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Develop the Skills That Define Your Success

Personal Development Training 2 days

This personal development course will help you extend your professional skills in relation to communication, goal achievement, planning and prioritising, as well as handling difficult people and achieving a positive mental attitude. Improve your career prospects and develop your personal confidence with this CPD accredited training.

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.

★★★★★ "Course content was comprehensive, including useful tools that I can use at work and in personal life. Just what I wanted to learn. Excellent." - Karen Oaks
Quality Training
5.0/5 from 35 Reviews
Established 1997
12 CPD Hours
Delivery Options Upcoming Dates

Course Overview

What is Personal Development Training?

This two-day Personal Development training is structured as four half-day sessions, each building on the last to give you a complete framework for getting the best performance from yourself and others.

Day one covers the foundations of personal effectiveness. We begin with a self-analysis where delegates score themselves against six key skill sets to identify the areas they most want to develop. We then cover how to set and achieve clear goals, how to communicate with greater clarity and persuasiveness, and how to handle conflict and difficult people in a rational rather than emotional way. Day one closes with the importance of honest appreciation and praise.

Day two turns to productivity and emotional management. The morning covers time management, prioritisation, delegation and how to manage interruptions and distractions, giving you practical tools to work more productively under pressure. The afternoon is devoted to emotional management; developing the ability to minimise fear, doubt and worry, replacing negative emotions with confidence and optimism, and then applying those same principles to inspire the people around you. Delegates consistently leave this course feeling empowered and equipped with a substantial toolkit of practical skills they can apply as soon as they return to work.

Core Skills

The Key Skills Covered

This course is built around six evidence-based skill sets that together enable you to get the best performance from yourself and others. Developing each to a high level creates a compound effect: clearer goals generate better decisions; better communication reduces conflict; stronger emotional management fuels consistent motivation.

  1. 1

    Setting and Achieving Goals

    Personal effectiveness begins with clear goals. We explore why hazy objectives undermine motivation, how goals must add value to others, and how to use the eight-part SMART formula to formulate goals that are specific, meaningful and achievable. Goals are the starting point of all achievement.

  2. 2

    Clear and Persuasive Communication

    Communication is the accurate transfer of information and ideas. Vague or ambiguous language causes errors, frustration and wasted effort. We show you a three-step method for expressing your exact meaning, how to use affirmative rather than negative language, and how to make your communication more precise and persuasive.

  3. 3

    Time Management and Delegation

    You are a limited resource facing an unlimited demand; effective time management is the art of doing the right things in the right order. We cover how to prioritise by value and deadline pressure, how to overcome procrastination, and how to delegate the right task to the right person so your energy is always directed where it matters most.

  4. 4

    Conflict Resolution and Difficult People

    Conflict is inevitable because people have different views, values and priorities. What separates effective professionals is the ability to handle disagreements in a rational rather than emotional way. We cover objective language, preparing your words in advance, distinguishing reasons from excuses, and knowing when to stand firm and when to find a workable compromise.

  5. 5

    Emotional Management and Self-Motivation

    Your emotions are caused by your thoughts; positive thoughts create positive emotions and negative thoughts create negative emotions. Emotional management means deliberately cultivating the thoughts and habits that sustain confidence, optimism and resilience, especially during periods of pressure or setback.

  6. 6

    Inspiring and Leading Others

    Once you can manage your own emotions, you can begin to influence those of the people around you. Inspirational leadership is the ability to help others feel stronger, more motivated and more confident. We cover how to redirect conversations, how to give meaningful praise and appreciation, and how to apply the Five Part Success Formula to unlock potential in your team.

Who Is This Course For?

Who Should Attend This Personal Development Training Course?

Designed for anyone who wants to improve their ability to get the best performance from themselves and others, regardless of sector or seniority.

Professionals and Executives

Sharpen the personal effectiveness skills that underpin strong leadership and influence at every level.

Team Leaders and Managers

Develop the communication, conflict management and motivational skills that bring out the best in your team.

Anyone Facing a Career Transition

Build the confidence, clarity and self-management skills needed to thrive in a new role or environment.

Anyone Seeking Greater Confidence

Develop the emotional intelligence and practical communication skills that build lasting self-belief.

Also highly valuable for technical specialists developing broader professional skills, graduates entering the workplace, and anyone experiencing significant change who wants to build greater resilience, confidence and personal effectiveness.

Course Agenda

Personal Development Training Course Details

1

Day 1 · Morning • Goal-setting, communication and personal effectiveness

Begin with a self-assessment against six key skill sets, then develop the foundations of personal effectiveness: how to set and achieve clear goals, communicate with precision and persuasiveness, and use language that consistently produces a positive response in others.

Personal development is the systematic improvement of professional skills, in order to get the best performance from yourself and others. You are the most influential person in your life, because wherever you go, you are always there. The best way to improve your circumstances is to improve yourself, in terms of better goals, better communication, planning and motivational skills. On this course we focus on developing the six most important skill sets: self-development (self-awareness, self-control, self-motivation and self-determination); the ability to inspire others; effective performance management; better planning and time management; clear, accurate communication; and setting and achieving goals.
Personal effectiveness relies on setting clear goals. When a goal is non-existent or hazy, motivation declines; when a goal is clear and distinct, motivation naturally increases. Everything you do will either add value, fail to add value, or detract from value, and our goal must therefore be to always add value to others. Many people mistake their wishes for goals; we discuss what distinguishes the two and create a template for effective goal setting. We then apply the eight-part SMART formula, a practical tool you can use every day to express your goals clearly, discover what others want and plan for the future. Goals are the starting point of all achievement.
Every day you leave an impression in the minds of others. People judge you based on two things: everything you say and everything you do. We explore the question of how you want to be perceived by others at work, helping you decide what impression you wish to leave and then act accordingly. The session includes a practical exercise in impression management and personal branding.
Some people use humour in the wrong way. We want our humour to add value to the situation, not detract from it. We discuss when it is right to laugh and when it is not, examine the role of the Team Clown and the Smiling Assassin, and establish the principles for using humour constructively in a professional setting without undermining credibility or causing offence.
Communication is the accurate transfer of information and ideas. Vague or ambiguous communication causes errors and frustration, so it is important to master the art of accurate language. We show you a simple three-step method for explaining yourself with absolute clarity and accuracy, applicable to both written and spoken communication. We also cover the distinction between affirmative and negative language: affirmative language tells people what is, negative language tells people what is not. Training yourself to speak about what you can do and what you will do, rather than what you cannot or will not, has a measurable effect on how people respond to you.
Cynics are negative thinkers with a negative impact on those around them. Critics are also questioning thinkers, but with a positive impact, because their challenge adds value and improves decisions. We must not become cynical, but we do need to develop our critical thinking skills. We discuss the role of critical thinking at work and how to ensure that our questioning and challenge adds genuine value to the organisation rather than simply undermining morale.
'Do not panic' suggests panic. 'Do not worry' suggests worry. It is important to avoid giving negative suggestions; instead, frame your instructions in the positive sense. We conduct practical exercises in reframing negative sentences into the positive: 'Do not panic' becomes 'Stay calm'; 'Do not forget' becomes 'Please remember'. This small shift consistently produces more cooperative and effective responses from others.
1

Day 1 · Afternoon • Conflict management, body language and honest appreciation

Develop a rational approach to conflict and difficult people, learn to use objective language that de-escalates rather than inflames, refine your body language and voice, and close the day with the power of honest praise.

Conflict is inevitable, because not everyone shares your views. Everyone has their own opinions about what is good, right, fair and appropriate, and consequently people disagree. You must know how to deal with conflict situations in a rational rather than emotional way. Conflicts often degenerate into negative emotions, and we need to know how to prevent those emotions from taking over and take the heat out of the situation. When in conflict, do not use opinionated, emotional or subjective language; instead, use only factual, non-emotional and objective language. We explain the clear difference between objective and subjective language and why it matters so much in difficult conversations.
We practise changing everyday angry, upset language into fact-based, objective language and explore how to use it in real-life conflict situations. When in conflict, it is important to decide exactly what you will say before you say it; the more you say without preparation, the more likely you are to say something that escalates the situation rather than resolving it. We cover how to distinguish between genuine reasons and excuses, recognising that it is either a reason or it is an excuse. We explore when to find a middle-ground compromise and when to hold your position firmly, and work through five real-life work scenarios to practise applying these principles.
Body language encompasses eye contact, posture, hand gestures and facial expression. Voice tones encompass volume, pitch and rate of delivery. We examine each of these factors in turn and identify the specific adjustments that project confidence, calm and authority. We discuss the best approaches to each element and help each delegate identify two or three specific changes they will make to their own non-verbal communication immediately.
It is important to remember the power of praise. Appreciation is free to give and costly not to give. We explore why honest, specific appreciation is one of the most powerful motivators available, why most managers give far too little of it, and how to develop a consistent habit of recognising good work. Always take the time to say 'Thank you, I appreciate it' in a way that feels genuine and specific rather than routine.
2

Day 2 · Morning • Time management, prioritisation and delegation

Move from reactive, mood-driven working to disciplined, value-driven productivity. Master a clear prioritisation framework, learn how to delegate effectively, and build practical defences against procrastination, interruptions and time wasters.

Time management is the art of doing the right things in the right order. You are a limited resource facing an unlimited demand, and you need to make sound decisions about how you prioritise your time and effort. Effective time managers operate according to their plan rather than their mood: they do the most valuable things first, even when those things are not the easiest. Procrastination is the habit of putting off what you know you should do simply because you are not in the mood; it is the opposite of time management, and over the long term it compounds into serious productivity shortfalls. We examine what happens to the procrastinator and establish the mindset and techniques needed to overcome it.
Effective people judge tasks by two criteria: value and time. When deciding how to prioritise your time and effort, ask two questions: what is the value of this task, and what is the deadline pressure? We show you how to sort your tasks into four categories based on these two dimensions. We draw a critical distinction between 'busy-work' (work that keeps you occupied but is relatively unproductive) and 'productive-work' (high-value work that is not yet deadline-driven but must be protected). The session also covers practical email management, and shows you how to create a daily priority planner, a track to run on, so that you are always working on the right things in the right sequence.
There are three categories of time wasters: your own bad habits, other people's bad habits, and inefficient systems. We discuss strategies to address all three types. We cover how to handle interruptions and low-value distractions; we live in an age of distractions, and learning to concentrate your attention without allowing it to be diverted by trivia is a high-value skill in itself. We then apply the 80/20 Pareto principle to personal effectiveness: the majority of your value comes from a minority of your activities. Finding the 20% of task content that accounts for 80% or more of the value, and protecting your time for it, is the fastest route to becoming significantly more effective. You are a limited resource facing an unlimited demand, and the goal is to gain the maximum value in the minimum time, without causing offence to anyone.
Delegation is the art of entrusting a task to another person. You cannot do everything yourself; you need to be able to hand the right tasks to the right people with clear expectations. Effective delegation requires selecting the right task, choosing the right person, specifying the expected outcome clearly and following through without micromanaging. We help you develop both the skill and the confidence to delegate effectively, so that your energy is consistently directed at your highest-value work.
2

Day 2 · Afternoon • Emotional intelligence, positive mindset and inspiration

Develop the emotional management skills that sustain performance under pressure. Learn how to build and maintain a positive mental attitude, control your conversations and apply the Five Part Success Formula; leaving with a personalised action plan.

Emotions affect behaviour. If you can manage your emotions, you can improve your own performance; if you can inspire positive emotions in others, you can improve their performance too. We start with managing our own emotions, because you cannot manage other people's if you cannot manage your own. Your emotions reflect your dominant thoughts: positive thoughts create positive emotions and negative thoughts create negative emotions. Emotional intelligence is therefore based on your ability to manage your thoughts. We show you how to create a constructive mindset and how to maintain it during tough times.
Attitudes are habitual thought processes, and they can be changed with sustained effort. Negative thought habits can be transformed into something more constructive and productive. We explore the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy, the mechanism by which what you expect tends to be confirmed by your experience, and show you how to use this principle deliberately to raise your own performance and that of the people around you. With effort, the mental habits associated with pessimism, self-doubt or reactive thinking can be replaced by the habits of optimism, confidence and proactive action.
There is a consistent relationship between the words you use and how you feel. Controlling how you speak is therefore one of the most direct and practical ways to manage your emotional state. We explore how the needless repetition of negative thoughts in conversation reinforces those emotions, and how that repetition can be replaced with something more optimistic and productive. The practical exercises in this session are immediately applicable: change the way you speak, and you will change the way others, and you yourself, feel.
Success is simple, but not easy. It comes from the consistent application of five words: Purpose, Plan, Action, Feedback, Change. We work through each component in detail. We cover how to transform failure into valuable feedback, how to turn destructive criticism into constructive learning, and how to benefit from setbacks, difficulties and defeats rather than being defined by them. We also discuss how to stack the odds in your favour by consistently doing and saying the right things and avoiding common mistakes. The session closes with each delegate drawing up their personal development plan: a concrete list of the things they will do differently as a result of the material covered on this course.

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 superiour 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 development is the most impactful form of training you can undertake, because you are your most important asset. Any error or bad habit you have is costing you every day. If you improve yourself, in terms of how you think, feel, speak, act and react, you will get better results in every area of your work and life. The skills covered on this course are universal; they apply regardless of your role, sector or level of seniority.
The 10 key areas of personal development are:
  1. Clear thinking
  2. Goal setting
  3. Clear communication
  4. Time management
  5. Prioritisation
  6. Handling conflict
  7. Praise and appreciation
  8. Self-control
  9. Self-motivation and self-confidence
  10. Inspiring positive emotions in yourself and others
At work, the three most important personal development goals are:
  1. The ability to decide exactly what you want, clearly and specifically
  2. The ability to create practical plans that describe how you can achieve what you want
  3. The emotional strength to persist through all the obstacles that stand between you and your goal
People who attend this training usually come from organisations that are experiencing significant change. The delegates all share a desire to improve their ability to get the best performance from themselves and others. They come from a wide range of personalities, roles and industries, but you will quickly discover that although everyone is different, we all share a desire to learn and apply new skills.
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
Book Open Course Enquire About In-House

Questions? Call us on

020 3856 3037

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Customer Reviews

What Delegates Say About This Course

5.0 / 5

Based on 35 verified delegate reviews

★★★★★

"The course was very well run, and the content was very engaging. It was a good balance of content across the two days. I have attended a number of these, and I would/will recommend this. Trainer's presentation: Excellent style and engaging all around. Great rapport with the class. Never an easy task to present to a room of professionals, but Chris pulled it off."

Paul Lycett

OX Tools

★★★★★

"Excellent structure and manuals, with great direction and time keeping. The content is gold! There are so many new and simple concepts that I will easily be able to apply. I found the SMART, CG4D and Prioritisation exercises very valuable. I loved the perspective of right box/wrong box. The time management matrix is really wonderful, I am going to share this! The trainer was approachable and empathetic, offering a very efficiently run course. He shares depth and breadth of knowledge through engaging storytelling, weaving in history and philosophy. His dedication to making a difference in people's lives if really evident."

Ashwina Rao

Waitemata DHB

★★★★★

"Refreshing course; learnt a lot of useful concepts regarding how to communication better, how to organise, manage and prioritise. Learnt new key management concepts. The trainer was very helpful, gave me a lot of confidence regarding many day to day activities; how to organize things and make myself a better professional."

Krishna Chaitanya Venuturumilli

Mari Vision Pvt Ltd

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Ready to Invest in Yourself?

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