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Course CWS-041

Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives

Getting time with senior executives is difficult, and when it comes it is usually short. Professionals who can brief leaders concisely, anti... The outline covers Understanding Senior Executives, Preparing an Executive B...

  • 5 daysClassroom or online
  • 49Upcoming dates
  • 12Cities
  • €1,825Fees from

Choose your format and date

  • 5 days
  • 09:00–14:00
  • Certificate of attendance

Classroom sessions

  1. 7–11 Dec 2026

    Frankfurt

    Next date
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  2. 14–18 Dec 2026

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  3. 21–25 Dec 2026

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  4. 4–8 Jan 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  5. 11–15 Jan 2027

    Amsterdam

    €3,215 + VAT
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  6. 18–22 Jan 2027

    London

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  7. 25–29 Jan 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  8. 1–5 Feb 2027

    Barcelona

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  9. 8–12 Feb 2027

    Frankfurt

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  10. 15–19 Feb 2027

    Cape Town

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  11. 22–26 Feb 2027

    London

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  12. 1–5 Mar 2027

    London

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  13. 8–12 Mar 2027

    Barcelona

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  14. 15–19 Mar 2027

    Frankfurt

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  15. 22–26 Mar 2027

    Dubai

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  16. 5–9 Apr 2027

    Geneva

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  17. 12–16 Apr 2027

    London

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  18. 19–23 Apr 2027

    Barcelona

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  19. 26–30 Apr 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  20. 3–7 May 2027

    Frankfurt

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  21. 10–14 May 2027

    Istanbul

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  22. 17–21 May 2027

    London

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  23. 24–28 May 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  24. 7–11 Jun 2027

    Frankfurt

    €2,175 + VAT
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  25. 14–18 Jun 2027

    London

    €2,915 + VAT
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  26. 21–25 Jun 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  27. 5–9 Jul 2027

    London

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  28. 12–16 Jul 2027

    Barcelona

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  29. 19–23 Jul 2027

    Frankfurt

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  30. 26–30 Jul 2027

    Madrid

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  31. 2–6 Aug 2027

    Munich

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  32. 9–13 Aug 2027

    London

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  33. 16–20 Aug 2027

    Barcelona

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  34. 23–27 Aug 2027

    Frankfurt

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  35. 6–10 Sep 2027

    Frankfurt

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  36. 13–17 Sep 2027

    London

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  37. 20–24 Sep 2027

    Barcelona

    €2,275 + VAT
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  38. 4–8 Oct 2027

    Barcelona

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  39. 11–15 Oct 2027

    Frankfurt

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  40. 18–22 Oct 2027

    Rome

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  41. 25–29 Oct 2027

    London

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  42. 1–5 Nov 2027

    London

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  43. 8–12 Nov 2027

    Barcelona

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  44. 15–19 Nov 2027

    Frankfurt

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  45. 22–26 Nov 2027

    Vienna

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  46. 6–10 Dec 2027

    Amsterdam

    €3,215 + VAT
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  47. 13–17 Dec 2027

    London

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  48. 20–24 Dec 2027

    Barcelona

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  49. 27–31 Dec 2027

    Frankfurt

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Online / Live sessions

  1. 7–11 Dec 2026

    Live virtual classroom

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  2. 14–18 Dec 2026

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  3. 21–25 Dec 2026

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  4. 4–8 Jan 2027

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  5. 11–15 Jan 2027

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  6. 18–22 Jan 2027

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  7. 25–29 Jan 2027

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  8. 1–5 Feb 2027

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  9. 8–12 Feb 2027

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  10. 15–19 Feb 2027

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  11. 22–26 Feb 2027

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  12. 1–5 Mar 2027

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  13. 8–12 Mar 2027

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  14. 15–19 Mar 2027

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  15. 22–26 Mar 2027

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  16. 5–9 Apr 2027

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  17. 12–16 Apr 2027

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  18. 19–23 Apr 2027

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  19. 26–30 Apr 2027

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  20. 3–7 May 2027

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  21. 10–14 May 2027

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  22. 17–21 May 2027

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  23. 24–28 May 2027

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  24. 7–11 Jun 2027

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  25. 14–18 Jun 2027

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  26. 21–25 Jun 2027

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  27. 5–9 Jul 2027

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  28. 12–16 Jul 2027

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  29. 19–23 Jul 2027

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  30. 26–30 Jul 2027

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  31. 2–6 Aug 2027

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  32. 9–13 Aug 2027

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  33. 16–20 Aug 2027

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  34. 23–27 Aug 2027

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  35. 6–10 Sep 2027

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  36. 13–17 Sep 2027

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  37. 20–24 Sep 2027

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  38. 4–8 Oct 2027

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  39. 11–15 Oct 2027

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  40. 18–22 Oct 2027

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  41. 25–29 Oct 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  42. 1–5 Nov 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  43. 8–12 Nov 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  44. 15–19 Nov 2027

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  45. 22–26 Nov 2027

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  46. 6–10 Dec 2027

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  47. 13–17 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  48. 20–24 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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  49. 27–31 Dec 2027

    Live virtual classroom

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Introduction

Course overview

Getting time with senior executives is difficult, and when it comes it is usually short. Professionals who can brief leaders concisely, anticipate their concerns and influence their thinking are trusted with more responsibility and see their ideas implemented. Those who ramble, overload with detail or fail to make a clear ask lose credibility quickly.

This Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives training course develops the skills needed to communicate upwards with confidence and impact. Participants learn how executives think and decide, how to prepare concise verbal briefings, how to frame proposals in strategic terms, how to handle challenge and tough questions, and how to build lasting influence with senior stakeholders.

Participants practise briefing senior leaders in realistic simulations and receive detailed feedback on content, structure and presence.

View full course outline

What you will achieve

Learning objectives

  • Explain how senior executives think, prioritise and make decisions
  • Prepare concise briefings focused on what executives need
  • Frame proposals in terms of strategy, risk and value
  • Deliver short verbal briefings with clarity and confidence
  • Handle challenge, interruptions and tough questions
  • Communicate bad news and problems constructively
  • Build credibility and trust with senior stakeholders
  • Influence decisions through preparation and relationships

Who should attend

Target audience

  • Managers and senior professionals who brief executives
  • Project and programme managers
  • Advisers, analysts and specialists
  • Chiefs of staff and executive office staff
  • Emerging leaders preparing for senior roles
  • Consultants working with client executives

Methodology

Learning approach

  • The course is practice-intensive. Participants prepare and deliver short briefings to trainers and peers acting as executives, who interrupt, challenge and question as real leaders do. Recorded practice, structured feedback and repeat attempts help participants build confidence and polish.

Complete course outline

Five focused days of learning and application

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Day 1

Understanding Senior Executives

  1. How executives spend their time and attention
  2. What executives value: clarity, judgement and solutions
  3. Decision-making styles and preferences of leaders
  4. Common mistakes when briefing senior people
  5. Coffee break
  6. Common mistakes when briefing senior people (continued)
  7. Understanding organisational politics and priorities
  8. Self-assessment of upward communication skills
  9. Exercise: analysing an executive's priorities

Day 2

Preparing an Executive Briefing

  1. Defining the purpose and the specific ask
  2. Leading with the conclusion and recommendation
  3. Selecting the few facts that really matter
  4. Framing issues in terms of strategy, risk and value
  5. Coffee break
  6. Framing issues in terms of strategy, risk and value (continued)
  7. Anticipating questions and objections
  8. Preparing supporting material without overloading
  9. Workshop: preparing a three-minute briefing

Day 3

Delivering with Impact

  1. Opening strongly and getting to the point quickly
  2. Executive presence: voice, posture and composure
  3. Adapting in real time to the executive's reactions
  4. Using visuals and one-page summaries effectively
  5. Coffee break
  6. Using visuals and one-page summaries effectively (continued)
  7. Briefing in corridors, lifts and short slots
  8. Briefing executives remotely and by video
  9. Practice: recorded executive briefings with feedback

Day 4

Handling Challenge and Difficult Messages

  1. Responding confidently to tough questions
  2. Saying I do not know and following up properly
  3. Handling interruptions and changes of direction
  4. Delivering bad news and escalating problems
  5. Coffee break
  6. Delivering bad news and escalating problems (continued)
  7. Disagreeing respectfully with senior leaders
  8. Recovering when a briefing goes badly
  9. Simulation: a challenging briefing with an executive panel

Day 5

Building Long-Term Influence

  1. Building credibility through reliability and judgement
  2. Understanding and working with executive assistants
  3. Building relationships with senior stakeholders
  4. Coffee break
  5. Building relationships with senior stakeholders (continued)
  6. Using allies and networks to influence decisions
  7. Following up after briefings and decisions
  8. Final briefing practice with detailed feedback
  9. Personal action plan for influencing executives

Ready to book?

Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives

Next session: 7 - 11 December 2026, Frankfurt

Course FAQs

Questions about this course

What participants and training managers usually ask before booking Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives. Can't find your answer?

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What does Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives (CWS-041) cover?

This course covers Communication and Writing Skills through a structured five-day outline focused on practical application, discussion, and implementation planning.

When is the next available session?

The next scheduled session starts on 14 - 18 December 2026. See the course schedules section for the available dates and delivery formats.

Who should attend this course?

Managers and senior professionals who brief executives, Project and programme managers, Advisers, analysts and specialists

Is bilingual course delivery available?

Yes. All course materials and presentations are provided in English, while bilingual explanation and discussion support may be available depending on the selected location and trainer availability. For example, when attending a course in Istanbul, you may request a Turkish-speaking trainer to explain the English course content in Turkish. Arabic explanation support may also be requested at this location. Other languages are available in selected cities. You can choose your preferred language support as an optional preference during registration.

How can I register for a session?

Use any Register button next to the available course dates to open the participant registration page and submit your booking request for the selected session.

Is this course available online as well as classroom-based?

Check the course schedules section for currently published classroom and Online / Live sessions.

Where are classroom sessions delivered?

Current classroom venues include London, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Madrid, Munich, Rome, Vienna.

How long is the training programme?

The programme runs for five days from 09:00 to 14:00, which gives 25 contact hours, including a daily 30-minute break (22.5 hours of instruction).