Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives (CWS-041) Training Course

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, anticipate their concerns and…

5 daysClassroom or online

49Upcoming dates

12Cities

£2,750Fees from

Course overview

Introduction

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.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

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

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

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

Training Methodology

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.

Target Competencies

Executive mindset understanding
Concise briefing
Strategic framing
Handling challenge
Executive presence
Upward influence

Course outline

1Day One: Understanding Senior Executives

How executives spend their time and attention
What executives value: clarity, judgement and solutions
Decision-making styles and preferences of leaders
Common mistakes when briefing senior people
Understanding organisational politics and priorities
Self-assessment of upward communication skills
Exercise: analysing an executive's priorities

2Day Two: Preparing an Executive Briefing

Defining the purpose and the specific ask
Leading with the conclusion and recommendation
Selecting the few facts that really matter
Framing issues in terms of strategy, risk and value
Anticipating questions and objections
Preparing supporting material without overloading
Workshop: preparing a three-minute briefing

3Day Three: Delivering with Impact

Opening strongly and getting to the point quickly
Executive presence: voice, posture and composure
Adapting in real time to the executive's reactions
Using visuals and one-page summaries effectively
Briefing in corridors, lifts and short slots
Briefing executives remotely and by video
Practice: recorded executive briefings with feedback

4Day Four: Handling Challenge and Difficult Messages

Responding confidently to tough questions
Saying I do not know and following up properly
Handling interruptions and changes of direction
Delivering bad news and escalating problems
Disagreeing respectfully with senior leaders
Recovering when a briefing goes badly
Simulation: a challenging briefing with an executive panel

5Day Five: Building Long-Term Influence

Building credibility through reliability and judgement
Understanding and working with executive assistants
Building relationships with senior stakeholders
Using allies and networks to influence decisions
Following up after briefings and decisions
Final briefing practice with detailed feedback
Personal action plan for influencing executives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives course?

The course runs over 5 days of classroom training, usually Monday to Friday.

When is the next Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives course?

The next public date is 7 - 11 Dec 2026 in Frankfurt. There are 49 upcoming dates in total.

Where is this course held?

Upcoming sessions run in Frankfurt, London, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Madrid, Munich, Rome, Vienna.

Can I take Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives online?

Yes. Every date can also be joined live online in a virtual classroom with the trainer, for £1,280 per participant. Choose "Live online" in the dates table when you register.

How much does the course cost?

Fees start from £2,750 per delegate, depending on the city. Fees include tuition and course materials.

Do participants receive a certificate?

Yes. Delegates who complete the course receive a London Leadership Management Innovation certificate of completion.

Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?

Yes. LLMI can tailor and deliver this course privately for your organisation at your premises or in one of our training cities.

Course information last updated 14 November 2026.

Briefing and Influencing Senior Executives

Course overview

Introduction

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Training Methodology

Target Competencies

Course outline

Dates and fees

Frequently asked questions

More Communication and Writing Skills courses

Academic Writing and Research: From Essays to Dissertations

Active Listening and Questioning Skills

Art Direction for Designers

Training a team?