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Coach Group

Maximise Your Output, Confidence and Impact

Personal Effectiveness Training 2 days

On this two-day personal effectiveness training course you will learn key skills to help you deal with situations arising both at work and in your personal life. By learning how to set and achieve goals, manage priorities and communicate effectively, you will feel more confident, less anxious and improve your ability to live life to the full.

Available as an open course at venues across the UK, as live online training via Microsoft Teams, or as bespoke in-house training tailored to your organisation.

★★★★★
"I found all the course content very useful, even the topics I did not think I needed training on. The most beneficial topics were decision making, managing emotions, conflicts and communication. The trainer was very engaging." - Katalin Kurilla, Independent Doctors Federation
Quality Training
Established 1997
12 CPD Hours
Delivery Options Upcoming Dates

Course Overview

What is Personal Effectiveness Training?

This two-day Personal Effectiveness Training course is structured around six measurable skill sets that determine how effectively you perform in your role. You begin with a self-assessment to identify the areas where you most need to grow, then spend the course building those skills systematically through practical exercises drawn from real workplace situations.

Day one focuses on the output-facing skills: how to set goals and stay committed to them long enough to achieve them, how to use assertive and persuasive communication to get results, and how to handle conflict and difficult people in a rational rather than emotional way. The afternoon also covers the correct use of humour, body language and the motivational power of honest appreciation.

Day two turns to productivity and emotional self-management. The morning covers time prioritisation, delegation and decision-making, giving you practical tools for getting more done in less time. The afternoon focuses on emotional management: how your thoughts create your feelings, how your feelings drive your results, and how to become a source of strength for the people around you.

Personal Development Training focuses on personal growth as a journey of self-improvement. This course takes an explicit results focus: every skill is framed around what you will produce differently when you leave, and delegates leave with a concrete action plan and three months of free telephone coaching to support implementation.

Core Skills

The Key Skills Covered

This course is built around six measurable skill sets. Your personal effectiveness is defined by your combined ability across all six: strengthen any one of them and your overall output improves; develop all six and the compound effect on your performance is transformational.

  1. 1

    Goal Achievement

    The ability to create a clear and distinct goal, commit to it and persist until it is achieved; not shifting focus when obstacles arise. Personal effectiveness begins with knowing precisely what you want and refusing to drift until you have it.

  2. 2

    Clear and Persuasive Communication

    The ability to accurately explain your ideas to others so they understand you, agree with you and act in accordance with your intentions. Effective communication eliminates the wasted effort that is caused by ambiguity and misunderstanding.

  3. 3

    Planning and Problem-Solving

    The ability to analyse the facts and formulate innovative, detailed plans of action that achieve the goal in the most efficient manner possible. Effective people prioritise by value and deadline, not by habit or mood.

  4. 4

    Managing People and Team Dynamics

    The ability to guide and harmonise different personalities in a team so they synchronise their actions and complement each other rather than working at cross-purposes. This includes handling conflict professionally and assertively.

  5. 5

    Positive Mental Attitude

    The ability to maintain a positive mental state of optimism and realism, especially during tough times, and the confidence to challenge the status quo when needed. Self-discipline and emotional self-control are core performance skills.

  6. 6

    Inspiring Others to Perform

    The ability to inspire positive emotions in the people around you, particularly during difficult times. Effective individuals make those around them feel stronger and more motivated, not weaker or more anxious.

Who Is This Course For?

Who Should Attend This Personal Effectiveness Training Course?

Designed for anyone who wants to get measurably more done, with less stress and greater confidence, regardless of their role or seniority.

Professionals Wanting Greater Output

Apply the six-skill framework to produce consistently better results in your day-to-day role.

Supervisors and Line Managers

Build the assertiveness, communication and motivational skills that maximise your team's output.

Team Members and Individual Contributors

Develop the self-discipline, goal-focus and communication confidence that distinguish high performers.

Anyone Lacking Self-Confidence or Focus

Gain the clarity, self-belief and practical strategies to take decisive action and maintain momentum.

Also highly valuable for technical professionals who want to complement their expertise with stronger interpersonal output, graduates building a professional foundation, and anyone returning to work who wants to rebuild self-confidence and productivity quickly.

Course Agenda

Personal Effectiveness Training Course Details

1

Day 1 · Morning • The six skills, goal setting and communication

Begin by identifying your current personal effectiveness profile across six skill sets, then build the foundations: how to set and commit to results-focused goals, how to communicate with greater clarity and assertiveness, and how to use positive rather than negative language to produce better responses from those around you.

Personal effectiveness is a measure of your ability in six skill areas: to set and achieve specific goals; to communicate clearly and persuasively; to prioritise your time and effort; to manage conflict and difficult people professionally; to develop the right level of self-confidence; and to inspire others to give their best performance. The course opens with a self-assessment against all six dimensions so you can identify exactly where your greatest gains are available.
Many people have wishes rather than goals. A goal is a clear and distinct target you are committed to achieving, with a specific plan for getting there. We examine why hazy or absent goals lead to loss of motivation and wasted effort, and then apply the eight-part SMART formula to real goals from each delegate's working life. Goals are the starting point of all measurable achievement; without them, effort disperses rather than compounds.
Personal effectiveness is shaped by your underlying values, because your values drive your behaviours and your behaviours determine your results. We explore how to identify your core values, how to check whether your daily actions are aligned with them, and how to close the gap when they are not. Delegates who leave this session with a clear values statement consistently report greater decision-making confidence and reduced internal conflict.
Communication is the accurate transfer of your ideas into another person's mind. Vague or ambiguous language causes misunderstanding, errors and wasted time. We show you a three-step method for expressing your meaning with precision, and practise the shift from negative to affirmative language: telling people what to do rather than what not to do. Both adjustments have an immediate and measurable effect on how others respond to your instructions.
There are three common responses to difficulty: the optimist who sees possibility, the critical thinker who questions constructively, and the cynic who defaults to negativity. Each produces a different output. We examine the characteristic behaviours of each type, explore why cynicism is so costly to productivity and relationships, and establish what it means to be a constructive critical thinker rather than a destructive cynic. Delegates leave with practical techniques for maintaining an optimistic and analytical mindset under pressure.
The brain processes language in a specific way: negative instructions often reinforce the very behaviour you want to avoid. We examine why positive framing consistently produces better results, practise rewriting common workplace instructions into affirmative form, and discuss how the language you use in everyday conversation shapes both your own state of mind and that of the people around you.
1

Day 1 · Afternoon • Conflict management, assertiveness and appreciation

Develop a rational and assertive approach to conflict and difficult people, practise the objective language that resolves rather than inflames disagreements, refine your body language and voice tone, and close the day by understanding the motivational power of honest appreciation.

Not all conflict is destructive. Managed well, disagreement surfaces better ideas, prevents complacency and strengthens decisions. The problem arises when conflict becomes personal, emotional or unresolved. We introduce a framework for distinguishing productive tension from destructive conflict, and establish the conditions under which disagreement adds rather than destroys value in a team or organisation.
People typically respond to conflict in one of four ways: aggression, submission, avoidance or assertive negotiation. Three of those responses are ineffective in most situations; only assertive negotiation consistently resolves the issue, preserves the relationship and maintains your credibility. We examine the characteristics of each approach and practise the specific language and behaviour patterns of assertive conflict resolution.
Subjective language (opinions, labels, generalisations) inflames conflict. Objective language (facts, specific behaviours, observable evidence) de-escalates it. We practise the shift from subjective to objective framing in realistic conflict scenarios, and show how deciding exactly what you will say before a difficult conversation dramatically increases your chances of a positive outcome.
Resolving a conflict is not enough on its own; the resolution must be accepted and acted upon by all parties. We cover the principles of constructive negotiation: separating positions from interests, generating options before evaluating them, and framing agreements in terms that each party can accept. The session includes practical exercises in distinguishing genuine reasons from excuses, and knowing when to hold your position and when to find a workable compromise.
Non-verbal communication often carries more weight than the words you use, particularly in high-stakes or conflict situations. We examine the specific elements of body language (posture, eye contact, gesture and facial expression) and voice tone (pace, pitch and volume) that project confidence and authority. Each delegate identifies two or three concrete adjustments they will make immediately to improve how they come across in difficult conversations.
Appreciation is one of the most powerful and underused motivational tools available. It is free to give and costly not to give; yet most people receive far less specific, honest appreciation than they need to perform at their best. We explore why vague or routine praise has little impact, and how to give appreciation that is specific, timely and genuine: the kind that sustains effort and loyalty over the long term.
Learning a technique is only the beginning; applying it under real-world pressure is the skill. We close the afternoon with structured practice exercises using scenarios contributed by the delegates themselves. Each person identifies the one or two conflict or communication situations they find most challenging and rehearses their response using the frameworks covered in the session.
2

Day 2 · Morning • Time management, decision-making and delegation

Move from reactive, mood-driven work habits to disciplined, output-focused productivity. Master prioritisation using value and deadline criteria, tackle procrastination and time wasters, make better decisions under pressure, and build the confidence to delegate effectively.

You are a limited resource facing an unlimited demand. Every decision about how to spend your time is also a decision about what you will not do. Effective people prioritise consistently, directing their energy at the highest-value activities rather than the most convenient or habitual ones. We introduce a prioritisation framework based on two criteria: the value of the task and the deadline pressure attached to it. Delegates then sort their real workload into four categories and identify immediately where they are misallocating time.
Procrastination is the habit of delaying action you know you should take because you are not in the right mood. Over time it compounds into a significant drain on output and self-esteem. We examine the common causes of procrastination (perfectionism, task aversion, unclear goals, fear of failure) and match each cause to a specific practical remedy. The most effective single technique is to commit to just the first two minutes of a task; the resistance almost always dissolves once you have begun.
Not all urgent tasks are important, and not all important tasks are urgent. The most costly error in time management is confusing the two. We work through the distinction in detail, show how to identify high-value work that is not yet urgent (and must be protected), and contrast it with busy-work that feels pressing but delivers little lasting value. Delegates leave with a completed daily priority planner they can use immediately.
Time wasters fall into three categories: your own habits (procrastination, poor planning, perfectionism), other people's habits (unnecessary interruptions, unfocused meetings, poor communication) and system inefficiencies (duplicated effort, unclear processes, excessive approval chains). We discuss strategies for each category and focus particularly on how to handle interruptions and protect focused working time without damaging relationships.
Poor decisions are rarely caused by a lack of information; they are usually caused by cognitive biases, time pressure or emotional interference. We examine the most common decision-making errors (confirmation bias, sunk-cost thinking, analysis paralysis) and introduce a simple decision framework: define the decision, gather the relevant facts, identify your options, weigh the consequences and commit to a course of action. Practising this sequence consistently produces faster and better decisions.
The Pareto principle holds that roughly 80% of your results come from 20% of your activities. Finding that 20% and protecting your time for it is one of the highest-leverage actions available to you. We work through how to identify your high-value activities, how to reduce or eliminate the low-value ones, and how to apply the same principle to your team or organisation to generate outsized improvements in collective output.
Delegation is the art of entrusting a task to another person and following through without micromanaging. Many people resist delegation because they fear the task will not be done to the required standard; we address this directly by covering how to specify outcomes clearly, choose the right person, agree check-in points and provide feedback that builds capability rather than creating dependency. Effective delegation multiplies your output without increasing your hours.
Day two morning closes with a structured review and a practical output: each delegate completes a written time audit for their typical week, identifying where their hours are actually going versus where they should ideally go. This audit becomes an input to their personal action plan at the end of the course.
2

Day 2 · Afternoon • Emotional management, resilience and inspiring others

Develop the emotional self-management skills that sustain high performance under pressure. Learn how thoughts create feelings and feelings drive results, how to become a source of strength to those around you, and how to apply continuous improvement to your own development. Close with a personalised action plan.

Emotions are not random; they are produced by the thoughts you dwell on. If you understand this relationship, you can begin to manage your emotional state deliberately rather than being at its mercy. We explore how the same external event can produce very different emotional responses in different people, and why that difference lies entirely in the interpretation each person places on the event. Changing your interpretation changes your emotion; changing your emotion changes your behaviour; changing your behaviour changes your results.
There is a direct and measurable link between your emotional state and your performance output. Sustained negative emotions (anxiety, resentment, self-doubt) systematically reduce cognitive capacity, creativity and resilience. Sustained positive emotions (confidence, optimism, curiosity) have the opposite effect. We examine this relationship and show you practical techniques for shifting from a negative to a constructive emotional state quickly and reliably.
The most effective individuals do not merely manage their own emotions; they actively raise the emotional baseline of the people around them. We examine what it means to be a source of strength: someone whose presence makes others feel more capable, more confident and more motivated. This requires specific language habits, a particular quality of attention and the discipline to maintain a positive presence even when you yourself are under pressure.
Personal effectiveness is not a destination; it is a discipline of continuous improvement. We apply the principle that small, consistent improvements compound over time into significant gains. We discuss how to build a personal improvement habit, how to review your own performance honestly and constructively, and how to use every experience, positive or negative, as a source of useful learning.
Feedback is the information that tells you how close your current actions are to achieving your goal. Without accurate feedback, improvement is impossible. We cover how to seek feedback proactively, how to receive critical feedback without becoming defensive, and how to extract the useful signal from feedback that is delivered poorly. We also cover how to give feedback to others in a way that motivates improvement rather than triggering defensiveness.
The ability to accept and adapt to change is one of the defining characteristics of highly effective people. Resistance to change is almost always rooted in either fear of loss or attachment to familiar habits. We examine the psychology of change resistance, show how to reframe change as an opportunity rather than a threat, and give delegates practical techniques for maintaining focus, optimism and productivity during periods of significant organisational or personal change.
The course closes with a comprehensive review of all material covered across both days, followed by an extended personal action planning session. Each delegate writes a specific action plan: the three to five changes they will implement immediately, with measurable outcomes and timelines. Delegates leave with access to the post-course portal and three months of free telephone coaching to support them as they put their plan into practice.

Availability and Pricing

Delivery Options

Choose the delivery format that best fits your schedule and team.

All options deliver the same high-quality content.

Online Live Training

£700 +VAT

per delegate

Interactive live sessions delivered via Teams using our superior green-screen technology.

  • Same content as face-to-face
  • Learn from home or office
  • Delivered via MS Teams
  • Laptop or tablet with webcam
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Most Popular

Open Course

£900 +VAT

per delegate

Early bird offers available

Join scheduled courses at venues across the UK including London, Birmingham, Manchester & more.

  • Venues across the UK
  • 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • Tea and coffee from 8:45 am
  • Network with peers
Book Open Course

Bespoke In-House

£2250+VAT

per training day

We come to you. Training delivered at your premises, tailored to your team's specific needs.

  • Your premises or online
  • Tailored to your organisation
  • Dates to suit your schedule
  • We can train in your timezone
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All Our Training Includes

Full 2 days of expert training delivered by an experienced trainer
CPD-endorsed course: 12 CPD training hours (plus 2-3 additional hours via post-course online learning)
Full digital interactive course notes
Official training certificate
Access to free additional training material via our post-course portal
3 months of free telephone coaching while you implement your learning

Questions? Call 020 3856 3037 or 01452 856091

Upcoming Dates

Next Available Course Dates

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No upcoming dates are currently listed.
Please get in touch to enquire about availability.

Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Course FAQs

You can book directly online via our course dates page, call us on 020 3856 3037, or make an enquiry and we will call you back. We accept payment by BACS, cheque or credit card. Once booked, you will receive a confirmation email with full joining instructions.
Yes. We can deliver this course exclusively for your team at your premises or online, on dates to suit you. Bespoke in-house training is priced per day rather than per delegate, making it cost-effective for groups of four or more. We can also tailor the content to address your organisation's specific challenges.
Personal effectiveness is measured by your ability across six skill areas:
  1. Goal achievement: the ability to set a clear goal and persist until it is attained
  2. Communication: the ability to make others understand, agree with and act on your ideas
  3. Planning: the ability to create efficient, detailed action plans that achieve goals
  4. People management: the ability to harmonise different personalities and manage conflict professionally
  5. Self-confidence and self-control: the ability to maintain a positive mental state under pressure
  6. Inspiring others: the ability to raise the confidence and motivation of those around you
This course begins with a self-assessment across all six dimensions so you can identify your personal starting point and measure your progress.
Personal effectiveness determines your output, your influence and your quality of working life. When you improve your personal effectiveness, you achieve more with the same amount of effort, reduce the friction in your relationships and build the self-confidence that comes from consistent results. Every error, bad habit or skill gap you currently have is costing you every day; improving your effectiveness is therefore one of the highest-return investments you can make in yourself.
The six principles of personal effectiveness covered on this course are:
  1. Clarity of purpose: know exactly what you want to achieve and why it matters
  2. Effective communication: express your ideas so others understand and act on them
  3. Efficient planning: direct your time and effort at the highest-value activities
  4. Professional conflict management: handle disagreements rationally rather than emotionally
  5. Positive self-management: maintain self-discipline, self-confidence and a constructive mindset
  6. Inspiring others: make the people around you feel stronger, more motivated and more capable
Delegates come from a wide range of roles and industries, but share a common characteristic: they want to get measurably more from themselves. Typical attendees include professionals who feel they are capable of achieving more but are held back by habits, lack of focus or difficulty with people; team leaders and supervisors who want to improve both their own output and the performance of those around them; and individuals at any level who want to build greater self-confidence, assertiveness and self-discipline. No prior management experience is required.
Yes, the training is highly interactive. Sessions include group discussions, exercises, case studies and individual action planning. The trainer actively teaches expert content rather than simply facilitating discussion, so delegates leave with structured knowledge they can apply immediately. The style is engaging and practical throughout.
Open courses run from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Delegates are welcome to arrive from 8:45 am; tea and coffee are available from that time. The course includes mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks plus a lunch break.

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On This Page

  1. 1 Course Overview
  2. 2 Key Skills
  3. 3 Who Should Attend
  4. 4 Course Agenda
  5. 5 Delivery Options
  6. 6 Upcoming Dates
  7. 7 FAQs

Book This Course

Online Live Training £700 +VAT
Open Course £900 +VAT
Bespoke In-House £2250 +VAT/day
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Customer Reviews

What Delegates Say About This Course

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Read Our Customer Reviews
★★★★★

"Excellent overview of concepts with some detailed analysis of key concepts. Such as the ‘goal’ part of SMART. The trainer was knowledgeable and approachable. I particularly liked that it was their own material – constantly improved and not just ‘a trainer’ presenting a training package. "

Fiona Wright

Not authorised

★★★★★

"Excellent training course with practical tools and models to apply and use immediately when back in the business. The training was very good; interesting, engaging, entertaining."

Su Summerfield

English Heritage

★★★★★

"I found all the course content very useful, even the topics I didn't think I needed training on. The most beneficial topics were decision making, managing emotions, conflicts and communication. The trainer was very engaging, using a lot of great examples. There was not a boring moment in the two days I attended. He made sure that we left knowing exactly what we needed to work on and how we can implement the changes. Thank you!"

Katalin Kurilla

Independent Doctors Federation

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Ready to Maximise Your Effectiveness?

Enrol on our next open course, join a live online training session, or speak to us about tailored in-house delivery for your team or organisation.

Book Open Course Enquire about In-House

Or speak to a member of our team directly:

020 3856 3037 01452 856091