Leading with Impact and Influence: Creating more Impactful Conversations

* Please note this session is for HPMA members only**

*This session is for those in HR/OD/ Workforce roles**

Summary:

In times of change and transformation, every conversation counts. For People Professionals in the NHS, the ability to hold deeper, more meaningful conversations is a critical leadership skill - one that builds empathy, strengthens relationships, and enables psychological safety in teams.

This interactive half-day workshop is designed to help you lead with greater impact and influence by unlocking the power of impactful conversations. You’ll explore the core psychological needs that drive connection and trust - including the need to feel heard and know where we stand – and gain practical tools to support others more effectively through challenge and change.

Grounded in both research and real-world experience, the session creates space for insight, reflection, and action. You’ll leave with simple, human-centred tools you can use straight away to create deeper dialogue, grow your influence, and support culture change in your NHS organisation - one conversation at a time.

What you will learn:

• The difference between transactional and impactful conversations – and why it matters

• Why psychological safety and emotional connection are vital for change and performance

• What people need most at work: to feel heard, understood, and clear on where they stand

• Practical ways to navigate emotion in conversation – with empathy, curiosity, and clarity

• Tools and techniques to create more open, trust-building conversations

Outcomes:

1. Understand the Power of Impactful Conversations: Recognise how deeper dialogue can build trust, influence change, and support psychological safety.
2. Explore Core Psychological Needs at Work: Understand how meeting needs like being heard and feeling safe improves connection, engagement, and resilience.
3. Develop Confidence in Emotionally-Connected Conversations: Learn how to hold space for emotion and create room for more open, honest dialogue.
4. Practise Simple Tools to Create Impactful Dialogue: Experience tools you can use with leaders and teams to enable reflection, empathy, and action.
5. Enable Culture Change, One Conversation at a Time: Leave with clear, action

Prework: Reflect on a recent workplace conversation that felt either emotionally charged or emotionally flat.

• What was going on for you in that moment?
• What might the other person have needed most from you?

Facilitator

Emma is an experienced HR and OD professional and executive coach, with over 25 years of experience across both the public and private sectors.

She has held a range of senior leadership roles, including a significant tenure in the NHS, which gave her a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the healthcare system.

Emma is known for her authentic, values-led approach and her ability to shape inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures. Her expertise spans from leading large-scale HR and OD transformation projects in the NHS to supporting SMEs in creating environments that balance operational efficiency with team wellbeing and engagement.

As the founder of LeaderX, Emma works with organisations to create the conditions where people can do their best work. She is passionate about developing leaders who lead with purpose, influence positively, and drive meaningful impact. Her people-centred leadership style has consistently delivered improved engagement and measurable results – including significant financial savings.

Emma also brings strategic experience from her role as Vice Chair of a UK College Group, where her leadership and commercial mindset contributed to the college retaining its Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys the outdoors, cooking healthy food, and practising yoga.

You can connect with Emma at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamemmaschofield/

Date: Thursday 15th January 2026

Location: Online

Time: 09:30 start, finish 12:30

By booking on this event, you are indicating that have read and agree to our event booking terms and conditions.

In the event that you’re not able to attend, please let us know within 5 working days of the event or we will charge a £100 cancellation fee regardless of the reason given for cancellation or non-attendance. We know that there are many good reasons why people are not able to attend HPMA London events they have booked on, please ensure you update your attendance in good time.

If an event is overbooked and the maximum attendance has been reached from a particular trust, the events team may need to cancel any further places that are booked. The team will then email individuals who have booked after the maximum number has been reached. See our event booking policy

We may take pictures or record our events to use in publicising our events programme including on our social media platforms. By booking on this event, you are giving consent to this unless you let us know otherwise. Any questions, please email We may take pictures or record our events to use in publicising our events programme including on our social media platforms. By booking on this event, you are giving consent to this unless you let us know otherwise. Any questions, please email Isabelle.Meakin@nhs.net in advance of the event.