Centre for Communications Excellence

Delivery Method: In-House

Workshop

Communications

Best Practices for Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

March 10–11, 2027• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available
In-House, Online
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

The current environment is dominated by management efforts to ensure that all levels of employees respond to significant changes in their internal and external environments. In this context, the ability to harness internal communications and engage employees is a pre-requisite of successful organizational transformation, that is, transformation that reflects and effectively deals with the complex impacts of shifting economic, social and demographic realities.

This workshop is designed to tune up and strengthen participants’ understanding of, and skills in, various aspects of internal communications and employee engagement, as well as to bring examples of best practices from diverse organizations.

What will you learn?

The workshop will focus on:

  • What is internal communications – principles, linkages and definitions
  • Relationship between internal communications and employee engagement
  • Key issues and drivers of internal communications
  • Diverse approaches to internal communications
  • What others do and do not do and why
  • What works and what doesn’t – sine qua non of best internal communications practices
  • Impact of social media on internal communications and employee engagement
  • Importance of research, monitoring and evaluation
  • Linkages to external communication
  • An integrated strategic approach to planning, developing and implementing internal communications and employee engagement

Included in this workshop

  • Participant notebook consisting of presentation slides
  • A link to post-workshop resources available for download
  • Certificate of completion

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Participants will introduce themselves and outline their expectations for the workshop.
What is Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

• Definitions, principles and linkages
• Issues and drivers of public sector internal communications and employee engagement
• Understanding and using “impact mapping” to drive internal communications
• Key issues and challenges in internal communications and employee engagement

Exercise: Internal Communications and Employee Engagement Organizational Health Quiz
BREAK
Approaches to Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

• Addressing diverse internal communications and engagement needs
• From “corporate” to “HR” to “change” to “crisis communications”
• Different communications flows and applications
• What approaches to use and when

Small Group Exercise
LUNCH
Tools and Techniques for Effective
Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

• What works
• What doesn’t work
• How do we find out
• Integrating internal communications and employee engagement
• Internal social media engagement
• Do’s and don’ts of internal communications research, monitoring and evaluation

Small Group Exercise
BREAK
Integrated Strategic Approach to
Internal Communications and Employee Engagement

• Linkages to organizational strategies and business plans
• Internal versus external communications
• Building an internal communications strategy and action plan

Small Group Exercise
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation
Participants will complete a short evaluation.

You folks have the best materials! I thank you and your colleagues for your continued support. It’s one of the reasons we continue to come back!

Manager, The Canadian Medical Protective Association

Workshop

Communications

Communication Skills for Today’s Leaders

January 20–21, 2027• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available
In-House, Online
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

This interactive workshop has been designed for individuals who would like to master their communication skills and be great leaders: the skills used every day to communicate and interact, lead and support. This workshop will focus on improving communication skills in strategic listening, assertiveness, negotiation, problem-solving, transparency, and decision-making. These are the key interpersonal communication skills of all great leaders, no matter the context.

Individuals with strong communication skills are much more likely to succeed and thrive in periods of change. Employers, whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors, are always on the lookout to hire and advance the careers of individuals with well-honed communication skills. To succeed in today’s challenging environment, interpersonal communication skills are paramount. Leaders from every seat need the skills necessary to deal with difficult issues in a straightforward manner, listen well to the contend with the ideas and concerns of others, problem-solve to support employees and colleagues, and demonstrate a calm respectful assertiveness when engaging others.

What will you learn?

This workshop will concentrate on the communications skills today’s professionals require for success. Specifically, this professional development workshop will focus on the communication skill sets that employers’ value most:

  • Strategic listening skills;
  • Assertive communications;
  • Negotiation;
  • Problem-solving; and
  • Decision-making.

During this workshop, participants will acquire the following learning outcomes:

  • Listen actively to others and, thereby, provide candid feedback to employers, colleagues and reports;
  • Express ideas and views in a positive, respectful but assertive manner;
  • Know how to problem solve and, thereby, facilitate conversations to better manage organizational and inter-personal difficulties;
  • Communicate assertively and effectively, able to manage difficult conversations with ease;
  • Understand the fundamentals of negotiations and know how to avoid common pitfalls; and
  • Take decisions that matter, know how to stand by the decisions taken over the long-term and know when a decision requires revision.

Who should attend?

This workshop is intended for today’s highly motivated professionals who want to advance their communication skills and careers.

Included with this workshop

  • Notebook consisting of presentation slides
  • Exercises, case study and handouts

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
• The workshop participants will introduce themselves and outline their expectations and learning objectives
• The instructor will outline the workshop learning opportunities and planned processes
Active Listening: The Most Powerful of all Non-Verbal Communication Skills
• Participants will learn how active listening is essential to communication otherwise critical information will be missed or misunderstood
• Participant discussions will focus on how to listen actively to another person and how the act of ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’ differ
HEALTH BREAK
Assertive Communications: Make Interventions that are Assertive and Respectful
• Participants will learn how to express their thoughts, ideas and suggestions in a honest and appropriate manner
• In particular, participants will learn how to be assertive while remaining respectful of the thoughts, feelings and beliefs of others
• Participants will discuss and clearly differentiate assertive communications from aggressive communications
• Participant conversations will conclude on techniques designed to influence others through embedded suggestions
Case Study Exercise
LUNCH
Negotiation: Being Skillful While Avoiding the Manipulation of Others
• Participants will discuss the art of negotiation and why more employers regard strong negotiation skills as an important component of an employee’s communications tool kit
• Discussions will focus on understanding manipulation techniques — put-downs, bulldozing and spurious logic — often used in negotiations and how to resist and counter them
Problem Solving: The Stages and Techniques of Problem Solving
• Participants will learn why employers and organizational colleagues value problem solvers
• The participants will discuss the specific stages of problem solving and learn how problem solving techniques can be employed to resolve conflicts and disagreements
HEALTH BREAK
Decision-Making: Taking Decisions That Matter
• Participants will learn how to improve and further refine their decision-making skills
• Participant conversations will focus on the importance of decision-making and the meaningful role for decision-makers in today’s fast moving and evolving organizations
Case Study Exercise
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation
• Participants will have an opportunity to ask final questions and discuss remaining issues and/or concerns
• The participants will be asked to complete a short evaluation of the workshop
Register

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

You continue to offer exactly what government workers need to learn – at the right time!

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Workshop

Communications

Advising Clients: Influencing Tactfully and Fearlessly

January 6–7, 2027• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available
In-House, Online
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

This workshop is intended for anyone wanting to hone the skills and techniques required to be a great advisor. Account Executives, Internal Consultants and Strategic Advisors are required to provide solution-oriented advice on a wide range of complex and highly-charged issues that require a mix of skills: strategy, diplomacy, assertiveness and more. This professional development workshop will provide participants with the insights, techniques, and tools necessary to become a sought after and trusted advisor, able to handle any challenge that may arise and earn the trust of challenging clients.

What will you learn?

This workshop will help those working in an advisory capacity to acquire skills and techniques in the following areas:

  • Determine how to build trust and create reputational capital with clients
  • Acquire the communications skills necessary to successfully advise diverse clients and client groups
  • Establish the trust and reputational capital necessary to successfully influence the decisions of tough clients
  • Successfully engage in the process of relationship building
  • Secure sustained client buy-in and support
  • Learn how to challenge clients with tact and diplomacy

Who should attend?

This workshop will be beneficial to all of those individuals who are required to advise and brief upwards in the public, private and/or voluntary sector.

What will you take away?

  • Workbook deck
  • Exercises and handouts

Sample Agenda

Day ONE
Introductions and workshop overview
 
Participants will introduce themselves and share one challenge they face working with clients
Role of the advisor and why good advice can be hard to take
 
The roles and responsibilities of the advisory function and the reasons why good advice is sometimes rejected
BREAK
The road to trust and reputation
 
Proven approaches for building trust, creating reputational capital, and establishing a client-focused relationship
The tools of the skillful advisor
 
Techniques for securing client buy-in and appreciation: influence, persuasion, and diplomacy
Exercise
Working in small groups,
Day TWO
Navigating organizational politics and negotiation

Positive negotiating approaches and strategies to navigate organizational politics
Being assertive and managing difficult discussions
 
How to be a more assertive communicator and better prepare for and manage difficult discussions
BREAK
The road to consensus and the challenge function
 
How to reach consensus and employ the challenge function successfully
Exercise Session

Working in small groups
Recap and Wrap-up

The participants will have an opportunity to ask final questions and discuss any remaining concerns
Register

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

I had a really good experience. I heard good things about your training before, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Manager, Transport Canada

Workshop

Communications

Effective Stakeholder Communications and Engagement

November 4–5, 2026• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available
In-House, Online
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

Imagine you’re about to launch a new policy, regulations, program or a project that can have a wide-ranging impact on your work and on your internal and external stakeholders. You need the collaboration and support of a variety of people. To get things done at work and to sustain continued successes, one must rely on the goodwill and support of others. Securing support from well-informed, influential, and powerful stakeholders can help win the much needed resources (human, financial, physical and other) for the successful completion of a program or a project. In order to gain stakeholders’ active and sustained support, it is essential to communicate with them early, frequently, regularly about what you are doing and the benefits of your project for them.

The ability to build effective rapport and relationship with stakeholders provides managers with a distinct advantage in managing expectations, dealing with difficult situations and negotiating their way to a positive end result. Understanding the stakeholders’ communication and decision-making styles and personal preferences as well as what motivates them, creates an effective pathway for a committed and results-driven business relationship. Stakeholder communication and engagement is a valuable strategy that successful people use to win others’ support. The workshop outlined below will help you learn how to identify the key stakeholders who have to be won over and kept informed and involved in a way they like, prefer and appreciate so that your efforts lead to success.

What will you learn?

Successful completion of this workshop will enable participants to:

  • Identify influential stakeholders for a project or program
  • Gather critical information about stakeholders’ communication needs
  • Determine stakeholders’ communication and decision-making styles
  • Establish rapport and develop mutual understanding with stakeholders
  • Create persuasive stakeholder presentations
  • Apply best practices in stakeholder engagement and communication
  • Understand the importance of moving from “transactions” to “relationship” mode

What will you take away?

  • Participant notebook consisting of presentation slides
  • Exercises and handouts
  • A link to post-workshop resources available for download

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Stakeholders: Definitions and Roles

• Stakeholders defined
• Internal vs. external stakeholders
• Vertical, horizontal and other stakeholders and implications
• Distinguishing stakeholders as “political”, non-political, others
• Factors influencing stakeholder relations
• Stakeholder roles and influences
BREAK
Stakeholder Identification and Analysis

• Profiling stakeholders — characteristics, power, interests, postures
• Groups as stakeholders — opportunities and challenges
• Prioritizing stakeholders
• Stakeholder analysis and mapping

Case Study Exercise: Prioritizing stakeholders based on established criteria.
Communicating with Stakeholders: Building Relationships

• Engaging the stakeholders
• Determining their communications and decision-making style
• Using appropriate communications approaches
• Ascertaining the appropriateness of different communications and stakeholder engagement models, tools and techniques
• Determining stakeholders interests

Case Study Exercise: Assessing Risks and Impacts.
Day 2
Stakeholder Engagement Strategies

• Understanding and planning stakeholder communications
• Communications tools and methods
• Managing stakeholder expectations

Case Study Exercise: Responding to Senior Management Needs.
BREAK
Moving Stakeholders from Supporters to Advocates

• Guiding principles
• Moving stakeholders along the change continuum
• Influencing and persuasion skills
• Building Trust
• Tips for effective stakeholder communications

Case Study Exercise: Stakeholder Communications Strategy
Wrap-up and Evaluation
Register

I had a really good experience. I heard good things about your training before, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Manager, Transport Canada

Workshop

Communications

Communication Skills for Today’s Leaders

March 23–24, 2027• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available
In-House, Online
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

This interactive workshop has been designed for individuals who would like to master their communication skills and be great leaders: the skills used every day to communicate and interact, lead and support. This workshop will focus on improving communication skills in strategic listening, assertiveness, negotiation, problem-solving, transparency, and decision-making. These are the key interpersonal communication skills of all great leaders, no matter the context.

Individuals with strong communication skills are much more likely to succeed and thrive in periods of change. Employers, whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors, are always on the lookout to hire and advance the careers of individuals with well-honed communication skills. To succeed in today’s challenging environment, interpersonal communication skills are paramount. Leaders from every seat need the skills necessary to deal with difficult issues in a straightforward manner, listen well to the contend with the ideas and concerns of others, problem-solve to support employees and colleagues, and demonstrate a calm respectful assertiveness when engaging others.

What will you learn?

This workshop will concentrate on the communications skills today’s professionals require for success. Specifically, this professional development workshop will focus on the communication skill sets that employers’ value most:

  • Strategic listening skills;
  • Assertive communications;
  • Negotiation;
  • Problem-solving; and
  • Decision-making.

During this workshop, participants will acquire the following learning outcomes:

  • Listen actively to others and, thereby, provide candid feedback to employers, colleagues and reports;
  • Express ideas and views in a positive, respectful but assertive manner;
  • Know how to problem solve and, thereby, facilitate conversations to better manage organizational and inter-personal difficulties;
  • Communicate assertively and effectively, able to manage difficult conversations with ease;
  • Understand the fundamentals of negotiations and know how to avoid common pitfalls; and
  • Take decisions that matter, know how to stand by the decisions taken over the long-term and know when a decision requires revision.

Who should attend?

This workshop is intended for today’s highly motivated professionals who want to advance their communication skills and careers.

Included with this workshop

  • Notebook consisting of presentation slides
  • Exercises, case study and handouts

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
• The workshop participants will introduce themselves and outline their expectations and learning objectives
• The instructor will outline the workshop learning opportunities and planned processes
Active Listening: The Most Powerful of all Non-Verbal Communication Skills
• Participants will learn how active listening is essential to communication otherwise critical information will be missed or misunderstood
• Participant discussions will focus on how to listen actively to another person and how the act of ‘listening’ and ‘hearing’ differ
HEALTH BREAK
Assertive Communications: Make Interventions that are Assertive and Respectful
• Participants will learn how to express their thoughts, ideas and suggestions in a honest and appropriate manner
• In particular, participants will learn how to be assertive while remaining respectful of the thoughts, feelings and beliefs of others
• Participants will discuss and clearly differentiate assertive communications from aggressive communications
• Participant conversations will conclude on techniques designed to influence others through embedded suggestions
Case Study Exercise
LUNCH
Negotiation: Being Skillful While Avoiding the Manipulation of Others
• Participants will discuss the art of negotiation and why more employers regard strong negotiation skills as an important component of an employee’s communications tool kit
• Discussions will focus on understanding manipulation techniques — put-downs, bulldozing and spurious logic — often used in negotiations and how to resist and counter them
Problem Solving: The Stages and Techniques of Problem Solving
• Participants will learn why employers and organizational colleagues value problem solvers
• The participants will discuss the specific stages of problem solving and learn how problem solving techniques can be employed to resolve conflicts and disagreements
HEALTH BREAK
Decision-Making: Taking Decisions That Matter
• Participants will learn how to improve and further refine their decision-making skills
• Participant conversations will focus on the importance of decision-making and the meaningful role for decision-makers in today’s fast moving and evolving organizations
Case Study Exercise
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation
• Participants will have an opportunity to ask final questions and discuss remaining issues and/or concerns
• The participants will be asked to complete a short evaluation of the workshop
Register

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

I had a really good experience. I heard good things about your training before, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Manager, Transport Canada

Workshop

Writing

Writing Effective Briefing Notes

9:00 am - 12:30 pm •
In-House
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

The briefing note is an essential communication and decision-making tool in government and other organizations. It is written to present emerging issues, explore plans of action and inform decisions.

Today’s senior managers are overloaded with ever-increasing information, and they need to know what is important as they make decisions. The ability to provide concise, clear and relevant analysis in writing is a key skill.

What will you learn?

  • The purpose and structure of a briefing note
  • How to approach and organize a briefing note
  • How to write in a clear and concise manner
  • How to express the issue succinctly and summarize information
  • How to produce briefing notes that meet departmental requirements

What will you take away?

  • Presentation slides in the form of a participant notebook
  • Useful templates, exercises and checklists

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Why We Write Briefing Notes
Participants consider the fast-paced environment and discuss why senior decision-makers require timely, accurate, concise information and advice.
Writing Clearly
Participants review tips for writing clearly, and practice in a series of exercises.
BREAK
The Writing Process
Participants discuss the steps to take as they prepare to write a briefing note. Participants study how to write in plain language.
What is the Context of your Briefing Note?
Participants discuss how to address the Who, What, Why, and When of any briefing note they are asked to prepare.
LUNCH
Structure of the Briefing Note
Participants examine the main sections of a briefing note (Issue, Key Considerations, Options, Recommendation). Using a scenario, the class discusses the possible content for each section.
Writing the Briefing Note
Recap of principles and practices in crafting the briefing note. Participants read a case study and discuss the issue. Participants work in groups to prepare a briefing note.
BREAK
Briefing Note Group Presentations
Each group presents its completed briefing note. Participants discuss the notes and lessons learned.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation
Instructor sums up the key points and participants complete a short evaluation.

You folks have the best materials! I thank you and your colleagues for your continued support. It’s one of the reasons we continue to come back!

Manager, The Canadian Medical Protective Association

Claude Panneton

Claude Panneton is a former public service executive with over 20 years of communications experience including risk and crisis communications, issues management, strategic communications and oversight of departmental public environment analysis,… Read full bio

Workshop

Communications

Science Writing: Writing Effectively About Science and Social Science

In-House
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

You need to communicate science or social science information to the public, whether your audience is policy-makers who need to be aware of current data or knowledge, citizens concerned about the effects of new technologies or policies, or young people with an innate sense of wonder. How do you communicate evidence-based programs, policies or research in a way that your target audience can understand, appreciate and act on?

You may be writing:

  • a plain-language summary
  • a media release about new results
  • an explanation of an evidence-based program or policy for the public
  • a backgrounder for policy-makers on methodology
  • your research objectives
  • a briefing note or a memorandum
  • a deck or a presentation

Whatever the medium and the message, you need to write effectively about science, evidence and data.

Effective writing situates readers in context to help them understand where the information fits in a broader context. How do these results affect people? How will the policy change the way things are done? It relates often abstract or complex concepts to the real world. And it uses a writing toolbox to convey ideas through metaphor, analogy, visual images, and even humour.

Participants will learn to assess the audience targeted in a communication. They will understand the format of a public summary, media release, and article, and how these differ from scientific or technical communications such as journal articles and abstracts. They will be able to explain scientific or social science concepts in everyday language, and bring ideas to life using the tools of prose. They will situate technical problems in a social context. By the end of the day, participants should be able to craft a clear and explanatory document for the public.

What will you learn?

  • Who you are explaining your research to — what are their needs?
  • How (in what format) do you need to explain the results, policy, or program — plain-language summary? Media release? Briefing Note? Web page? Article for a research bulletin? What are the requirements for these formats?
  • The “elevator pitch” — explaining briefly yet accurately
  • Defining terms and concepts
  • Explaining context
  • Explaining potential applications or implications
  • Explaining why and how using metaphors, analogies, visual imagery

What will you take away?

  • Writing toolbox of methods to communicate about science and social science
  • Completed document about a scientific or social science issue or project
  • Confidence to explain research to various publics

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Why Communicate Science or Social Science to the Public?

• Reasons for writing about science or social science
• Audiences: who they are, differences among them, targeting an audience
• Implications for writing: vocabulary, sentence structure and length, grade level
• Communicating clearly and concisely: the elevator pitch

Exercise: choose a current science or social science topic that you wish to write about and make the elevator pitch
BREAK
Formats of Written Communication

• Various formats and how they are structured
• Differences between traditional scientific communications (journal articles, abstracts) and public communications (summaries, media releases, articles)

Exercise: choose a format and outline how the selected topic would fit this format

Research in Context

Explaining how the topic fits: why is the research being done or policy or program being put in place? How will it help? Does it have applications? Does it help us understand something? How will it be used?

Exercise: explain the context for the selected topic
LUNCH
Writing Toolbox

• Definitions: explaining terms and concepts
• Metaphors: in addition to explaining what it is, explain what it is like
• Analogy: comparing to a similar process or concept the public can understand
• Visual imagery: describing how things happen visually; using diagrams and graphs
• Language level: plain-language guides, testing vocabulary, grade level checkers
• Active voice
• Sentence and paragraph structure and length

Exercise: use each of these tools to write about the selected topic
BREAK
Putting it All Together

• Write a first draft of the selected public communication about the science or social science topic
• Presentation and feedback
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation

The tools that were presented will be very helpful in my work and personal environments. Great facility. I will come back for other training.

Program Manager, Office of the Secretary to the Governor General

Workshop

Communications

Advanced Strategic Communications Planning: Transitioning to Strategic Planner and Strategist

In-House
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

Why should you attend?

The CEC’s workshop, Advanced Strategic Communications Planning: Transitioning to Strategic Planner and Strategist, has been designed for communications practitioners who either spend the majority of their time engaged in strategic communications planning, or who have previously completed the Centre’s workshop on Strategic Communications Planning: Critical Steps and Techniques. The CEC assumes that each learner taking the Advanced Workshop in Strategic Communications Planning will already understand the steps and processes necessary to build a comprehensive strategic communications plan.

Why should you attend?

It is a given that professionals with strong strategic planning skills in communications are much more likely to succeed. Employers, whether in the public, private or voluntary sector, are always on the lookout to hire and advance individuals with strong strategic planning and strategic advisory skills. Professionals who have the range of strategic planning skills necessary to design, lead and facilitate organization-wide strategic communications planning processes and who can successfully deliver high-energy outcomes-based strategic communications are always in high demand.

What will you learn?

The CEC’s workshop in Advanced Strategic Communications Planning will provide learners with the opportunity and knowledge necessary to elevate their strategic planning skills to a higher and more sophisticated level. This innovative workshop will significantly heighten learner’s knowledge about the strategic communications planning process, provide learners with more advanced strategic planning tools and methodologies and enable learners to confidently tackle complex corporate strategic communications planning assignments. Lastly, learners will understand the processes needed to guide internal and external colleagues, clients and stakeholders through detailed strategic communications planning processes.

Participants will acquire advanced strategic planning methodologies and learn how to confidently undertake the following:

  • Based on client and stakeholder requirements determine and advise on the scope of the needed communications strategy;
  • Design, lead and facilitate an organization-wide strategic communications planning process and learn to successfully execute the completed strategic plan;
  • Review, refine and incorporate the organizational vision, mission, values and strategic outcomes into the strategic planning process and outcomes;
  • Implement innovative situational and environmental scanning processes in order to assess and determine the range of critical communications issues that will be managed and/or resolved through the strategic plan;
  • Decide on the strategic communications priorities and outcomes that will both anchor and drive the strategic plan;
  • Enable colleagues to transition seamlessly from strategy to implementation;
  • Secure high-level buy-in and commitment for the communications strategy and implementation plan; and
  • Manage the strategic communications review process and secure lessons learned.

What will you take away?

  • Notebook consisting of presentation slides
  • Exercises and handouts

Professional competencies

  • Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
  • Excellence: Delivering results

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions
Participants will introduce themselves, describe their strategic planning experience and indicate their expectations for the workshop.
Strategic Communications Planning Sequence

• Participants will review and discuss the traditional, non-traditional and participatory approaches to strategic communications planning
• Participants will understand how to resolve possible conflicts within participatory planning processes and the leader’s defined role and responsibility for strategy development and implementation
• Participants will determine where trust, credibility and reputation reside within the strategic planning process
Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Outcomes

• Participants will discuss the guiding role played by the organizational vision, mission, values and strategic outcomes in the strategic planning process
• Participants will learn about the processes necessary to refine the organizational vision, mission, values and strategic outcomes
BREAK
Lead and Facilitate the Strategic Planning Process

• Participants will learn how to design and facilitate strategic communications planning processes including planning retreats
• Participants will discuss how to anticipate and manage conflicts during the planning process
Exercise Session on Audience and Stakeholder Analysis
Participants will use a segmentation model to analyze specific clients, stakeholders and audiences.
LUNCH
Implement Innovative Situational and Environmental Research

• Participants will learn to build the research and consultation plan, use scenario planning and define the parameters for the situational and environmental analysis
• Participants will discuss how to identify, define and prioritize critical and emerging communications issues that matter
Strategic Priorities, Outcomes and Performance Indicators
Participants will discuss the processes required to identify the strategic communications priorities for the plan and identify the communications outcomes to be achieved with respect to each strategic priority including required performance indicators.
BREAK
Exercise Session on Leadership, Buy-in and Commitment

• Participants will strategize on how to secure leadership buy-in and commitment for a strategic communications plan
• Participants will review best practices for influence, persuasion and diplomacy in an organizational setting
Manage the Strategic Communications Plan Review Process

• Participants will learn how to manage the strategic communications plan review process in an iterative manner
• Participants will discuss how to ensure that the strategic communications plan becomes a living document and can take full advantage of lessons learned
Wrap-up and Evaluation

I … found the sessions not only engaging, but also extremely valuable for my career. Honestly, it was a fantastic learning experience over the past couple of days, and I walked away with practical insights and tools that I’m going to apply in my work going forward.

Participant – Stakeholder Engagement

Workshop

Communications

Storytelling: Creating and Communicating Compelling Narratives

9:00 am - 12:30 pm •
In-House
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

This workshop focuses on oral communications and engaging your audience through the telling of stories. It is not a a story-writing workshop.

Why should you attend?

This one-day workshop has been designed for all communicators: professional and non-professional. In particular, it has been created for those who already understand the potential of stories and narratives and who would like to learn more about building better understanding and incorporating compelling narratives into their work.

Participants taking part in this dynamic workshop will have the opportunity to craft a three to five minute organizational change, internal or external communications story and to participate in an interactive storytelling session.

Stories and narratives are one of the most powerful tools available to us. They have the potential to educate, motivate and activate listeners from all walks of life. Stories and narratives are economical, reliable, easy to use and, most importantly, outcome-driven. A well-crafted story or political narrative has the power to transport the listener from a place of comfort and familiarity to an entirely new location where he or she is ready, willing and waiting to take action.

What will you learn?

By attending this workshop you will better understand and become more knowledgeable about the role of stories and narratives in all aspects of communications. You will learn about the psychology that underlines all storytelling. And, you will learn how to differentiate the soft side of storytelling from punch-packing political narratives.

You will strengthen your knowledge and skills through presentations, discussions and case study exercises. The focus of the workshop will be on:

  • Understanding the concepts of storytelling in internal and external communications;
  • Learning about the psychology behind storytelling;
  • Knowing how to use hard-hitting narratives to capture and sustain listeners’ attention;
  • The role of the ‘Springboard Story’ in organizational change; and
  • The skills and techniques required to enhance story creation and storytelling abilities.

What will you take away?

  • Workbook, handouts and references
  • Certificate of completion

Professional Competencies

  • Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview

• Participant introductions and workshop expectations
• Instructor introduction, workshop overview and learning outcomes
Introduction to Storytelling: Once Upon a Time…

• During this introductory session, key concepts will be defined and further elaborated
• Participants will discuss the dynamic set of interactions that make storytelling possible
The Fundamentals of Story Telling and Communications
Participants will learn about the relationship between storytelling and communications
BREAK
The Psychology Behind Storytelling

• Participants will focus on the dynamic interrelationship of the storyteller and the listener
• The discussion will move from simple storytelling to the role of direct and indirect narratives
Storytelling Preparation Session

• The participants will discuss the merits of the story ideas identified in response to the pre-workshop ‘thinking assignment’
• The group will help refine each story idea
LUNCH
The Essentials of Story Selection, Development and Social Media
Participants will learn how to identify and build a story including stories that will be used for social media.
Best Practices in Storytelling Techniques
Participants will discuss a range of tried and tested best practices in storytelling techniques.
The Political Side of Storytelling

• Participants will learn how political narratives are used to capture peoples’ attention and to change peoples’ views
• Participants will also discuss the role of stories in organizations including the role of the ‘Springboard Story’
BREAK
Videotaped Presentations and Feedback

• While being videotaped and in front of the group, participants will present their stories. Stories will be played back, reviewed and discussed as a class
• Participants will be provided with an electronic copy of their respective story presentation upon request
Wind Down and Evaluation
Participants will discuss the lessons learned and complete a short evaluation of the workshop.

You continue to offer exactly what government workers need to learn – at the right time!

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Workshop

Communications

Storytelling: Creating and Communicating Compelling Narratives

9:00 am - 12:30 pm • Check for more dates available
In-House
Cost: $750
Have questions about cancellations, rescheduling, or substitutions? View our workshop policies.

This workshop focuses on oral communications and engaging your audience through the telling of stories. It is not a a story-writing workshop.

Why should you attend?

This one-day workshop has been designed for all communicators: professional and non-professional. In particular, it has been created for those who already understand the potential of stories and narratives and who would like to learn more about building better understanding and incorporating compelling narratives into their work.

Participants taking part in this dynamic workshop will have the opportunity to craft a three to five minute organizational change, internal or external communications story and to participate in an interactive storytelling session.

Stories and narratives are one of the most powerful tools available to us. They have the potential to educate, motivate and activate listeners from all walks of life. Stories and narratives are economical, reliable, easy to use and, most importantly, outcome-driven. A well-crafted story or political narrative has the power to transport the listener from a place of comfort and familiarity to an entirely new location where he or she is ready, willing and waiting to take action.

What will you learn?

By attending this workshop you will better understand and become more knowledgeable about the role of stories and narratives in all aspects of communications. You will learn about the psychology that underlines all storytelling. And, you will learn how to differentiate the soft side of storytelling from punch-packing political narratives.

You will strengthen your knowledge and skills through presentations, discussions and case study exercises. The focus of the workshop will be on:

  • Understanding the concepts of storytelling in internal and external communications;
  • Learning about the psychology behind storytelling;
  • Knowing how to use hard-hitting narratives to capture and sustain listeners’ attention;
  • The role of the ‘Springboard Story’ in organizational change; and
  • The skills and techniques required to enhance story creation and storytelling abilities.

What will you take away?

  • Workbook, handouts and references
  • Certificate of completion

Professional Competencies

  • Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Leah has over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of communications, organizational change, and cultural transformation. As a former executive at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), Leah led both the communications and human… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview

• Participant introductions and workshop expectations
• Instructor introduction, workshop overview and learning outcomes
Introduction to Storytelling: Once Upon a Time…

• During this introductory session, key concepts will be defined and further elaborated
• Participants will discuss the dynamic set of interactions that make storytelling possible
The Fundamentals of Story Telling and Communications
Participants will learn about the relationship between storytelling and communications.
BREAK
The Psychology Behind Storytelling

• Participants will focus on the dynamic interrelationship of the storyteller and the listener
• The discussion will move from simple storytelling to the role of direct and indirect narratives
Storytelling Preparation Session

• The participants will discuss the merits of the story ideas identified in response to the pre-workshop ‘thinking assignment’
• The group will help refine each story idea
LUNCH
The Essentials of Story Selection, Development and Social Media
Participants will learn how to identify and build a story including stories that will be used for social media.
Best Practices in Storytelling Techniques
Participants will discuss a range of tried and tested best practices in storytelling techniques.
The Political Side of Storytelling

• Participants will learn how political narratives are used to capture peoples’ attention and to change peoples’ views
• Participants will also discuss the role of stories in organizations including the role of the ‘Springboard Story’
BREAK
Videotaped Presentations and Feedback

• While being videotaped and in front of the group, participants will present their stories. Stories will be played back, reviewed and discussed as a class
• Participants will be provided with an electronic copy of their respective story presentation upon request
Wind Down and Evaluation
Participants will discuss the lessons learned and complete a short evaluation of the workshop.
Register

I … found the sessions not only engaging, but also extremely valuable for my career. Honestly, it was a fantastic learning experience over the past couple of days, and I walked away with practical insights and tools that I’m going to apply in my work going forward.

Participant – Stakeholder Engagement