Gaining Buy-In from Senior Leadership

Overview

The CREO Gaining Buy-In from Senior Leadership Course supports professionals in developing the skills needed to secure executive support for ideas, initiatives, and projects. The course focuses on understanding how senior leaders evaluate proposals, make decisions, and prioritise organisational goals. Participants learn how to position their ideas in a way that resonates with executive perspectives and strategic priorities. Through practical frameworks and applied examples, learners explore how to structure persuasive proposals, communicate value clearly, and anticipate leadership concerns. The course also addresses stakeholder mapping, influence strategies, and effective communication techniques for engaging senior decision-makers. Emphasis is placed on clarity, alignment, and credibility, enabling participants to present ideas with confidence and purpose. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Identify key factors that influence senior leadership decision-making - Align project proposals with organisational priorities and strategic goals - Structure and present persuasive proposals to senior leaders - Apply influence and communication strategies to gain executive support - Evaluate and refine proposals based on leadership feedback Prerequisites: - No prior leadership or executive-level experience is required. The course is suitable for professionals, project leads, and emerging leaders seeking to improve their ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Syllabus

Gaining Buy-In from Senior Leadership

This module equips learners with the strategic communication and organisational insight required to secure buy-in from senior leadership for ideas, initiatives, and change efforts. Participants begin by learning how to build strong, evidence-based arguments that demonstrate credibility and align proposals with organisational priorities. They explore how to interpret leadership expectations, craft persuasive messages, and present recommendations in a way that resonates with decision-makers. Learners then dive into best-practice frameworks for strengthening influence and strategic alignment. Using McKinsey’s 7S Framework, participants assess how structure, systems, skills, and culture shape organisational readiness, ensuring their proposals are positioned for maximum relevance and impact. The module also introduces Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, guiding learners in designing change initiatives that build momentum, engage stakeholders, and achieve successful adoption across the organisation. Through videos, activities, and reflective exercises, participants practise techniques for communicating value, managing resistance, and presenting confidently in high-stakes settings.

Discussion & Assignment

This module includes course discussion and the final course assignment, which assesses learners’ ability to apply the concepts and skills developed throughout the course.