INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
In today’s complex workplace environments, success often depends as much on political acumen as on technical skills. Political savvy is the ability to navigate organisational dynamics, build influence, and use practical judgment to drive outcomes—while maintaining integrity and credibility.
This training course, Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation, equips professionals with the tools to understand power structures, engage stakeholders effectively, negotiate with confidence, and enhance decision-making. By mastering these skills, participants will gain a strategic edge and learn how to influence decisions, align interests, and build alliances that support both personal and organisational goals.
Whether you’re leading teams, managing projects, or advancing through your career, political awareness is vital to achieving influence and driving meaningful change.
This Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation training course will explore:
- The foundations of political intelligence and organisational influence
- Influencing tactics and when to use them
- Effective stakeholder engagement and power dynamics
- Negotiation frameworks to gain commitment and build consensus
- Communication strategies that align with strategic goals
- Tools to support sound and timely decision-making
COURSE DETAILS
Objectives
By the end of this Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation training course, participants will be able to:
- Define key principles of political savviness and influence in the workplace
- Develop effective stakeholder management approaches
- Apply communication and negotiation strategies that build trust and cooperation
- Recognise different influencing tactics and use them effectively
- Enhance decision-making skills using structured techniques
Training Methodology
Participants in this training course will receive thorough training on the subjects covered by the training course outline. The Tutor will utilise various proven adult learning teaching and facilitation techniques. Training course methodology includes a range of engaging, practical exercises, and activities. There will be practical sessions where participants can participate and experience topics. Small group work, exercises, videos, case studies and feedback will all be used to facilitate learning.
Organisational Impact
Organisations will benefit through:
- Stronger internal collaboration and reduced workplace conflict
- Improved stakeholder relationships and influence across departments
- Enhanced leadership capacity in managing complexity and change
- More effective negotiation outcomes and decision-making
- A workforce equipped with practical political and interpersonal tools
Personal Impact
Participants will leave with:
- Greater self-awareness and confidence in politically complex environments
- Improved communication and relationship-building capabilities
- Tools to navigate power structures and organisational dynamics
- Enhanced decision-making and negotiation skills
- A broader skill set to support career progression and leadership growth
Who should Attend?
This KC Academy Political Savvy: Maximising Your Influence in the Organisation training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will benefit:
- Managers, and leaders in any organisation who want to develop their political savviness
- Those interested in developing appropriate power relationships
- People who wish to develop their competencies in the topics covered
DAILY AGENDA
Day 1: Understanding and Applying Political Savvy
- Overview of Political Savviness for the Workplace
- Understanding the Nature of Power
- Bases of Power
- Methods for Influence
- Common Errors When Seeking to Influence Others
Day 2: Identifying and Engaging with Stakeholders
- Understanding Stakeholder Engagement
- The Stakeholder Engagement Process
- Identifying your Stakeholders
- Key documents for Stakeholder Management (Register, Matrix, Strategy)
- Stakeholder Management Strategy
Day 3: The Psychology of Effective Communication
- Interpersonal Communication Skills
- Significant Barriers to Effective Communication and Removing these Barriers
- Discovering Active Listening and Effective Questioning
- Understanding Body Language
- Attending Skills in Communication: The SOLER Model
Day 4: Negotiating for Success
- The Negotiating Environment
- Getting to Yes
- Zones of Potential Agreement and BATNA
- Negotiation Methods, Tools, and Techniques
- Understanding Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Day 5: Successful Decision Making
- Decision-making Processes & Techniques
- Steps to Making an Effective Decision
- Determine the Appropriate Way of Making the Decision
- Vroom-Jago Decision Model and Leadership Styles
- Make Choices Involving Multiple Factors (Grid Analysis, Nominal Group Technique)
Certificate
- On successful completion of this training course, KC Academy Certificate will be awarded to the delegates.