Build strategic thinking capabilities that prepare you to lead with foresight, influence, and clear purpose within the public sector. Develop professional competencies and foundational techniques applicable to leadership in government and non-profit environments. This course examines how leaders effectively utilize influence to achieve objectives and increase the likelihood of successful outcomes in complex organizational settings. Key topics include identifying and building meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders, strengthening your personal influence and credibility, effectively using persuasion and negotiation in professional contexts, and developing partnerships and coalitions that amplify organizational impact and further agency mission.
Target Audience:
This course is designed for employees new to leadership roles or recently promoted into management positions. It suits people beginning new roles or with three or fewer years in formal leadership positions. Leadership roles can be formal, including supervisor or manager titles, or informal, such as project manager or team lead roles. All require responsibility for leading and directing others. The curriculum bridges the gap between individual contributor work and leadership responsibility by focusing on relationship-building and influence as foundations for successful leadership development.
Course Structure and Components:
Course structure includes one full day of live, project-based training delivered by subject matter experts with extensive federal sector experience. Participants receive a proprietary workbook for reference and future use in their leadership roles. A verified digital certificate documents course completion and can be added to professional credentials. Accredited institutional credentials provide recognized professional development value counted toward continuing education requirements. Participants earn 0.6 continuing education units applicable to many professional certifications. Small class sizes ensure personalized instruction, meaningful discussion, and networking opportunities with other emerging leaders.
Key Learning Objectives:
Key learning objectives include building strong relationships with external stakeholders, direct reports, and internal colleagues from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Participants develop capabilities in analyzing workplace influence and its direct effects on organizational dynamics and decision-making. The course teaches utilizing persuasion and negotiation techniques to achieve mutually acceptable outcomes that satisfy multiple parties' interests. Participants learn to develop approaches for forming individual partnerships with key stakeholders and group coalitions that strengthen organizational capacity.
Comprehensive Module Content
Module 1: The Power of Building Relationships
Strong professional relationships form the foundation for all leadership influence. This module explores comprehensive strategies for fostering meaningful professional connections across hierarchical levels and departmental boundaries. Participants examine the critical role of trust and communication as fundamental elements in effective relationship building. The module identifies and teaches specific techniques for strengthening collaboration across teams and organizations, including active listening, transparency, reciprocity, and follow-through on commitments. Building these foundational relationship skills prepares leaders for more advanced influence techniques in subsequent modules.
Module 2: The Power of Influence in the Workplace
Influence shapes workplace dynamics and decision-making processes in profound ways. This module examines how leaders can cultivate and exercise influence responsibly to drive positive organizational outcomes. Participants learn specific approaches for establishing credibility and authority through demonstrated competence, consistency, and character. The course develops practical skills for positively impacting others in professional settings through both formal authority and informal influence channels. Understanding influence sources and impact mechanisms prepares leaders to lead effectively in matrix organizations and cross-functional teams.
Module 3: Persuasion and Negotiation
Persuasion and negotiation represent critical skills for leaders navigating competing interests and resource constraints. This module covers fundamental principles of persuasion and their specific application in workplace contexts ranging from budget discussions to policy changes. Participants learn evidence-based negotiation strategies that consistently lead to win-win outcomes satisfying all stakeholder interests. The course teaches practical techniques for resolving conflicts constructively and achieving binding agreements that endure. Leaders develop the confidence and capability to handle difficult conversations and high-stakes negotiations.
Module 4: Partnerships and Coalitions
Partnerships and coalitions represent essential strategies for multiplying organizational impact beyond individual or departmental capacity. This module explores the strategic importance of partnerships in achieving ambitious organizational goals within complex, interconnected government and non-profit environments. Participants examine concrete strategies for forming coalitions and sustaining these alliances through periods of organizational change and leadership transitions. The module analyzes real-world examples of successful partnerships and collective efforts that achieved significant results by leveraging diverse perspectives, skills, and resources. Leaders emerge from this module with practical approaches for building and maintaining the coalitions essential to their ongoing success.
