Business Partnering for Internal Communicators: Virtual Learning

Details

This course will help internal communication professionals learn how to become effective business partners and trusted advisors to the senior leaders they support within their business. 

Delivered over two live sessions the course will include role plays, group discussions and a range of other interactive elements, allowing delegates the opportunity to support and learn from one another in between workshops.

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, delegates will: 

• Understand the value they generate across the organisation when applying great communication business partnering (understanding our audiences)
• Have tools and a structure to apply to a business partnering approach
• Understand how to manage the focus and expectation of internal and external clients (using their soft skills, behaviours and EI)
• Feel more confident about partnering with their stakeholders in the business (Personal validation: I am following proven insight, best practice...and can be proud of my skills)

The course will cover:

Part One: 30th June, 14:00 - 17:00 (BST)

Part Two: 6th July, 10:00 - 13:00 (BST)

• Introduction and context; the purpose of the workshop and how it connects with communication success factors
• Conversation supported by data to illustrate the shifting role of communications – from tactical to strategic
• Breakout conversations using a topical case study
• Understanding your business. Discussion on what is really happening in your ‘world’. How do you get to understand their agenda? 
• Ahead of the curve. Discussion in breakouts about how you can get ahead of the curve. What hints and tips can others offer to ensure that you are one step ahead of your client.
• Outcomes vs. Output. What’s the difference and why outcomes add more strategic value.
• My Client Plan: Building a plan to ‘walk in the shoes’ of my client.
• Conversation to explore what makes a powerful conversation at work – draw from experience – what worked well, what didn’t.
• Introduction to the Listening Spectrum with an exercise of active listening
• Explore different approaches to asking powerful questions.  Specifically, the concept of ‘High Gain’ questioning technique to draw insight.
• Techniques on how to manage difficult and challenging conversations including how to say no.
• Role Play: Activity in trios (acting as the client, the Business Partner and observer/coach) to role play powerful conversation with a client. 

Additional benefits

• Opportunities to share ideas and learn from other organisations and practitioners through peer coaching between delegates
• Pre and post-course access to Canvas, the IoIC's dedicated online learning environment
• Six hours of CPD for IoIC members 

Who should attend?

The workshop is aimed at junior to mid level internal communications professionals, and is aligned to the following professional areas of the Profession Map:

• Influencing and advising
• Strategy, planning and business acumen
• Understanding people and cultures

In addition, this course will support the following Profession Map behaviours: Trustworthy, Curious, Challenging, Listening, Empathetic.

Please note that we use Zoom for our online courses. Please ensure that you are able to access this system where you are based before booking your place. All times are in BST. 

About the trainer

Darren Briggs is delivering this course as an Associate of The Academy. He is co-founder of a specialist leadership and change communications consultancy that has for the last 10 years been changing the way leaders communicate with their people. 

With over 30 years global experience working at Chief Executive and Board level in employee, leadership  and change communications; his corporate career has spanned some of the world’s best known brands including British Airways, Microsoft Nike, PepsiCo and Vodafone, leading the development of award winning world-class internal communications.  He is a well known expert in leadership communication with extensive international executive and communication coaching and facilitation experience. His current and past consultancy and coaching clients have included organisations in Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia from both the private and public sector. Of particular note is the work with the World Bank, HSBC, the Secretariat General at the European Commission, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Nationwide Building Society, Experian and Unilever. 

Darren has spoken at international conferences and is a regular top rated speaker at Henley Business School on leadership communication.  Darren holds an MBA with Lancaster University Management School, is a qualified executive coach accredited with Henley Business School and a NLP Business Practitioner.

Please note our training terms and conditions before booking your place.