Lead, Inspire and Influence Others

Positional authority is rarely enough. Managers must win support from their own teams, from peers in other functions, from senior stakeholders and from external partners, often during change and with limited resources. Common problems are familiar: a direction that is not explained, messages that do not fit the audience, feedback that is avoided, and influence attempts that rely on pressure and lose trust.

This programme works from the inside out. It starts with the leader's own values, credibility and impact, moves to creating a shared sense of purpose and direction, then to motivating and developing people, and finally to influencing stakeholders where there is no formal authority and leading people through change.

Built on recognised practice. The programme draws on well-established leadership research, including transformational leadership, situational leadership, self-determination theory on motivation, Cialdini's principles of influence, stakeholder mapping, and research on psychological safety in teams. Participants use these as practical tools, not as theory to memorise.

Decisions this programme improves. How to frame a direction so that people understand and accept it; which leadership style a situation and a person need; how to recognise and motivate different team members; which stakeholders to engage first and how; and how to respond when influence attempts meet resistance.

How it is delivered. Twenty hours across five sessions, built around one running case: a manager leading a cross-functional initiative with a mixed team and sceptical stakeholders. Participants prepare a direction statement, practise coaching and feedback conversations, build a stakeholder influence plan and rehearse a persuasive presentation, with structured peer feedback.

In-house option. For organisations, the programme can be linked to your leadership framework, values and current priorities, and can use real initiatives that participants are leading.

Who Should Attend

Managers and team leaders who want to increase engagement and commitment in their teams

Newly appointed and emerging managers moving from specialist to leadership roles

Project and programme managers who lead cross-functional teams without line authority

Heads of section and supervisors in public and private organisations

Specialists and advisers who must influence decision-makers

Objectives

Assess their own leadership style, strengths and impact on others

Build credibility and trust through consistent behaviour and communication

Communicate a clear purpose and direction that connects with different audiences

Adapt their leadership style to the development level of each team member

Apply practical motivation principles to increase engagement and ownership

Give constructive feedback and hold coaching conversations that develop performance

Map stakeholders and plan influence strategies for people outside their authority

Use ethical influence and persuasion techniques and handle resistance

Lead people through change while maintaining trust and psychological safety

Prepare a personal leadership development plan

Course Outline

Leading from Within: Self-Awareness and Credibility

Leadership versus management
Personal values and leadership identity
Self-assessment of style and impact
Credibility, trust and consistency
Emotional intelligence in leadership
Leading in multicultural teams

Inspiring Through Purpose and Direction

Transformational leadership in practice
Crafting a clear direction and purpose statement
Storytelling and communicating for commitment
Adapting messages to different audiences
Connecting individual roles to organisational goals
Leading by example

Motivating and Developing People

What motivates people: autonomy, mastery and purpose
Situational leadership: matching style to the person
Recognition and meaningful feedback
Coaching conversations for performance and growth
Delegation that builds capability
Psychological safety and team engagement

Influencing Without Authority

Sources of power and influence
Stakeholder mapping and analysis
Principles of persuasion and ethical influence
Building coalitions and alliances
Handling objections and resistance
Influencing upwards and across functions

Leading Change and Sustaining Impact

How people experience change
Engaging teams in change and managing concerns
Maintaining momentum and morale under pressure
Leading hybrid and remote teams
Measuring leadership impact
Personal leadership development plan

Competencies

Leadership self-awareness and credibility

Communicating purpose and direction

Situational leadership

Motivation and engagement

Coaching and constructive feedback

Stakeholder mapping and influence planning

Ethical persuasion and handling resistance

Leading people through change

Personal leadership development planning

Live Online

Access Elite Academy’s complete training portfolio live online. Organizations, distributed teams and professionals can join scheduled interactive sessions or request any program to be delivered online, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. Elite Academy’s Live Online Training provides access to our complete portfolio of professional programs without linking availability to a physical destination. Organizations, multi-location teams and individual professionals can join scheduled instructor-led sessions or request any program from the Elite Academy portfolio for live online delivery, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. The format preserves real-time interaction, expert guidance and practical learning while removing the need to travel. Browse the current Live Online schedule below or request your preferred program and dates.