2679 Design courses delivered Live Online

Understand how to effectively manage conflict and learn that conflict can be healthy and need not damage relationships. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COURSE OVERVIEW Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) Conflict and differences of opinion are inevitable in the today’s fast moving, complex business world, some would argue they are even necessary. This highly interactive and practical course addresses the many aspects of effectively managing conflict and will help you ensure that conflict can be healthy and need not damage the relationship. This workshop has been specifically designed to give you an opportunity to learn and test a range of influencing and conflict handling models and techniques. The course is aimed at anyone who interacts with others on a regular basis. OBJECTIVES  By the end of the course you will be able to: * Utilise influencing skills to pre-empt and defuse conflict * Resolve conflict by choosing the right approach * Recognise the impact of non-verbal communication in managing conflict * Use language skills necessary to get you message across in the ‘right’ way * Present your case in a reasonable and responsible manner * Identify behaviours that can help or hinder interactions with others * Apply different techniques for managing conflict positively and for dealing with aggression CONTENT DEVELOPING INFLUENCE  * Networking * Sources of influence * Influencing techniques EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOUR * Choosing the right approach * Techniques to pre-empt or defuse conflict * Behavioural styles and their impact on working relationships * Triggers to aggressive behaviour * Managing conflict flash points * Dealing with different behaviour types DEVELOPING SKILLS   * Communication skills in conflict situations * Using the right language * Verbal and non verbal communications * Managing our body language * Your conflict management style analysis * Thomas Killman Conflict Handling Instrument * Working in groups * Practical exercises and case studies * The language of mediation * Transactional Analysis PRACTICAL * Practical exercises * Case studies * Personal action planning

Learn the skills, knowledge and have the confidence to tackle difficult conversations in a productive way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course overview Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) Do you worry about how to give negative feedback or deal with performance issues? Are you concerned about giving bad news? This workshop is designed to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle these scenarios in a productive way. If you are a people manager, team leader or supervisor looking to make those challenging conversations less stressful and more effective, this workshop is for you. Lots of practical sessions will ensure you have the opportunity to relate your learning to your real life work situations. The one day session will use professional actors in the afternoon so that you can practice handling real-life challenging conversations. Objectives  By the end of the course you will be able to: * Deal with a wide range of challenging conversations * Describe the preferred behavioural style for giving feedback * State the most appropriate influencing technique to use in your situations * Explain how to give successful constructive feedback CONTENT WHAT ARE CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS * What type of challenging conversations occur? * Why do we find them challenging? COMMUNICATION  * Practical exercise to demonstrate and act as a refresher of the fundamentals of communication * Barriers to communication especially in a difficult discussion CHOOSING THE RIGHT BEHAVIOURAL STYLE * Refresher of assertiveness and why it is important in this context * Practical exercise demonstrating how behaviour breeds behaviour, and the impact of choosing an inappropriate style * Steps to using assertive behaviour INFLUENCING * Cialdini’s model for influence * How to use influencing techniques in handling challenging conversations * Practical application FEEDBACK  * Understanding feedback – positive vs. negative * Using the ABCBC model for feedback * Using the basics of emotional intelligence to give effective feedback * Practical application PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES * Professional actors will work with you in small groups in the afternoon to practice real-life challenging conversations.

Learn the skills and mindset to become a business partner, align your expertise with the organisational goals, drive growth, and shape the future of your company. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COURSE OVERVIEW Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) This is a highly interactive and practical course which will help you to understand the role of Business Partnering and the key skills needed to be successful in the role. The course is designed specifically to give you an opportunity to explore the role and test a range of techniques to improve your strategic working as well as your influencing and relationship building skills. This course is aimed at individuals who work cross-functionally and with other people to achieve business results and is particularly helpful for those who engage frequently with senior managers and executives. OBJECTIVES  By the end of the course you will be able to: * Describe the role of Business Partner and the benefit to the business * Develop stronger engagement with all internal and external stakeholders * Influence without authority * Build positive relationships * Handle robust conversations * Be forward thinking, not reactive * Act as a change agent * Communicate with confidence and credibility CONTENT UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE BUSINESS PARTNER  * What is Business Partnering from an individual, departmental and business view * Using a psychometric test to look at where your strengths are and how you can use them effectively in the role DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS * Creating a powerful first impression. * Communication skills * Understanding different communication styles * Being more proactive in developing key relationships * Stakeholder engagement * Presenting ideas in a confident and articulate way * Understanding and developing trust * Connecting with people * Networking INFLUENCING AND NEGOTIATING   * Influencing and persuading others * Dealing with conflict and difficult conversations * Becoming a trusted advisor/Business Partner * Advanced questioning skills and techniques to get to the root of a problem STRATEGIC THINKING * Develop the mind-set and strategic capability to play a more proactive leading role in the business

> An accredited qualification to prepare supervisors and team leaders for a > future management role. This programme gives Team Leaders & Managers the skills, disciplines and confidence to manage their team effectively and add a great deal more value to the organisation - where they have to apply their learning in order to achieve the highly coveted ILM qualification. In order for a business to obtain maximum results, it is important that employees are motivated and supported in their job roles. It is the responsibility of the team leader or supervisor to lead their team effectively and present feedback to management. This 3-day programme will guarantee to boost your performance as a team leader and help you make the transition from working in a team to leading a team. We use a combination of theory and practical to help you develop yourself, and a toolkit of resources to use in the workplace. This is an internationally accredited course which not only carries kudos but it ensures you apply the learning back into the workplace for an immediate impact. All of our ILM Programmes are provided in partnership with BCF Group Limited [https://www.thebcfgroup.co.uk/management-training/ilm-level-2-award-in-leadership-and-team-skills.php], which is the ILM Approved Centre we deliver under. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Syllabus The syllabus of the ILM Level 2 Award in Leadership and Team Skills course is split into three main modules, covering the following: Module One Developing Yourself as a Team Leader * Learning the various roles, functions and responsibilities of a team leader - depending on workplace * Recognising limits of authority and accountability, and how these are defined * Developing personal skills and abilities for effective team leading * Using reflective learning skills to improve performance * Identifying areas of strength and possible improvement * Finding ways of obtaining feedback from others * Receiving and responding positively to feedback Module Two Workplace Communications * Learning stages in the communication process * Consideration of the recipient's needs * Spotting barriers to communication and how to overcome them * Establishing a range of direct communication methods relevant to the team * Collating a range of direct communication methods relevant to people outside own area of responsibility. This includes written, telephone, e-mail and face-to-face * Recognising the aspects of face-to-face communication, including appearance, impact, body language * Realising the importance of succinct and accurate records of one-to-one oral communication * Reasons for maintaining records of one-to-one communication (e.g. potential disciplinary or legal issues) Module Three Managing Yourself * Setting SMART objectives and using them to prioritise own actions * Learning simple time management techniques * Developing an awareness of own skills and abilities * Giving yourself personal objectives in relation to team objectives * Developing flexibility and responding to daily changing circumstances * Diagnosing the causes and impacts of stress at work * Identifying symptoms of stress in yourself * Knowing the implications of stress for workplace and non-work activities/relationships * Developing simple stress management techniques * Available sources of support * Action planning and review techniques -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACCREDITATION As with all ILM accredited programmes, participants will need to complete the post-programme activity in order to achieve their full ILM Level 2 Award in Team Leading. This element is designed to show to ILM that you are able to apply what you have learned in the workplace. WHO IS IT FOR? This programme is ideal for practising or aspiring team leaders, in any industry sector, who is looking to gain a solid foundation or develop their existing skills as a team leader. This internationally recognised course will give you a solid understanding of what is needed to be a successful team leader, how to delegate, motivate and how to implement these skills in to your work place. WHAT WILL I LEARN? At the end of the course, successful candidates will: * Have a good understanding of the team leader role * Apply a range of effective communication skills to overcome barriers * Know how to motivate, build confidence and gain the best from their teams * Identify, build and encourage effective team behaviours * Apply practical skills and knowledge to be transferred to the workplace * Gain an internationally recognised qualification WHAT IS REQUIRED? There are no formal entry requirements, but participants will normally be either practising or aspiring team leaders, with the opportunity to meet the assessment demands and have a background that will enable them to benefit from the programme. SCHEDULED COURSES Unfortunately this course is not one that is currently scheduled as an open course, and is only available on an in-house basis. For more information about running this course in-house at your premises, please contact us for more information.

Some people naturally possess an ability to sell and others over time develop their own style. We have created a highly practical course to give you the confidence and ability to sell over the phone or face to face. We focus the exercises, theory and discussion on your own job role and experiences to ensure you can return to the workplace to deliver tangible results. This 2-day course is designed for individuals who are new to selling, those in a sales role but have not received any formal training, or professionals who would like to brush up and enhance their current selling skills and learn some new techniques. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Syllabus The syllabus of the Essential Selling Skills course is comprised of seven modules, covering the following: Module One Understanding the Customer * The importance of good customer care * Selling vs. selling attitude * The reasons people buy * Adopting a positive approach Module Two Self-Awareness * Understanding your selling style * Adapting your selling style to your customer * Understanding your customers buying style Module Three Effective Communication and Rapport Building * Why does communication need to be effective? * Actively listening to your customers' needs * Right question at the right time * The impact of positive and emotive language Module Four Taking a Consultative Approach * Different styles of selling * Taking a consultative approach to selling * Preparation techniques * Buyer behaviour and motivation * A selling approach to match the buyers mind Module Five Presenting the Solution * Selling the benefits * Sales tool kit * Unique sales points * Advanced questioning techniques Module Six Gaining Commitment * Recognising and acting upon buying signals * Dealing with customers concerns * No means no? * How to cope in stressful situations Module Seven Confirming the Sale * Confirming or closing? * Effective confirming techniques * Going the extra mile -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFITS FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL This course will increase your confidence and ability to sell, having provided you with tools and techniques to achieve maximum results. Delegates always leave with fresh ideas, energy and motivation to succeed. FOR AN EMPLOYER The attitude of the delegates and the results they deliver will speak for themselves. All techniques are easy to apply back into the workplace for an immediate impact. WHAT WILL I LEARN? By the end of the course, participants will be able to: * Appreciate the need for preparation before a sales appointment * Effectively identify and meet needs with advanced questioning techniques * Identify verbal and non-verbal buying signals * Construct professional answers to questions and possible objections * Present your products and/or services with the buyer in mind * Identify and use a selling style appropriate to capture the buyer's attention * Recognise and overcome major objection types * How to apply effective confirmation techniques with the buyer in mind REAL PLAY OPTION We offer an innovative solution to engage the learners and bring real negotiation and closing scenarios to life. We use actors who improvise scenarios which have been specified by the group. * The group is split the group into 2 sub-groups, one with the actor, the other with the trainer. * Each group has a brief and has to instruct their trainer/actor on how to approach the scenario supplied. * The actor and trainer perform the role play(s) as instructed by their respective teams; however during the action they can be paused for further recommendations or direction. * The outcome is the responsibility of the team(s) - not the performers. SCHEDULED COURSES This course is not one that is currently scheduled as an open course, and is only available on an in-house basis. For more information please contact us.

Look at some of the more advanced planning features available in Project. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COURSE OVERVIEW Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) Our Project – Advanced Planning and Control course looks at advanced planning and resourcing techniques in Microsoft Project and how to customise your schedule to give better visibility and flexibility. The course is designed for experienced users of Project who have attended our Project Planning and Control introduction course or have equivalent knowledge.  You must be confident using Project to build and resource schedules and create task dependencies. OBJECTIVES  By the end of the course you will be able to: * Work with different types of task * Amend resource load on a task * Work with multiple resource rates * Create custom tables * Add custom fields * Create calculated fields * Add drop down lists in fields * Filter and extract information * Create new views * Export information CONTENT Advanced planning techniques   * Splitting tasks * Task types * Spreading work across activities ADVANCED RESOURCING TECHNIQUES   * Resource types * Assignment views * Effective dates * Work contours * Overtime work * Using multiple resource rates CREATING CUSTOM TABLES   * Customising tables * Adding fields CREATING CUSTOM FIELDS * Adding text, number, date and time fields * Using flag fields * Defining pick lists * Renaming custom fields CREATING CALCULATED FIELDS   * Creating formulas * Using graphical indicators UPLOADING AND TRACKING PROGRESS   * Completing work * Completing work per resource * Updating tasks * Updating the project * Working with the status date * Rescheduling work * Viewing baseline against schedule * Project overview statistics WORKING WITH FILTERS   * Building standard filters * Building interactive filters * Task and resource filters * Using highlight filters CREATING CUSTOM VIEWS   * Creating customised views * Customising text styles * Using grouping techniques EXPORTING INFORMATION   * Exporting to Excel

Learn how to use this innovative tool to analyse and validate your schedule, to add and model uncertainty and risk and to work with updated plans to compare project progress. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COURSE OVERVIEW Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) This course looks at the powerful features of Nodes and Links.  It looks at analysing and validating your schedule, adding uncertainty and risk and working with updated plans to compare project progress. Hands on practice will be gained throughout the course to ensure you can confidentially put your new skills into practice back in the workplace. This course is designed for new users of Nodes and links, no previous experience is required.  You should however be familiar with risk management processes and terminology. OBJECTIVES  By the end of the course you will be able to: * Import and validate plans * Analyse and review plans * Add and model uncertainty * Add and model risk * Load updated schedules * Re run analysis on updated schedules CONTENT VALIDATING YOUR PLAN * Importing a baseline plan * Running a health check * Analysing the results REVIEWING THE PLAN * Analysing critical paths * Reviewing activities * Reviewing resources ADDING UNCERTAINTY * Setting uncertainty templates * Distributions * Adding uncertainty * Using Inherit * Using AI * Reviewing activity distributions MODELLING UNCERTAINTY * Running the Analysis * Reviewing the results * Reviewing activity results * Risk Drivers * Filtering for activities SETTING UP THE RISK REGISTER * Setting Risk Templates * Adding Risks to the Risk Register * Independent vs Dependant Events * Setting Probability and Impact MODELLING UNCERTAINTY AND RISK * Mapping risks to activities * Running the Analysis * Reviewing the results UPDATED PLANS * Importing a new plan version * Comparing plans * Tracking progress * Trend analysis ANALYSING UPDATED PLANS * Using updated plans * Synchronising uncertainly and risk * Rerunning analysis

Gain practical skills in influencing and decision-making, perfect for anyone working in team-based or project-focused environments, with interactive, hands-on learning. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COURSE OVERVIEW Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) This is a highly interactive and practical course which will help you to use influencing and decision making techniques. This workshop has been specifically designed to give you an opportunity to learn and test a range of influencing and decision making models and techniques. The course is aimed at anyone who interacts with others on a regular basis, especially those in project management disciplines, multi disciplinary, matrix type organisations where healthy debate and challenge are key to achieving optimum resolutions. OBJECTIVES By the end of the course you will be able to: * Utilise a variety of new techniques to enhance your influencing skills * Recognise the impact of non-verbal communication and use it to enhance influencing behaviours * Use language skills necessary to get your message across in an influential way * Apply different techniques for dealing with aggression * Understand VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguous * Use Perception, Bias, Decision Making and Judgement * Understand personal preferences and approaches to Decision Making * Speed read others approach to decision making * Apply Mindsets, Skillsets and Toolsets for decision making CONTENT WHAT IS INFLUENCING? * Sources of power * Influencing skills * Choosing the right approach DEVELOPING SKILLS * Communication skills – the language of influence * Different influencing techniques and when to use them * Having the confidence to challenge * Dealing with confrontation and challenges in a confident manner THE DECISION LIFECYCLE – PERSONAL PREFERENCES * Understand the human facts that influence decision making * Understanding personal preferences and approaches to Decision Making * Understand the impact of Perception, Bias and judgement in decision making * Speed reading others approach to decision making FRAMEWORKS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR DECISION MAKING * Understand the business factors that influence decision making - VUCA * The Cynefin Framework – decision making in complex situations * Understanding which business context, you operate in – simple, complicated, complex or chaotic * Understanding how to decide in complexity PRACTICAL * Practical exercises * Case studies * Personal action planning

Workplace Mediation

Learn how to use Microsoft Project to create and resource robust project plans and how to maintain and track throughout the project lifecycle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COURSE OVERVIEW Duration: 1 day (6.5 hours) Our Project Planning and Control course gives you the essential skills to use Microsoft Project to build, resource and monitor project schedules. It looks at initial setup, building plans, using a work breakdown structure and managing resources through to baselining and progressing your schedule. This course is designed for new or existing users of Microsoft Project, and no previous experience of Project is required. Knowledge of planning techniques would be an advantage. OBJECTIVES  By the end of the course you will be able to: * Create project schedules * Build a Work Breakdown Structure * Create relationships * Set baselines * Manage resources * Set deadlines and task properties * Print and report on your project * Update and track project schedules CONTENT CREATING A NEW PROJECT   * Project defaults * Project start date * Setting default hours per day/week * Setting daily working times * Project timeline BUILDING A PROJECT   * Creating a work breakdown structure * Adding tasks and durations * Estimated durations * Setting milestones * Recurring tasks LINKING, BASELINING AND RESOURCING   * Setting start dates and dependencies * Task Inspector * Resourcing * Assigning resources * Filtering available resources * Baseline * Setting a baseline * Removing a baseline MANAGING RESOURCES * Resource properties * Dealing with over allocations TASKING INFORMATION   * Constraint dates * Setting deadline * Assigning task specific calendars * Task types UPDATING YOUR PROJECT   * Completing work * Completing work per resource * Updating tasks * Updating the project * Rescheduling work * Change highlighting PRINTING AND REPORTING   * Setup and Printing * Visual reports * Using the Timeline * Creating Dashboard reports