Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation

Course Introduction

Political savviness is about influence, shrewdness, and practical knowledge. It is also about good communication and the ability to make sound judgements. Understanding the bases of power is essential for anyone who wishes to be successful in their position, organisation, and career.

This Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation training course is your passport to maximise your influence in any organisation. You will learn to develop essential skills and competencies in transformational leadership, power, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder engagement.

This Oxford Management Centre training course will highlight:

• Developing savviness and making good decisions
• Analyse different types of influencing tactics and when to use them
• The stakeholder engagement process
• Developing negotiation and communication strategies to influence others
• Practical decision-making tools

Objectives

By the end of this Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation training course, participants will learn to:

• Describe approaches to stakeholder management
• Discuss the primary methods for political savviness
• Analyse the appropriate negotiation techniques for different stakeholders
• Apply communication theory to stakeholder management
• List ways to improve decision making

Training Methodology

Participants in this training course will receive thorough training on the subjects covered by the training course outline. The Tutor will utilise various proven adult learning teaching and facilitation techniques. Training course methodology includes a range of engaging, practical exercises, and activities. There will be practical sessions where participants can participate and experience topics. Small group work, exercises, videos, case studies and feedback will all be used to facilitate learning.

Organisational Impact

Specific benefits to the organisation include:

• Practical methodologies that can help improve leadership and management
• Staff promoting best practices in negotiation
• Less conflict between people
• Improved stakeholder engagement
• Operational efficiencies improved, leading to better organisational performance

Personal Impact

By attending this training course, participants will gain the benefits which include:

• Enhanced skills in savviness
• Better negotiation and communication skills
• Improved shrewdness and practical knowledge
• The ability to make sound judgements
• Development of practical and transferable skills

Who Should Attend?

This Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will benefit:

• Managers, and leaders in any organisation who want to develop their political savviness
• Those interested in developing appropriate power relationships
• People who wish to develop their competencies in the topics covered

Course Outline

DAY 1

Understanding and Applying Political Savvy

• Overview of Political Savviness for the Workplace
• Understanding the Nature of Power
• Bases of Power
• Methods for Influence
• Common Errors When Seeking to Influence Others
  

DAY 2

Identifying and Engaging with Stakeholders

• Understanding Stakeholder Engagement
• The Stakeholder Engagement Process
• Identifying your Stakeholders
• Key documents for Stakeholder Management (Register, Matrix, Strategy)
• Stakeholder Management Strategy

DAY 3

The Psychology of Effective Communication

• Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Significant Barriers to Effective Communication and Removing these Barriers
• Discovering Active Listening and Effective Questioning
• Understanding Body Language
• Attending Skills in Communication: The SOLER Model

DAY 4

Negotiating for Success  

• The Negotiating Environment
• Getting to Yes
• Zones of Potential Agreement and BATNA
• Negotiation Methods, Tools, and Techniques
• Understanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

DAY 5

Successful Decision Making

• Decision-making Processes & Techniques
• Steps to Making an Effective Decision
• Determine the Appropriate Way of Making the Decision
• Vroom-Jago Decision Model and Leadership Styles
• Make Choices Involving Multiple Factors (Grid Analysis, Nominal Group Technique)