Build Foundational Coaching and Influencing Skills

Description

This program is ideal for post-secondary people leaders, academic administrators, HR professionals, and labour relations practitioners who want to strengthen their ability to lead collaboratively, build trust, and create sustainable workplace relationships in times of complexity and change.

In partnership with Essential Impact, this interactive leadership program brings Excelerator™ Essentials Part 1 to post-secondary leaders, HR professionals, and labour relations practitioners seeking to strengthen their coaching and influencing skills in increasingly complex workplace environments.

Created by Master Certified Coaches and grounded in proven learning theory, Excelerator™ Essentials Part 1 provides a practical and highly engaging introduction to coaching-based leadership. Participants learn a proven coaching framework that has helped thousands of leaders strengthen communication, improve team performance, and lead with greater confidence, clarity, and influence.

In post-secondary institutions, leadership often depends less on positional authority and more on the ability to build trust, navigate relationships, support employees through uncertainty, and influence outcomes collaboratively — particularly in unionized environments. Coaching and influencing skills help leaders communicate more effectively, manage difficult conversations constructively, reduce unnecessary conflict escalation, and create conditions for accountability, resilience, and engagement.

Through live coaching demonstrations, facilitated peer discussions, hands-on practice, and real-time feedback from accredited coaches, participants develop practical tools they can immediately apply in their day-to-day leadership roles.

Please note: This workshop receives 16 hours of credit toward ASET for completing Excelerator™ Essentials Part 1. For the International Coaching Federation purposes, Excelerator™ Essentials Part 1 contributes 16 of the 30 approved training hours. Participants who complete Excelerator™ Essentials Part 2 receive an additional 14 hours, bringing the total to 30 approved training hours recognized by the

Participants will learn to: 

• Use coaching techniques to support performance, accountability, and growth
• Influence constructively in complex and unionized environments
• Strengthen strategic thinking and decision-making
• Support teams through uncertainty and organizational change.
• Empower employees to take ownership of their work and development

Facilitators: 

Melissa Busse, PCC
Melissa Busse is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), facilitator, and former healthcare professional with over 17 years of experience supporting people and organizations through growth and change. She is known for creating engaging, psychologically safe learning environments where participants feel comfortable exploring new ideas, building practical skills, and having meaningful conversations. Her approach combines empathy, curiosity, and thoughtful challenge to help leaders achieve lasting impact.

Danielle Hockley, PCC
Danielle Hockley is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who has spent nearly two decades coaching senior leaders and executive teams in complex, high-stakes environments. She is known for helping leaders align around priorities, navigate difficult conversations, and move from insight to action with clarity and accountability.