Let this group know what you want and expect from everyone to make this session the best it can be. Be clear and concise with your expectations

You want to recommend this influence with impact programme to your boss/colleague. Make a clear proposal, supported by reasons about why they should attend the programme

Consider a real request, want or need you have of your boss, colleague or key client. State what you want from them clearly and concisely

Imagine another person in the group is a real colleague of yours (and indeed they may be!) Make a suggestion about how you could work together even more effectively in the future. Give reasons to back up your suggestion

Ask someone to share their biggest challenge right now. Use listening to understand how they are feeling and how they are approaching the situation. Be careful not to problem solve

Ask someone to talk about their first day in their current role. Use listening to understand the feelings and emotions they experienced

Ask someone in the group about their views on how the business/their own business needs to improve and why. Don’t share your own views…see if you can learn as much as you can about them and their world using listening

Ask someone about a challenging meeting they experienced in the last few months. Use listening to understand the feelings and emotions they experienced

Tell the group about a time when you felt most proud

Tell the group what the most challenging part of the programme has been so far for you personally. Ask someone to use listening and exploring to help you explore this further

Complete the following sentence “When I’m feeling anxious in a situation, I usually…” Ask someone in the group for help in how you could manage yourself differently in these types of situations in the future

Tell the group about a mistake you made or a regret you have

Choose another person in the group to act the part of someone who forced you to back down in the past. Now replay the scene, but this time include feedback about the impact they had on you

Choose a person in the group whom you believe underestimates their own ability. Tell them how you want them to fulfil their potential

Turn to each person in the group. Tell them one thing you want them to keep doing and one thing you want them to do differently to improve their influence and impact

Think of a colleague/direct report and give them feedback about something they do well that you would like them to do more of

Choose someone in the group you see as confident and successful. Use exploring to understand how they have developed themselves throughout their career and any advice they have

Ask another member of the group to talk about an issue they feel strongly about. Explore their perspectives and see if new insights emerge

Choose another person in the group and ask them to share what they want to learn from this programme and why it’s is important to them

Pick the person in the group whom you consider to be most different to you. Find common ground and generate enthusiasm in them for you both to work together in the future

Describe a metaphor for this group right now (in this exercise). Now think of an even more positive metaphor that describes how you would like the group to be by the end of the exercise

Describe the kind of workplace culture you dream of. Find common ground with others in the group and build a vision of what that would look like

Build a common vision in this group about how you can all be more skilful influencers after this programme. Try using the words…just imagine…