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.

The information provided in this course made me think about briefings in a new context. It caused me to reflect on my own strengths and weaknesses. I was already able to apply the lessons learned in a briefing with my manager.

Communications Advisor, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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

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

Manager, Transport Canada

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

The moderator was excellent – very natural, pleasant, and engaging throughout the session. She created a comfortable environment, encouraged questions, and made participation feel easy and welcome. Her delivery was a real highlight of the course.

Participant – Internal Communications

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

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.

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 • 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?

What will you learn?

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

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.

Participant – Stakeholder Engagement

Workshop

Communications

Strategic Communications Planning: Critical Steps and Techniques

In-House

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

Why should you attend?

In a complex communications environment, communicators must not simply respond to pressures and events but respond coherently in ways that support and further their organization’s vision, values, mission, strategic outcomes, policies and programs. More and more communicators are required to be strategic, to take a wide view, to think holistically and long-term, and to focus on results achieved for resources expended. Understanding the process and techniques of strategic communications planning is an essential element in being an effective communicator and strategic advisor.

What will you learn?

The elements and characteristics of strategic thinking
Strategic communications essentials
The steps of and technique for accomplishing the strategic communications planning process
Taking advantage of analytical tools such as scenario building, trend analysis and strategic foresight within the strategic communications planning process
How to manage conflict during the strategic communications planning process
Incorporating results-based communications into a strategy
Integrating the multiple elements into the strategic communications plan
Using influence, persuasion and diplomacy to secure to secure final approval of your strategic communications plan

What will you take away?

Notebook consisting of presentation slides
Checklists, how-to procedures/reminders and templates
Exercises and handouts
Certificate of completion

Professional competencies

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

Tim Weil

Tim Weil is a former Director General in the federal government with 30 years experience developing and managing a wide range of communications plans and activities. He began his career on Parliament Hill, where he developed a strong passion for… Read full bio

Sample Agenda

Day 1

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview • Introductions, outline of the workshop agenda and participant learning expectations • Participants will engage in a warm-up discussion about critical concepts associated with strategic thinking
The Strategic Communications Process Demystified • Participants will discuss several organizational strategic communications planning templates and processes • Participants will discuss the origins of conflict within the planning process and how to manage and/or resolve it
BREAK
Vision, Values, Mission and Strategic Organizational Outcomes • Participants will review the importance of understanding and accounting for the organizational vision, values, mission and strategic outcomes within the strategic planning process
Building the Strategy: Drivers and Situational Analysis • Participants will discuss the first elements of the strategic planning process including; • Identifying the strategic drivers: • Crafting the situational analysis – developing the information base; researching and analyzing the environment; identifying critical communications issues; and defining challenges and opportunities; • Employing tools such as scenario building, trend analysis and strategic foresight analysis to enhance the strategic planning process; and • Learn how to move from the collection of data to assumptions and implications
Case Study Exercise: Developing the First Elements of the Strategy • Participants working in small groups will develop the first elements of a strategic communications plan, including the situational analysis, critical communications issues, challenges and opportunities • Participants will report back on their discussions through instructor-led feedback and discussion
LUNCH
Building the Strategy: The Logic Model and Performance Indicators • Participants will learn the basics of results-based communications planning and learn how to establish final, intermediate and immediate outcomes (long-, medium-, and short-term outcomes) for a communications strategy • Participants will also learn how to create cost-effective performance indicators
Building the Strategy: Stakeholders and Target Audiences • Participants will learn proven techniques to identify and segment key stakeholders and target audiences • Participants will also discuss the necessity of identifying and successfully managing supporters and detractors
BREAK
Building the Strategy: Strategic Priorities and Corresponding Strategic Approaches • Participants will learn how to create and assess the specific strategic priorities or designated strategies that will be required to achieve the expected outcomes established for a specific strategy • As part of this process, participants will learn how to identify and employ specific high-level strategic approaches to achieve designated strategic priorities
Case Study Exercise: Developing the Other Elements of the Strategy • Participants working in small groups will continue to develop the strategic plan, including the logic model and designated strategic priorities and approaches and will report back on their findings
Close and Evaluation of Day One Participants will use a “three-word” evaluation process to discuss the outcomes of Day One.

Day 2

Activity
Lessons Learned from Day One • Participants will identify and discuss the lessons learned from the previous day
Building the Strategy: Positioning, Messaging and Branding • Participants will learn how to develop a positioning statement and create easy to understand messages using a messaging system • Participants will discuss and learn about the concept of branding Mini-Exercise
BREAK
Building the Strategy: Distribution, Resources, Risk and Implementation • Participants will learn how to develop an outcomes-based action plan and the importance of developing communications actions and products that meet the needs of specific target audiences and stakeholders
Case Study Exercise: Developing Other Elements of the Strategy • Participants working in groups will develop additional elements of the strategic plan including a positioning statement, communications themes and messages for specific target audiences and will report back on their results
LUNCH
Building the Strategy: Manage the Strategic Communications Plan Review process and Evaluation • Participants will learn how to manage and assess the strategic plan process and outcomes • Participants will learn how develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms designed to measure the results/outcomes identified in a communications strategy
BREAK
Navigating Organizational Politics and Securing Approval for Your Strategic Communications Plan • Participants will learn how to position their strategies to ensure fair treatment and secure approval • Participants will discuss influence, persuasion and diplomacy and how to build trust and enhance individual reputations as critical levers of success
Case Study Exercise • Participants will complete the case study: small groups will develop an action plan to implement the strategy and a performance measurement strategy and will report back on their results
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation • Participants will complete a short evaluation

The instructor is outstanding. He created a very welcoming, supportive and engaging learning environment and provided very thorough responses to our questions. I really appreciated the amount of information that the instructor covered in this workshop.

Participant – Communications Competencies

Workshop

Communications

Practical Facilitation Skills

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?

Whether you work in the public, private or voluntary sector, teamwork has become a critical success factor in achieving organizational results. And a skilled facilitator armed with a diverse facilitation tool kit can ensure that work groups are able to achieve maximum success. Not surprisingly, knowing how to organize a meeting and/or workshop and possessing and applying the skills required to facilitate and guide teams throughout their deliberations and ensure a successful and meaningful conclusion to their proceedings have become increasingly important to all managers and supervisors.

What will you learn?

“Practical Facilitation Skills” will provide participants with the basic skills necessary to design and lead a wide variety of discussions, meetings and/or workshops. Specifically, participants will learn about:

Facilitation basics;
How facilitation helps groups achieve results;
Establishing the foundations for facilitation;
Using facilitation in your organization;
Understanding adult learning styles and habits;
How to design a meeting and a workshop;
Tools for generating information and ideas and making decisions;
Using visual aids;
Managing difficult participants; and
How to evaluate a facilitation process.

What will you take away?

Workbook
Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Introduction to Facilitation Participants will discuss the meaning of facilitation, its value within the organization and be provided with a brief overview of the roles and responsibilities of the facilitator.
How to Design a Facilitation/Meeting Participants will learn how to design a facilitation/meeting agenda and learn how to use ‘icebreakers’ and the importance of opening, closing and evaluating facilitation processes.
BREAK
Basic Facilitation Skills: Verbal Techniques Participants will be introduced to some of the basic facilitation skills they will require, including: verbal and nonveral techniques and recording.
Exercise Based on an illustrative case study that will be provided by the CEC, participants will be asked to develop an agenda and facilitated approach for a meeting.
LUNCH
Basic Facilitation Skills: “Reading” the Group and Consensus Building This session will investigate the importance of learning how to ‘read’ the group and how to move a group to consensus.
Generating and Organizing Ideas Participants will investigate the facilitation tools necessary for generating and organizing ideas and information, including: brainstorming, structured rounds, t-charts, affinity trees, timelines, flow charts, and matrix diagrams.
BREAK
Ranking and Evaluating Ideas Participants will learn about different approaches for ranking and evaluating the ideas and information generated in a facilitated process. The discussion will focus on the following methodologies: Multi-voting; ranking and prioritizing; nominal group technique; force field analysis; quadrant diagram; and decision matrix.
Exercise Working in small groups, participants will build an Affinity Tree. A representative from each group will present and discuss their Affinity Tree.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Participants will have an opportunity for final questions and clarifications on the workshop content and will complete a short evaluation.

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

Manager, Transport Canada

Workshop

Communications

Practical Facilitation Skills

October 2–3, 2025• 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.

Why should you attend?

What will you learn?

Facilitation basics;
How facilitation helps groups achieve results;
Establishing the foundations for facilitation;
Using facilitation in your organization;
Understanding adult learning styles and habits;
How to design a meeting and a workshop;
Tools for generating information and ideas and making decisions;
Using visual aids;
Managing difficult participants; and
How to evaluate a facilitation process.

What will you take away?

Workbook
Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Leah Jurkovic, President CEC

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Introduction to Facilitation Participants will discuss the meaning of facilitation, its value within the organization and be provided with a brief overview of the roles and responsibilities of the facilitator.
How to Design a Facilitation/Meeting Participants will learn how to design a facilitation/meeting agenda and learn how to use ‘icebreakers’ and the importance of opening, closing and evaluating facilitation processes.
BREAK
Basic Facilitation Skills: Verbal Techniques Participants will be introduced to some of the basic facilitation skills they will require, including: verbal and nonveral techniques and recording.
Exercise Based on an illustrative case study that will be provided by the CEC, participants will be asked to develop an agenda and facilitated approach for a meeting.
LUNCH
Basic Facilitation Skills: “Reading” the Group and Consensus Building This session will investigate the importance of learning how to ‘read’ the group and how to move a group to consensus.
Generating and Organizing Ideas Participants will investigate the facilitation tools necessary for generating and organizing ideas and information, including: brainstorming, structured rounds, t-charts, affinity trees, timelines, flow charts, and matrix diagrams.
BREAK
Ranking and Evaluating Ideas Participants will learn about different approaches for ranking and evaluating the ideas and information generated in a facilitated process. The discussion will focus on the following methodologies: Multi-voting; ranking and prioritizing; nominal group technique; force field analysis; quadrant diagram; and decision matrix.
Exercise Working in small groups, participants will build an Affinity Tree. A representative from each group will present and discuss their Affinity Tree.
Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Participants will have an opportunity for final questions and clarifications on the workshop content and will complete a short evaluation.

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

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Workshop

Communications

Public Speaking: Making and Maintaining an Impact

In-House

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

Why should you attend?

Delivering information in a clear and effective manner when giving speeches and presentations can be a challenge. And it’s a challenge an increasing number of professionals must meet as information overload forces more and more reliance on oral information transmission.

If you need to make a professional, competent and compelling impression before an audience – whether speaking at conferences, at events as part of outreach activities, addressing stakeholder organizations and conducting consultations or presenting to working groups and committees – this course is for you. This course will:

Help you develop a strong voice and physical presence;
Give you the tools you need to make a professional impact on your audience; and
Ensure you get your messages and ideas across.

What will you learn?

How to connect with your audience.
Techniques that will help you project your voice effectively to your audience.
How to create and maintain a physical presence while delivering your core messages.
Other specific public speaking and related techniques.

Each participant will have ample opportunities to practice speaking and receive feedback in an open and creative environment.

What will you take away?

Exercise hand-outs
Participant workbook

Professional competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
Your Voice as Part of your Public Speaking Image: Self-Evaluation and Discussion How do you perceive your voice, physical presence and overall public speaking skills? How do you think others perceive you as a speaker? Addressing challenges.
Dealing with the Essentials: The Indispensable Components of Public Speaking Define your audience – who are you speaking to and why; what is the context/occasion; what are you trying to deliver, i.e. what are your key messages and ideas; and – what results are you hoping to achieve – to inform? persuade? move to action?; organizing/structuring your remarks.
Exercise Participants take the floor and make a short a short presentation about themselves and their work, followed by instructor feedback.
BREAK
Dynamics of the Voice: Making your Voice your Ally Introduction to the dynamics of the voice; exercises for focus, projection and overall vocal strength.
LUNCH
Making an Impact and Captivating your Audience How to stay focused and connected to one’s message and intent. How to maintain a strong physical presence. What constitutes a powerful and authentic voice and presentation style; the importance of enthusiasm. Exercise: Participants take the floor and make a presentation followed by instructor feedback.
BREAK
How to Win your Audience Reaching and keeping your audience – Developing a unique and authentic presentation style. Examples from famous speeches, theatre, etc.
Wrap-up and Evaluation Participants will complete a short 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

Public Consultations & Citizen Engagement

In-House

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

Why should you attend?

Effective public consultations and citizen engagement require rigorous planning, efficient execution and excellent communications. The communications dimension of a public consultation or citizen engagement initiative is, in fact, crucial to its success. Understanding the linkages of communications and consultations or engagement, the benefits of a well thought out communications strategy as part of the overall consultation initiative, and the risks of not doing communications planning, is a must for anyone involved in planning and delivering public consultations or citizen engagement initiatives.

What will you learn?

How to choose among different models and approaches to public consultations and citizen engagement
How to position public consultations within your overall organizational strategy
Understanding public consultations/citizen engagement as a communications activity
Linkages between public consultations/citizen engagement and strategic communications
How to develop a successful plan for the overall consultation initiative
Identifying and managing communications challenges and opportunities
The communications Do’s and Don’ts of designing public consultations
The importance of understanding your audiences and stakeholders
The importance of understanding the role of the media
Communications principles and approaches during public consultations
The essentials of effective messaging
How to monitor and evaluate the overall consultation initiative
The importance of follow-up after the public consultations/citizen engagement process

What will you take away?

Workbook and checklists, how-to procedures/reminders and templates
Exercise handouts

Professional competencies

Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

Sample Agenda

Activity
Introductions and Workshop Overview
What Do We Mean by Public Consultations and Citizen Engagement? Why are Communications a Key? • Positioning public consultations within organizational strategy • Understanding and defining “horizontality” in public consultations • Internal and external dimensions • The broad range of models available, depending on the context • Key communications principles in public consultations • The essentials of horizontal communications Linkages between communications and the key objectives of the initiative • Examples of diverse public sector consultations initiatives Mini-exercise: Participants will identify key communications challenges and opportunities inherent in public sector consultations and citizen engagement initiatives.
BREAK
The Public Consultations Planning Framework • Key principles of the Framework • Linking the process with communications • Understanding the drivers and starting the planning process • Process issues – core questions, roles and responsibilities • Stakeholder involvement and risk factors – internal and external dimensions • Communications issues, challenges, opportunities and results • Resources and products
Case Study Exercise: In small groups, participants will analyze a public consultations scenario, identify the drivers behind the initiative and their implications for planning the consultations process and communications.
LUNCH
It’s all about Communications! • Planning and managing communications for public consultations – key internal and external communications dimensions • Identifying and managing communications challenges and opportunities • Phased-in communications: before, during and after the consultation • The importance of monitoring the communications effort
Case Study Exercise: Applying the framework for planning public consultations and citizen engagement.
BREAK
Developing a Plan for your Public Consultations/Citizen Engagement Project • Deciding on the model • Step-by-step approach and key considerations, pitfalls and challenges • Being strategic and understanding risk • Understanding and segmenting target audiences, clients and stakeholders • Linkage to communications
Mini-break
“On the Road Again”: Communications Do’s and Don’ts • Determining the role of the media • Understanding and managing “dissenters” and “disruptors” • Defining messaging imperatives • Spokespersons and facilitators • Implementing the communications strategy and action plan • Measuring the success of your overall initiative • After the consultations process – when does it all end?
Wrap-up and Evaluation Participants will complete a short evaluation.

Several people made a point of telling me how well the presentation went, how useful it was to them and how well I did, leading the presentation. I frankly owe these kudos to you and an excellent training session. This was, in fact, the first time I have ever delivered a presentation in such formal circumstances. My ability to perform (without nerves!) in front of a high-powered group was entirely due to the learning I received from you at the “Effective Oral Briefings and Presentations to Senior Officials” session in March (2014). So thanks, Josef!

Strategic Communications Advisor, Environment Canada