BUILDING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS 

Teams often get stuck in reactive mode, delivering results without pausing, asking why and seeking out the best solutions. As a result, the organization can suffer from costly inefficiencies and team thinking is untapped. Building Strategic Partnerships helps your leaders develop their consultant toolkit, reminding them to pause, ask questions, collaborate on strategic outcomes, and present compelling recommendations. This workshop helps individual team members develop a communication style that is more strategic, intentional, and engaging so that every conversation has impact.

This program is for your team if you want to:

1

Shift the perception of your team away from 'doers' towards true thought partners 

2

Equip your leaders with a consulting toolkit, leading to more impactful conversations

3

Drive more strategic outcomes within the organization ​
PARTICIPANTS
Appropriate for intact teams, IC's, emerging leaders and senior leaders
TIME
This series is offered over 7 hours of time -  It can be delivered in three separate modules
​COHORT SIZE 
​18 max
MODULE ONE
Building Strategic Partnerships  |  3.5 hrs

​This workshop helps individual team members develop a communication style that is more strategic, intentional, and engaging so that every conversation has impact.  Learn from a former consultant to Accenture, BCG, Bain, and McKinsey & Company how to transform your relationships across the organization and be seen as a valued thought partner.  Practice client collaboration across the SALSA communication model.  Get real-time feedback to get greater impact out of every conversation. 
  • Discover how to listen for what really matters to a client using questions that drive beyond the immediate need, spark innovation and build relationships.
  • Develop a compelling POV and be willing to collaborate and align with the client to arrive at the best solution.
  • Deliver ideas in a clear, succinct and compelling manner.

PRE-WORK:  Write out your thoughts to the following questions,  What is changing in the industry and within the organization that might require a change in the way we partner?  Who is one person with whom you want to improve your partnership?
MODULE TWO
Navigating Resistance |  2 hrs

​Resistance is the starting point of most great leaps forward, depending upon how you perceive and handle it.  Handled the wrong way, it becomes a stubborn obstacle to your individual progress, but handled the right way it can create better collaboration and innovative outcomes.

​This 3-hour workshop explores the up-side of resistance and provides a framework to explore differences in a way that improves relationships and creates better results.  Don't let unresolved conflicts disrupt teamwork and achievement.  Gain the confidence and tools to transform resistance into collaboration, enhancing team cohesion.
  • Share your experience with resistance, where you are experiencing it and what makes it challenging
  • Explore the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument to determine you preferred mode of managing resistance
  • Learn the S.A.L.S.A. dialogue model to shift mindset, ask questions that dig below the iceberg, listen for what matters, summarize back similarities and differences and respectfully assert you POV when facing resistance
  • Practice using the model on your own scenarios
  • Collaborate on your approach to a typical Sephora Case Study

PRE-WORK:  Think of a current situation in which you are experiencing resistance.  With whom are you experiencing the resistance?  What is your POV? What is their POV?  What is the best possible outcome of your next conversation?
MODULE THREE
Influence  |  90 min

Great leadership is built on our ability to influence others to accept and execute on our ideas.  However, most leaders get stuck using the same influencing tactics over and over and fail to develop the many other influencing muscles needed to move everchanging audiences. 

The Influence Without Authority workshop helps leaders examine the character and tactics it takes to move audiences and make real impact within their organization. 
  • Adopt the mindset of a powerful influencer
  • Master nine influence tactics that combine to generate buy-in 
  • Prepare an influence strategy and practice asking for what you want

​PRE-WORK:  Who is someone you want to influence?  What do you want to influence them to think, feel or do?

​

Program Outcomes
  • ​I understand the need to create more strategic partnerships across the organization
  • I'm clear on the difference between tactical and strategic conversations
  • I have tools to drive more strategic dialogues in my future cross-departmental collaborations
  • I understand the mindset needed for a strategic conversation
  • I know how to listen for what really matters in a strategic conversation
  • I understand how to assert in a clear, direct and concise manner during a strategic conversation
  • I feel increased confidence in my communications with senior leaders at this organization
Ingrid and her team exceeded all expectations when upskilling our Talent Enablement Team of 300 with the skills to Build Strategic Partnerships.

Her program divided the teams into cohorts of 20 and took them through three unique experiences.  Her three separate modules were the highest rated live training of 2023 across Pinterest.  The Axe & Arow content is the right mix of science based theory, playful activities and surgical application for our Pinterest associates.  Every exercise feels relevant and no time is wasted.  Ingrid's team was able to manage the communications and schedules for over 300 of our people with no complaints. 

Ingrid is a joy to work with and remains a valuable partner for our team.
- Charlie Hall, Global Head of Talent Enablement, Pinterest