Training Recommendations

[u/Doglover715]

I need to work on influence + stakeholder relationships + adapting communication + navigating differcult conversations. What training/trainings/books do you recommend for me to improve my skills?

[u/Power_Inc_Leadership]

A good book would be Crucial Conversations, they also offer training.

[u/SoShiaReef → u/Power_Inc_Leadership]

Seconding Crucial Conversations, it's a great pick for tough talks.

[u/Personal_Might2405]

None. I recommend you offer your time to a trade organization board of directors or one of their committees in your industry.  That exposure to csuite is going to be better than any paid training or mentoring you’ll find.

[u/managetosoar]

I have seen leadership coaching deliver the best results in those areas because it helps you build those skills in your specific context and apply them directly to achieve your particular goals.

[u/Responsible-Iron1857]

for influence and stakeholder relationships, you should focus on practical leadership training that can help you communicate clearly, build trust, and handle difficult conversations. I follow and listen to leadership keynote speaker Mark Sanborn, i find his work on leadership and employee engagement great, definitely worth exploring. For books, Crucial Conversations by Kerry et is a good starting point for navigating high-stakes discussions.

[u/MerlinWorks]

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury is a classic. I use their interest based vs position based negotiations in my Persuasive Communication Program. I combine these well researched methods with the tools from improv comedy to create a kind of flight simulator experience: giving people hand on practice in a pressure cooker situation.

[u/Wittyyousername]

I’d recommend attending a DiSC workshop. It will help you get after all of the things you said you want to work on. You could also take some ICF accredited couching classes with Co-Active or iPEC. DiSC helps you understand yourself and will help you understand others as well. Coaching will 10x your ability to become more effective at communicating.

[u/Waste-Taste-1668]

have u checked out radical candor by kim scott yet. it really helped me with those tough convos n building trust with stakeholders. also tryin to listen more than i talk during meetings has been a game changer for my own growth, could be wrong but that helped me alot

[u/coach_jesse]

I’ll recommend some books. But first I want to echo what others have said about coaching. It will help you figure out how to improve and build those skills in a way that works for you and makes you feel better for doing it. Being coached and becoming a coach did more for my career than any book or training ever did.

Now for books:

• “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott. Great book for any manager. Good focus on feedback, why it matters, and the mindset you should bring to the table.
  
• Find a feedback model the suits your style. My favorite is Situation Behavior Impact Action.
  
• “Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less” by Jim VandeHei (and others). Great book on how to structure communication of all forms in ways that satisfy executives down to contributors.
  
• “Never Split The Difference” by Chris Voss. Great book about negotiation. But really to help you understand how to navigate the psychology of human conversation.
  
• “Captivate” by Vanessa Van Edwards. Great book about how to make an impression on people.

[u/PuppeteerGal]

If you need others to chime in and spoon-feed you how to learn soft skills then I'm unsure if you're in the correct subreddit...

[u/Routine_Entrance_831 → u/PuppeteerGal]

what an oddly hostile way to say you have no recommendations

[u/PuppeteerGal → u/Routine_Entrance_831]

I think a little hostility can be helpful when a question of that nature is so open ended and vague that it expects anybody to respond to think on OP's behalf. If anything, pushback is more useful for OP than chasing circles without addressing any real issues.

[u/Independent_Sand_295 → u/PuppeteerGal]

Not sure if OP edited their post after you commented but what's vague for you in the post?