COMMUNICATING CHANGE in times of transition (G007)

Workshops > Government > Complete List > Communicating Change

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

Change has become a constant in most working environments. Organizations in the public, private and voluntary sectors increasingly find themselves in continuing states of complex change. And, the need to effectively and quickly communicate about change has for many managers and supervisors become a regular part of their organizational responsibility. However, many managers and supervisors may not be aware of the range of tools now available to inform key internal and external groups and/or individuals about change.

“Communicating Change” has been designed to help managers and supervisors articulate, build and sustain support for all manner of organizational change.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

This workshop will provide managers and supervisors with the skills and tools necessary to communicate successfully about and build and sustain support for change. Participants will learn about:

  • Understanding the dimensions of change including types of change and approaches to change;
  • How to build and initiate change communications for internal and external stakeholders and audiences;
  • Preparing communications that help organizations become change ready;
  • The different change communications methodologies designed to engage key groups and individuals in planned change processes;
  • Using communications to help people adapt to change;
  • How to use change communications to address and shift an organizational culture;
  • The range of options available to successfully move stakeholder and audience groups from adversarial to supporting positions;
  • Communications approaches designed to limit resistance to change and information overload;
  • How to communicate an organizational change vision;
  • How to prevent under-communication and inconsistent messaging during a change process;
  • Using communications to build and sustain trust; and
  • How to build and implement a manageable and cost-effective change communications strategy;

Agenda

 

8:45 - 9:30 AM

Introduction: Defining the Concept of Change and Strategic Change Communications

  • Outline of the nature and scope of the program and change communications
  • Basic concepts will be introduced and defined including the typical types of change found within the public and private sectors

9:30– 10:30 AM

The Pathology of Change: The Psychological Processes Individuals Endure on the Road to Change

  • This session will explore the psychological processes individuals pass through during a typical change process
  • Discussions will also focus on why some individuals resist change and what can be done to effectively manage both 'passive' and 'active' resistors

10:30 - 10:45 AM

Health Break

10:45 - 11:30 AM

On Being a Change Communications Strategist

  • The nature and scope of the advice and guidance that can be provided to organizational leaders on strategic change communications will be discussed
  • The communications efforts required to ensure that colleagues are change-ready and thereby ready to engage in the change process

11:30 - 12:30 PM

Case Study Exercise

  • Participants working in small groups will develop the first elements of a change communications strategy based upon a scenario distributed to them and will report back their discussions through an instructor-led feedback and discussion.

12:30 - 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 - 2:00 PM

The Importance of Communicating a Change Vision

  • Discussions will focus on approaches to successfully communicate a change vision
  • The selection, training and use of change agents and change ambassadors will be outlined as well as the steps required to secure help from your colleagues

2:30 – 2:45 PM

Health Break

2:45 - 3:15 PM

How to Build a Change Communications Strategy

  • Key steps will be outlined and discussed on how to develop a strategic change communications strategy

3:15 - 4:00 PM

Case Study Exercise Session

  • Participants working in small groups will develop additional components of a change communications strategy based upon a scenario distributed to them and will report back their discussions through an instructor-led feedback and discussion

4:00 - 4:30 PM

Tactics: Communicate Relentlessly

  • Participants will review a number of tried and tested communications approaches used in change communications, including: face-to-face communications, small group meetings, storytelling, special events, print and electronic communications and more
  • Methodologies designed to engage your colleagues in the change process

4:30 - 4:40 PM

Wrap-up and evaluation of the workshop

  • Participants will complete a short evaluation


Instructor

David Kardish

David Kardish, APR, is President of the CEC and has over twenty years of experience working in all aspects of communications in Canada and the United Kingdom.

read bio

When, Where How much?

November 12, 2008

Suite 205, 223 Colonnade Road
South, Ottawa

$ 675 (+ tax)

Register for a workshop

Online

By mail

The Centre for Excellence in Communications
Suite 214,
223 Colonnade Rd South
Ottawa, Ontario,
K2E 7K3

By email

registration@comcec.com

By telephone

(613) 233 2175

By fax

(613) 233 7617

E-mail Updates

Receive bi-weekly workshop schedule updates by e-mail

Testimonials

"The intimate and informal setting allowed us to engage in practical and beneficial discussions"

"The range of examples really served to clarify the theory"

"Both content and instructor are excellent"