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A behavioural science approach to communication

Crawford School of Public Policy | Executive course
Policy Essentials

Summary

This workshop has been specially developed to enhance leaders and managers capacity to converse with greater influence. Based on the latest research advances on the transformative nature of language and cognition, this workshop provides a practical introduction to key principles undergirding effective communication practices that reliably motivate others to act more consistently with what is intrinsically and socially important.

Course overview

This workshop has been specially developed to enhance leaders and managers capacity to converse with greater influence. Based on the latest research advances on the transformative nature of language and cognition, this workshop provides a practical introduction to key principles undergirding effective communication practices that reliably motivate others to act more consistently with what is intrinsically and socially important.

This unique workshop harnesses the potent tools of contextual behavioural science and an understanding of how words and speech function to influence covert and overt behaviour. The focus is on shaping the ways you listen, speak and track what you do that is directed toward valued living. You will learn to communicate in ways that build a community of engagement, commitment and learning with others. This will significantly enhance your ability to direct your own behaviour and more effectively influence the behaviour of others around you.

Topics to be covered:

  • Actively listen to and gain the perspective of others
  • Ask powerful questions to increase synoptic awareness and catalyse new insights and perspectives
  • Actively structure a conversation to enhance learning and stimulate positive responses from others
  • Speak authentically and persuasively about your own experience
  • Communicate effectively to ‘manage’ the expectations of others
  • Communicate to empower, motivate and influence the behaviour of others

Learning outcomes:

  • Communicate to effectively coordinate efforts that realise tangible goals
  • Structure dialogue to inspire motivation, cooperation and productivity
  • Improve personal productivity and wellbeing
  • Become better prepared for tough conversations through an empathetic understanding of the motivations and interests of others
  • Learn how to inspire and influence as a leader

Outcomes:

Participating individuals and organisations will be more adequately equipped to response to the challenges of this century. For example, in the areas of food, water and energy security while taking into consideration gender equity and social inclusion. The issues being faced by the public and associated sectors are complex and seeming intractable. An effective response, I believe, will necessarily be multi-disciplinary for those who rise to the challenge. Hence the design of the program – an accessible, well informed, deliberative process that catalyses innovative responses from individuals within nested and interrelated team and community arrangements to the challenges they face within their sphere of influence.

Anticipated behavioural and business impacts of the course include:

Participants will learn to:

  • Actively listen to and gain the perspective of others
  • Ask powerful questions to increase synoptic awareness and catalyse new insights and perspectives
  • Actively structure a conversation to enhance learning and stimulate positive responses from others
  • Speak authentically and persuasively about your own experience
  • Communicate effectively to ‘manage’ the expectations of others
  • Communicate to empower, motivate and influence the behaviour of others

Who should attend?

Leaders and managers encountering supervisory challenges or experiencing difficulties communicating with and motivating others. Leaders (SES Band 1&2) and managers (EL1&2)

Selected participants should hold a mid or senior-level policy, practice, research or reform role, in either government, civil society or the private sector. Ideally, they should have completed at least an Undergraduate or Masters level tertiary qualification, have at least five years’ work experience at mid to senior levels, and have a good understanding of the discipline they are representing.

Course presenter(s)

Dr Robert Styles

Dr Styles is an academic at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. As a Contextual Behavioural Scientist, his applied work has been a study of how language and cognition functions to influence psychological and social wellbeing, particularly the enhancement of team and institutional productivity, collaboration and performance. This work has been part of an international initiative stemming out of the University of Nevada and The Evolution Institute, Florida, aimed at applying evolutionary and behavioural principles to solving real-world problems.

Within ANU, the ongoing application of Dr Styles’ research is at the operational nexus of a number of different disciplines including applied behavioural psychology, organisational and cultural sociology, evolutionary science, and systems engineering. Currently this work is being applied in Australia, SW Asia, Africa and the Pacific within corporations and public-sector agencies striving to improve strategic and behavioural approaches to human capital development. Particular areas of impact include food, water and energy security, gender equity and social inclusion realised through the sustainability of individual and collective endeavours.

Over the last decade Dr Styles has advised and mentored over 300 top executives and leaders and consulted to a range of clients including: the Australian Public Service Commission, NSW Health, Australian National University, Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet, Australia Federal Police, NTU Executive MBA Singapore, Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Bhutan Electricity Authority & Senior Government Officials and the China Ministry of Education. Between 2008 and 2012 he was a principal leadership consultant for the APSC-DFAT Leading Australia‘s Future in Asia-Pacific (LAFIA) SES training program; he led the design of the SES leadership development suite of programs implemented by the APSC from 2011-12; and, he designed, lead and researched the impact of an approach to applied behavioural psychology with systems engineering within the Museum of Australian Democracy and Australian Government Department of Finance between 2014 to 2017.

Presenter previous positions:

  • Contextual Behavioural Scientist, The Australian National University (ANU) 2010 – Present
  • Deputy Director (Strategic Engagement), Australia Pacific Security College, ANU 2019-present
  • Advisor, International Development, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU 2017 – 2019
  • Director, Organisational Leadership & Performance – ANU Enterprise (commercial arm ANU) 2013 – 2017
  • Senior Consultant – Human Resources Division, ANU 2009 – 2012

Updated:  29 March 2024/Responsible Officer:  Crawford Engagement/Page Contact:  CAP Web Team