Diploma in Management Practice (Leadership Communication) Those who wish to build their expertise in leadership communication further still can undertake a Diploma in Management Practice (Leadership Communication). They then have option to go on to complete the Masters course, leading to the award of an MSc in Management Practice (Leadership Communication). To achieve the post-graduate Diploma, leaders: Complete the post-graduate Certificate programme as outlined above Participate in three additional workshops that explore how to harness the power of communication to achieve more in complex organisational settings (the specific topics covered are detailed on pages 13-19) Complete a written evaluation of an incident or project that links to their organisation s wider strategic and environmental context, drawing on the tools, techniques and theories studied in the workshops Explore in-depth a topic relevant to their practice and produce a report of recommendations as to how the organisation could improve, including a reflective commentary on their learning and its application Develop an action plan for the implementation of two of the recommendations identified in their second report The post-graduate Diploma is completed over an 18-month period (including the Certificate element). Page CommsMasters

13 Post-Graduate Qualifications MSc in Management Practice (Leadership Communication) Successful completion of the post-graduate Diploma in Management Practice gives managers the option to undertake a final piece of research and prepare a dissertation to complete a Masters in Management Practice awarded by Edinburgh Napier University CommsMasters Page 13

14 Contact Us Contact Us To find out more about or any of our other services, please contact: Tor Justad Programme Manager // // CommsMasters The Hub, Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1DZ CommsMasters is a division of Campbell McWilliams Consulting Ltd. Page CommsMasters