Soft Skills for Project Managers™
Whether you are a qualified Project Manager or someone who manages projects as a part of their role, you will have acquired technical project skills. However, there is much more to managing projects than just being technically proficient – you need to master the non-technical, “soft skills” of projects too.
Overview
This workshop builds on existing technical project skills and provides structured techniques for you to master how to:
- Identify and prioritise stakeholders – so you are positively influencing the right ones.
- Develop your influencing strategy and deploy structured negotiation techniques – especially when stakeholders can’t agree.
- Build and lead an effective and productive team – delivering your project on time and on budget.
Who is it for?
Anyone who manages projects – whether they are a qualified Project Manager or managing projects off the side of their desk. This workshop will provide invaluable soft skills to all those with people management responsibilities.
What’s it all about?
Most Project Managers have acquired technical project skills (e.g. Planning, Risk Management, Issue Resolution, Estimating, etc), but there are a host of softer skills that the most successful Project Managers have. You need to be effective at the non-technical, people side of projects too – identifying and understanding who is key to your project and how to:
- Engage and influence.
- Negotiate.
- Build, nurture and lead an effective project team.
What will you get out of it?
Most project management training teaches you what you need to do as a PM (the ‘hard’ skills) – an important first step. Experienced Project Managers know that soft skills, how you need to do it, are usually the hardest to master.
This practical workshop focuses on the people aspects (the soft skills) of a Project Manager’s role. You will develop the knowledge and rehearse techniques to become effective at the non-technical (people) aspects of project management – maximising the chances of delivering your projects more effectively.
What will your organisation get out of it?
Ultimately, large or small projects will have less risk, with greater satisfaction for those key project stakeholders and all who work within your projects – so a more motivated, productive project team.
Workshop outline
Stakeholder management and engagement:- What is a stakeholder?
- How to identify your stakeholders.
- Understanding your stakeholders.
- Prioritisation and planning.
- Understanding influence.
- Influence strategies.
- Understanding negotiation.
- Structured negotiation process.
- Team dynamics, maturity and diversity.
- Using Hermann’s Brain Dominance Indicator (HBDI).
- Fostering a collaborative environment.
- Sharing knowledge and experience.
- Understanding leadership models.
- Authenticity vs adaptability.
- Emotional intelligence.
Other workshops to consider
Soft Skills for Project Managers™ is the perfect partner for our Think on Your Feet® workshop. Think on Your Feet® introduces 10 structures that help you visualize and organise your ideas quickly – even under extreme pressure. So you can:
- Analyse, organise and present your ideas – fast!
- Respond confidently and concisely in all formal, informal and ad-hoc situations, especially when caught on-the-spot or under pressure!
- Explain complex ideas and handle tough questions by condensing your thoughts, simplifying information and avoiding listener and information overload.
Find out more about Think on Your Feet®.
Duration and delivery methods available
This is a 2 day, practical, exercise-led workshop led by the discussion of ideas and techniques, and a mix of interactive group-led activities to rehearse. The workshop can be delivered face-to-face or online.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Soft Skills for Project Managers™ can count towards your CPD recognition with leading professional bodies and trade organisations. You can normally record your attendance in the 'organised learning' or 'self-learning' sections. Please check with your membership organisation for more information.
Additional resources
In-House workshops
Our in-house delivery option gives you the flexibility to train teams, groups and departments. Reducing delegate travel, training cost (significant saving when compared to our open public workshops) and environmental impact - as we train at your choice of location or online, in the UK or internationally. Options for tailoring content are available.
Prices quoted are based on 12 delegates per event, we can accommodate up to 20 delegates for an additional fee:
- Face-to-face classroom workshops - delegates receive a printed workbook/materials.
- Virtual learning sessions - delivered as highly interactive modular sessions using our Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Webex platforms or your own. Virtual workshops require access to a PC/Mac/tablet and internet connection, a webcam, speakers/headphones and enabled microphone, or attendees can simply dial in on their phone.
The format will be similar to face-to-face classroom workshops, we always cover a core programme. It is delivered using interactive group learning sessions, lots of practice, group and individual feedback and 1-2-1 trainer coaching. We combine this with screen and document sharing, polls, interactive whiteboards and breakout rooms. Delegates are given 36 months access to an online workbook that can be used interactively and downloaded to a portable device. Printed workbooks are available at additional cost.
Delegate places are available at up to £575pp + VAT.
