This is an advanced leadership workshop to prepare project managers for successful interactions with senior management and to effectively manage politically charged projects. The workshop describes communication styles, personal risk assessment approaches and helps attendees prepare for the challenging discussions that need to be held to successfully deliver complex initiatives involving multiple senior stakeholders. Included in the workshop is the ability to successfully counter the directions of management. This requires the project manager to challenge, pushback and make suggestions to management that defend project integrity against the expectations of your key stakeholders.

The application of standard leadership techniques is compared and contrasted with “courageous” approaches, along with the circumstances under which courageous approaches are necessary. The workshop goes on to assist the attendees with understanding and formulating the “difficult conversations” that need to take place in order to “say no” to senior leaders, as a means of assisting the project manager to support their businesses with the greatest degree of integrity. Exercises that provide attendees the means to practice the formulation of these conversations are a pivotal part of this stimulating and highly interactive workshop.

Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:

1. Expand their influence as a leader
2. Recognise situations when courageous leadership techniques are required for success
3. Discuss approaches for successfully dealing with senior managers and stakeholders
4. Discuss techniques to prepare for “Difficult Conversations”