Leadership: Leading with Impact - Communication and Influence Essentials

Learners participating in this course will be awarded 16 personal development hours.

Course Description: This course equips participants with essential management skills and self-awareness needed to lead effectively. Participants will explore their personal values and leadership style, master communication fundamentals, and develop techniques to motivate teams and achieve positive outcomes.

Management Fundamentals & Communication Skills

Overview: Build a strong foundation in supervisory fundamentals by developing self-awareness, understanding management vs. leadership, and mastering essential communication skills that create clarity and drive performance.

Self-Awareness & Personal Foundation

• Identifying your 'why' - Connecting personal values to supervisory responsibilities
• Understanding Banker's organizational values (Builders, Excellence, Servant Leadership, Transparency, Team)
• Assessing alignment between personal and organizational values
• Defining key responsibilities and areas of focus in your supervisory role

 Management vs. Leadership

• Distinguishing between management functions (planning, organizing, directing) and leadership qualities (inspiring, influencing, motivating)
• Identifying your strengths in both management and leadership capacities
• Recognizing growth opportunities in each domain
• Understanding when to manage vs. when to lead in different situations

 Building Self-Awareness

• Understanding cognitive biases and common thinking errors (objectivity bias, better-than-average effect, confirmation bias)
• Recognizing the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Developing emotional vocabulary to identify workplace emotions accurately
• Overcoming barriers to seeking and receiving feedback
• Creating a personal feedback plan (who, what, when, and how to ask)

Fundamentals of Effective Communication

• Understanding communication as a two-way process, creating shared understanding
• The Four Keys to Effective Communication: Focus on Purpose, Adapt to the Listener's Reality, Organize Your Points, Check for Understanding
• Mastering verbal, non-verbal, and written communication forms
• Practicing scenario-based communication (e.g., communicating unexpected changes to your team)

 Active Listening Skills

• The RASA framework: Receive, Appreciate, Summarize, Ask
• Four levels of listening: Listening for the message, nonverbal cues, feelings, and values
• Understanding task-focused vs. people-focused listening styles
• Overcoming common barriers to effective listening
• Hands-on active listening practice with immediate feedback

Motivating Self & Others

Overview: Discover what truly drives behavior and learn practical strategies to maintain your own

motivation while inspiring and energizing your team through recognition, goal-setting, and meaningful work connections.

Understanding Motivation Theory

• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation: Understanding what drives behavior
• Self-Determination Theory: The three core psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness)
• Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory: Hygiene factors vs. motivators in the workplace
• Understanding individual differences in motivation preferences and triggers

Self-Motivation Strategies

• Connecting daily tasks to personal values and long-term goals
• Building resilience through growth mindset and reframing challenges
• Creating accountability structures and celebration rituals
• Managing energy and avoiding burnout as a supervisor

 Motivating Team Members

• Diagnosing individual motivation levels and identifying root causes of demotivation
• Providing autonomy within appropriate boundaries to increase ownership
• Building competence through meaningful development opportunities and skill-building
• Fostering relatedness through connection, belonging, and team cohesion
• Recognizing and celebrating progress and achievement effectively

 Recognition & Feedback as Motivators

• Understanding what makes recognition meaningful and impactful
• Tailoring recognition to individual preferences and communication styles
• Balancing positive reinforcement with constructive developmental feedback
• Creating a culture of appreciation and continuous feedback

 Goal-Setting for Motivation

• Setting SMART goals that inspire action and commitment
• Involving team members in goal-setting to increase buy-in and motivation
• Breaking large goals into achievable milestones to maintain momentum
• Monitoring progress and adjusting strategies when motivation wanes

 Addressing Demotivation & Disengagement

• Identifying early warning signs of disengagement and declining motivation
• Conducting effective one-on-one conversations to understand root causes
• Addressing systemic barriers and obstacles within your control
• Re-engaging team members through job crafting, new challenges, or role adjustments
• Knowing when to escalate or seek additional support

Influencing Skills

Overview: Develop the ability to influence without authority by building trust, leveraging persuasive communication, and navigating stakeholder relationships to drive results and lead change across the                 organization.

Foundations of Influence

• Distinguishing between power, authority, and influence in organizational contexts
• Understanding the psychology of influence: Cialdini's six principles (reciprocity, commitment/consistency, social proof, authority, liking, scarcity)
• Building a foundation of trust and credibility as the basis for influence
• Recognizing ethical boundaries and maintaining integrity when influencing others

 Influence Without Authority

• Strategies for influencing peers, other departments, and stakeholders outside your direct reporting line
• Building strategic relationships and social capital across the organization
• Leveraging expertise and information as sources of influence
• Finding common ground and aligning interests to create win-win outcomes

Persuasive Communication

• Crafting compelling messages that resonate with different audiences
• Using storytelling and concrete examples to make ideas memorable and relatable
• Framing proposals to highlight benefits and address concerns proactively
• Adapting influence tactics to different communication styles and personalities

Stakeholder Analysis & Mapping

• Identifying key stakeholders and understanding their interests, priorities, and concerns
• Assessing stakeholder influence and support levels
• Developing targeted influence strategies for different stakeholder groups
• Building coalitions and enlisting allies to amplify your influence

Negotiation Skills

• Preparing for negotiations: Clarifying objectives, understanding interests, and identifying alternatives (BATNA)
• Principled negotiation approach: Separating people from problems and focusing on interests
• Managing difficult conversations and overcoming resistance
• Finding creative solutions and building agreements that stick

Leading Change Through Influence

• Understanding resistance to change and addressing underlying concerns
• Building a compelling case for change that connects to organizational and individual values
• Identifying and engaging early adopters and champions
• Maintaining momentum through consistent communication and visible progress
• Celebrating wins and learning from setbacks during change initiatives

Presentation Skills

Overview: Master the art of delivering confident, engaging presentations by learning strategic      

preparation techniques, compelling delivery methods, and how to design visuals that enhance your message and captivate diverse audiences.

Planning & Preparation

• Defining clear presentation objectives and desired outcomes
• Conducting thorough audience analysis to tailor content and approach
• Structuring presentations with compelling openings, logical flow, and memorable conclusions
• Selecting and preparing effective visual aids and supporting materials
• Rehearsing delivery and timing for optimal impact

Delivery Techniques

• Managing presentation anxiety and building confidence
• Using voice effectively: Pace, tone, volume, and pausing for emphasis
• Leveraging body language and non-verbal communication to reinforce messages
• Maintaining eye contact and reading audience engagement cues
• Using gestures and movement purposefully to enhance delivery

Engaging Your Audience

• Creating interactive elements and opportunities for participation
• Using storytelling, examples, and analogies to make content relatable
• Asking effective questions to encourage thinking and dialogue
• Handling questions and objections with confidence and professionalism
• Adapting in real-time based on audience response and feedback

Different Presentation Contexts

• Leading effective team meetings: Setting agendas, facilitating discussion, capturing decisions
• Presenting to senior leadership: Being concise, data-driven, and solution-focused
• Delivering training and development sessions: Balancing instruction with engagement
• Virtual presentations: Leveraging technology and maintaining connection in remote settings
• Impromptu speaking: Organizing thoughts quickly and delivering with confidence

Practice & Feedback

• Individual presentation practice sessions with constructive peer feedback
• Video recording and self-evaluation to identify improvement opportunities
• Applying feedback immediately in subsequent practice rounds
• Creating a personal action plan for ongoing presentation skill development
• Resources and tools for continued learning beyond the course

Course 1 Outcomes

By the end of Course 1, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate self-awareness of personal values, strengths, and development areas as a supervisor
• Apply the Four Keys of Effective Communication to various workplace scenarios
• Practice active listening skills using the RASA framework
• Implement motivation strategies tailored to individual team member needs
• Utilize ethical influence tactics to drive positive outcomes
• Deliver clear, engaging presentations appropriate to different audiences and contexts

 

For any administrative needs please contact us at:

573-341-6148

cec.stl@mst.edu