Courses

Day One The Language of Rapport How to speak the same language as those around you to prevent misunderstandings and disagreements. Listening to what people are really saying. Recognising the subconscious choice of words and understanding how to respond. Talking to anyone, anytime and leaving them with the impression you intended. Body Language How to read the body language of...

Why be on the board? What’s in it for you, your organisation and the communications function? What qualities and skills do you need to work at board level? Delegates explore and discuss research findings on the key qualities needed. Have you got what it takes? Resolving conflict. Developing board level competences. Delegates learn how to establish their ‘market value’...

What is Public Relations? Defining public relations and its role in an organisation. Understanding the different contributions of PR and such functions as: advertising; marketing; customer relations; and public affairs. Recognising the boundaries of PR. The Public Relations Plan How to develop a simple public relations plan. Understanding the key elements of the plan. Tips on how to implement a...

Sales and Marketing An outline of the differences between the two. Where PR fits into the corporate structure. The differences between PR and advertising. The Role of PR A look at the techniques used by PR and the reasons behind them. The various ways in which PR is used to deliver messages and how it reaches its targets. The...

Overview The roles and responsibilities within a project team and how these change during a project. Project Initiation Setting project objectives and success criteria. Business awareness and negotiation skills. SMART objectives. Planning Breaking down the work. Assigning tasks. Planning and analysis. How to use a GANTT Chart and Critical Path Analysis. Executing the Project Launching the project, managing communication and the distribution of...

What is Leadership? The differences between leadership and management. The key components of effective leadership. Assessing your current level of ability in relation to each of them. Individual & Team Goal Alignment Why team members act in different ways. The concept of personal maps. Using this concept to align personal and team goals. Team Life-cycle & Leadership Style Recognising the...

Structuring a PR Plan How to design a written PR plan that both wins the support of senior management and directs the action of PR staff. Identifying Campaign Strategy How PR contributes to corporate strategy. Using SWOT analysis to align the two. The Nature of Corporate Communications The psychology of mass communication. The differences between corporate personality, identity and...

What Clients Look For How clients decide which agency to choose. The criteria that they use to compare rival pitches. How the best organisations around the world are structuring their PR. The effect that this has on their use of agencies. The implications that this holds for the small agency. Structuring a Pitch How to put together a...

What a Digital Strategy Covers Developing digital objectives. Integrating online and offline PR. Getting management commitment for your strategy. Choosing appropriate digital tools for your organisation or client. Budgeting for an effective strategy. Meeting the strategic challenge of the internet. Defining your Community Defining the shared interests that will identify your target community. Understanding what expertise you bring to...

Speaking to an Audience Controlling your nerves and turning them to your advantage. The role of gestures and mannerisms. Creating rapport with your audience. When to use notes. When to use a script. When to ad-lib. Planning your Presentation How to think like a listener. Signposting your presentation. Planning for audience reaction. Understanding the critical differences between a text...

Back to basics This grammar and punctuation refresher shows you how to avoid common mistakes. It helps your messages to hit home with impact and accuracy. Does that look right to you? Find out when you can and can’t rely on your PC’s spellchecker. Discover the most common spelling mistakes and how to avoid them. Create your own techniques...

Understanding Feature Articles The distinction between news and features. The importance of the role of features. Understanding the twenty basic types of feature article. How to spot feature angles in your day-to-day work. Handling Introductions The intro and its vital role in a feature article. Why some intros work and others don’t. How to use the four golden rules...

Goals & Planning Why time management and goal setting go hand in hand. How setting business and personal goals allows you to prioritise activities and spend more on productive activities and less on unproductive ones. What currently stops you from achieving goals and managing your time. Well Formed Outcomes The Well Formed Outcomes process for creating compelling goals. How to...

Understanding the Audience Why different audiences need different presentations. How to cater for differing attention spans. Exactly how much detail do they need? Delivering Complex Messages How to analyse complex issues. Identifying ways to simplify messages. Pacing delivery for complete understanding. Good and Bad News How to deliver good and bad news in the most manageable ways. Creating excitement for...

How Assertive Are You? Ascertaining how assertive, passive or aggressive your own behaviour is at present. Using this understanding to decide the appropriate behaviour for any given situation. How assertive behaviour is appropriate in the workplace. What is Assertiveness? Understanding exactly what assertive behaviour is by discussing the ‘signs’. How assertive behaviour helps improve interpersonal and teamwork skills in...

Getting to Grips with Grammar A look at the foundations of effective writing. A friendly introduction to the most common mistakes made with punctuation. A chance to practise the basic skills that are so important. Business Writing Some of the pitfalls of bad business writing. How to ensure that complex information is being delivered in an understandable format. Focusing...

Microsoft Outlook 2003 Most people use Outlook as a separate email manager and calendar. In this session you learn how to quickly and easily turn it into an amazingly powerful personal effectiveness tool. • Manage email overload including how to track all emails relating to specific conversation with a couple of mouse clicks. • Organise your emails, tasks and...

What is Vodcasting? A brief overview of vodcasting. What it is and what it can do for you and your organisation. Creating the content The best ways to use a vodcast. Your vodcast can contain anything, but what makes good content? What should be avoided? How topical must it be? The Right Equipment What you are...

The Differences from B2C Digital PR Who uses social networks for business? How to use social media to catch the attention of professional managers. The tone of B2B networking. Talking to individuals without being trivial. Which networks work. How to approach them. Finding your Community How to set up and moderate discussion groups in social networks. Joining established groups. Using...

The Importance of Branding Brands and their role in society and in business. Why it is so important to get it right. Investing in branding to ensure a smooth entry into new markets, maintain market share and differentiate your brand in the marketplace. Brands versus products and how one is so much better than the other! Brand Organisation The different...