How tailored Persuading & Influencing training improved clients relations at the IDeA
The IDeA works for local government improvement so councils can serve people and places better. IDeA consultants deal with council clients all over England and get involved with people at senior levels including chief executives, senior managers and councillors. So the ability to understand, communicate and explain proposals to these groups is an essential skill. As part of the organisation's Core Curriculum Programme it recently offered IDeA consultants Persuading & Influencing training, tailored to the organisation and delivered in-house by Reed Learning.
Objective
IDeA consultants required training in persuading & influencing skills that was closely tailored to the needs of the organisation. The content needed to be easily applicable back at work, and provide a broad range of skills that anyone could dip into when faced with situations requiring them to persuade convincingly.
Solution
Reed Learning delivered a series of persuading & influencing workshops to IDeA employees as well as representatives from other central bodies organisations. Specifically the programme covered:
- Insights into how to convey ideas more clearly
- Tips on improving the way ideas are presented and understanding the information needs of other people
- Simple ways to enhance persuasive powers
- Tools to use in meetings to add credibility to ideas
- Ways to become more aware of tone, body language and communication style
The programmes was designed to be highly experiential and active. The approach to the subject focussed on translating what people may already know into actions that can be put into place in the workplace. This course provided quick aid and useful tools to help them do this.
Result
"The Reed Learning ‘persuading and influencing skills’ course was different from other courses I’ve attended. Its scope was broader than just ‘persuading and influencing’ – covering a range of communication skills, including a number of tools for use not just at work, but in everyday life. I didn’t leave feeling as though I needed to remember a list of techniques, more like I’d learned and practiced new ways to behave." Jess O’Brien, Consultant- Children, Adults & Health Services, IDeA
The trainer selected had worked extensively within public sector organisations and could therefore build in relevant examples and anecdotes to ground the training in a real setting for the delegates.
"We chose the in-house approach for this course as we wanted the training tailored to the context and issues and challenges facing the IDeA. Astrid, the trainer, has been excellent and the course has been well-received by delegates." Richard Browne, HR Business Partner (Learning & Development)