AI in Leadership:

Leading Up & Expanding Influence

1. Introduction

Effective leadership is not only about managing teams but also about leading up—building influence, fostering alignment with senior leaders, and shaping organizational outcomes. Combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) with leadership strategies allows leaders to make data-informed decisions, understand stakeholder priorities, and enhance their persuasive and collaborative capabilities.

This programme empowers leaders to expand their influence across hierarchies, navigate complex organizational dynamics, and leverage AI insights to strengthen credibility, impact, and decision-making effectiveness.

 

2. Training Objective

The programme aims to:

• Equip leaders with strategies to lead up and influence senior leadership effectively.
• Integrate AI insights to enhance organizational awareness and decision-making.
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Build leaders’ credibility, strategic presence, and impact within organizations.
• Enable participants to expand influence while fostering trust and alignment.
• Apply AI-driven analysis to assess influence opportunities and optimize outcomes.

 

3. Targeted Group

This training is designed for:

• Mid-level and senior managers seeking to expand influence within the organization
• Emerging leaders preparing to take on strategic leadership roles
• Project managers, department heads, and team leaders
• HR and organizational development professionals
• Professionals responsible for cross-functional collaboration and decision-making

 

4. Course Duration

Total Duration: 8 days (customizable)
Modules can be delivered in half-day or full-day sessions depending on organizational requirements.

 

5. Training Methodology

The programme employs an experiential and interactive approach:

• Expert-led presentations and facilitated discussions
• Case studies on successful influence and leadership strategies
• Role-plays and simulations for influencing upward and across teams
• Hands-on exercises with AI tools for organizational analysis and decision support
• Reflective practice to identify personal influence strengths and gaps
• Peer-to-peer learning and collaborative problem-solving
• Action planning to implement AI-enhanced influence strategies

 

6. Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Leading Up and Organizational Influence

• Understanding the concept of leading up and lateral influence
• Identifying the qualities of influential leaders
• Recognizing organizational dynamics and power structures

 

Module 2: Emotional Intelligence and Credibility in Leadership

• Building trust and respect with senior leaders
• Developing self-awareness and empathy
• Enhancing personal credibility and authenticity

 

Module 3: Introduction to AI in Leadership and Influence

• Overview of AI tools relevant to leadership and organizational analysis
• Leveraging AI for stakeholder mapping, sentiment analysis, and trend forecasting
• Benefits of AI-driven insights for expanding influence

 

Module 4: Strategic Communication and Persuasion

• Crafting compelling messages for senior leaders and stakeholders
• Aligning communication with organizational priorities and data insights
• Using AI insights to tailor messages and anticipate reactions

 

Module 5: Building Networks and Alliances

• Identifying key influencers and decision-makers
• Creating strategic networks to increase impact
• Using AI analytics to identify collaboration opportunities and risks

 

Module 6: Negotiation, Advocacy, and Influencing Skills

• Techniques for effective negotiation and advocacy
• Applying AI-driven insights for evidence-based persuasion
• Managing resistance and aligning stakeholders to organizational goals

 

Module 7: Leveraging AI for Strategic Decision-Making

• Using AI to support proposals, recommendations, and strategic initiatives
• Monitoring outcomes and adjusting strategies using AI dashboards
• Enhancing decision-making credibility through data-driven insights

 

Module 8: Personal Action Plan for Expanding Influence

• Assessing personal influence strengths and areas for growth
• Integrating AI insights into leadership development roadmap
• Creating a practical action plan for leading up and expanding impact

 

7. Outcomes of the Training

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Lead up and influence senior leaders and stakeholders effectively.
• Leverage AI tools to enhance organizational awareness, decision-making, and influence.
• Build credibility, trust, and strong professional relationships.
• Communicate persuasively and negotiate strategically.
• Identify and capitalize on opportunities to expand influence across the organization.
• Implement a personal action plan for sustainable influence and leadership growth.

 

8. Certificate of Completion

Participants who successfully complete all eight modules will receive a:

Certificate of Completion

Awarded by:

FOTADE Training, Research and Resource Development Centre

The certificate recognizes:

• Successful completion of the 8-Module AI in Leadership: Leading Up & Expanding Influence Programme
• Demonstrated competence in using AI insights to enhance influence, credibility, and leadership effectiveness
• Commitment to strategic, ethical, and data-informed leadership practices