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

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

A relaxed space where everybody felt free to talk.

Research Scientist, Health Canada

Why should you attend?

If you do not measure your communications, you will have no idea if your efforts are achieving the results you had anticipated! You will not know which of your communications initiatives should be adjusted, which should be replicated and which should be immediately ended. Monitoring and evaluation is the critical step in determining the success of your communications efforts.

Part of the modern management initiative is a comprehensive focus on results and the requirements to demonstrate and report on performance. The communications function must state the results expected and demonstrate the actual results obtained from the implementation of strategies, campaigns and activities.

What will you learn?

This workshop provides communications professionals with the tools that they require to measure communications performance. Specifically, participants learn how to create results and performance indicators and clearly situate these within a comprehensive performance measurement framework and strategy. Participants also discuss and learn how to:

• Integrate performance measurement principles and practices into the communications planning, implementation and reporting cycle;
• Create and incorporate results/outcomes and performance indicators into strategic communications planning and implementation;
• Design and develop a Performance Measurment Framework, including a comprehensive logic model and associated performance measurement strategy; and
• Design simple and complex questionnaires, and use formal and informal focus group sessions to meet the information needs of communications practitioners.

What will you take away?

• Notebook consisting of presentation slides
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Excellence: Delivering results

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

Sample Agenda

Thank you very much for your presentation to our national management team. We were so fortunate to tap into your vast knowledge and expertise. We will definitely be back to talk tools and approaches.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Why should you attend?

If you do not measure your communications, you will have no idea if your efforts are achieving the results you had anticipated! You will not know which of your communications initiatives should be adjusted, which should be replicated and which should be immediately ended. Monitoring and evaluation is the critical step in determining the success of your communications efforts.

Part of the modern management initiative is a comprehensive focus on results and the requirements to demonstrate and report on performance. The communications function must state the results expected and demonstrate the actual results obtained from the implementation of strategies, campaigns and activities.

What will you learn?

This workshop provides communications professionals with the tools that they require to measure communications performance. Specifically, participants learn how to create results and performance indicators and clearly situate these within a comprehensive performance measurement framework and strategy. Participants also discuss and learn how to:

• Integrate performance measurement principles and practices into the communications planning, implementation and reporting cycle;
• Create and incorporate results/outcomes and performance indicators into strategic communications planning and implementation;
• Design and develop a Performance Measurment Framework, including a comprehensive logic model and associated performance measurement strategy; and
• Design simple and complex questionnaires, and use formal and informal focus group sessions to meet the information needs of communications practitioners.

What will you take away?

• Notebook consisting of presentation slides
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Excellence: Delivering results

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

Sample Agenda

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

Why should you attend?

The CEC’s Internal Consulting and Advisory Skills workshop is intended for anyone working in an advisory capacity whether in the public, private or voluntary sector. Account Executives, Internal Consultants and Strategic Advisors are usually called upon at a moments notice to provide solution-oriented advice on a wide range of complex and highly-charged issues that require a mix of skills: strategic, diplomatic, knowledge-based and results-oriented. This professional development workshop will provide participants with the insights, techniques and tools necessary to become a sought after and trusted advisor.

What will you learn?

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

• Learn how to incorporate strategic and critical thinking stratagems into the advisory function;
• Determine how to build trust and create reputational capital with clients;
• Acquire the communications skills necessary to successfully advise diverse clients and client groups;
• Understand and appreciate the nature and scope of the advice that clients want to receive;
• Secure sustained client buy-in and support; and
• 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 with checklists
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
• 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

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

Workshop Participant, Health Canada

Why should you attend?

This two-day workshop and its half-day additional one-on-one coaching component has been developed specifically for experienced IS-5 communications team leaders and for IS-6 communications managers and deputy directors. A maximum of 10 participants will be accepted for each session.

What will you learn?

This highly interactive workshop and coaching program focuses on:

• Key competencies required of seasoned communicators at the IS- 5 and 6 levels;
• Effective behaviours expected of senior communicators, including:
  • established leadership competencies (Treasury Board standard);
  • interpersonal and management skills;
• Strategic thinking for senior communicators;
• Effective skills for team leaders and senior communications advisors;
• Key communications and management issues, challenges and solutions;
• Roles of senior communications advisors, including the challenge function and dealing with Ministers’ offices;
• Importance of and approaches to internal and horizontal communications;
• Approaches and best practices in issues and crises communications and management;
• Effective written and oral briefings – expectations and best practices;
• Building and maintaining trust with clients, stakeholders, colleagues and senior managers;
• Getting the most out of the one-on-one coaching session.

In-Class Discussions, Individual Coaching and Practical Tools

In addition to ‘in-class’ learning through formal presentations, discussions and exercises, participants will receive proven and actionable tools and templates to help improve their performance. The small size of the group and the presence of two experienced facilitators will ensure that content is tailored to the needs and expectations of participants.

After the two-day in-class workshop is completed, each participant will be entitled to three hours of one-on-one coaching with a senior CEC instructor — an $825 value. This coaching, to be completed within two months of the workshop, will be adapted to the specific skill-set, experience and career aspirations of each participant and will include a video simulation to hone presentation skills.

Pre-Workshop Assignment

Confirmed participants must complete a self-evaluation questionnaire, to be submitted to CEC no later than five working days before the workshop. Pre-workshop reading, as well as completion of a career profile questionnaire and a review of the case study, are mandatory. Overall, this preparatory work will require approximately three hours of a participant’s time.

What will you take away?

• Workbook
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Values and Ethics: Serving through integrity and respect
• Strategic Thinking: Innovating through analysis and ideas
• Engagement: Mobilizing people, organizations and partners
• Management Excellence: Delivering through action management, people management, financial management

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

Day 2

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

Why should you attend?

This two-day workshop and its half-day additional one-on-one coaching component has been developed specifically for experienced IS-5 communications team leaders and for IS-6 communications managers and deputy directors. A maximum of 10 participants will be accepted for each session.

What will you learn?

This highly interactive workshop and coaching program focuses on:

• Key competencies required of seasoned communicators at the IS- 5 and 6 levels;
• Effective behaviours expected of senior communicators, including:
  • established leadership competencies (Treasury Board standard);
  • interpersonal and management skills;
• Strategic thinking for senior communicators;
• Effective skills for team leaders and senior communications advisors;
• Key communications and management issues, challenges and solutions;
• Roles of senior communications advisors, including the challenge function and dealing with Ministers’ offices;
• Importance of and approaches to internal and horizontal communications;
• Approaches and best practices in issues and crises communications and management;
• Effective written and oral briefings – expectations and best practices;
• Building and maintaining trust with clients, stakeholders, colleagues and senior managers;
• Getting the most out of the one-on-one coaching session.

In-Class Discussions, Individual Coaching and Practical Tools

In addition to ‘in-class’ learning through formal presentations, discussions and exercises, participants will receive proven and actionable tools and templates to help improve their performance. The small size of the group and the presence of two experienced facilitators will ensure that content is tailored to the needs and expectations of participants.

After the two-day in-class workshop is completed, each participant will be entitled to three hours of one-on-one coaching with a senior CEC instructor — an $825 value. This coaching, to be completed within two months of the workshop, will be adapted to the specific skill-set, experience and career aspirations of each participant and will include a video simulation to hone presentation skills.

Pre-Workshop Assignment

Confirmed participants must complete a self-evaluation questionnaire, to be submitted to CEC no later than five working days before the workshop. Pre-workshop reading, as well as completion of a career profile questionnaire and a review of the case study, are mandatory. Overall, this preparatory work will require approximately three hours of a participant’s time.

What will you take away?

• Workbook
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Values and Ethics: Serving through integrity and respect
• Strategic Thinking: Innovating through analysis and ideas
• Engagement: Mobilizing people, organizations and partners
• Management Excellence: Delivering through action management, people management, financial management

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

Day 2

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

Why should you attend?

This workshop is specifically designed for communicators and others interested in competing for IS-4/5 positions or those who are newly promoted communications advisors. The two-day program offers a comprehensive and practical overview of the IS-4/5 competencies and of the communications advisor’s roles and expectations. The emphasis of this highly interactive workshop is on the knowledge, skills and approaches that communications advisors must possess in order to succeed. The competencies profiles developed by the Privy Council Office and the Communications Community Office serve as the reference for the required skills and abilities.

The workshop combines a mix of formal instruction with a generous dose of group discussion and practical exercises in order to provide participants with immediately actionable new skills and knowledge.

What will you learn?

This workshop will focus on:

• What are the competencies expected of mid-level communications advisors
• What Government of Canada policies and procedures govern the provision of communications advice and services
• What are the roles of communications advisors and what makes for successful delivery of their services
• How does Government work: Structure, operations, central agencies, Parliament and its committees
• What is strategic communications thinking and planning
• Performance measurement and reporting for communications projects
• Basic notions of issues and crisis management and media relations
• What are “citizen-centered” communications and consultations and how to keep that focus
• What do advisors need to know about the Web and social media
• Basic approaches to government marketing, positioning and branding
• What is the “Challenge Function” and how to exercise it effectively

What will you take away?

• Workbook
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Values and Ethics: Serving through integrity and respect
• Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
• Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners
• 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

Day 2

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

Why should you attend?

This workshop is designed specifically for communicators and others interested in competing for IS-2/3 positions and for newly promoted junior communications advisors. The two-day program offers a comprehensive and practical overview of the recognized IS-2/3 competencies, including the role and performance expectations of junior communications advisors. The emphasis of this highly interactive workshop is on the knowledge, skills and approaches that communicators at the IS 2-3 levels need to develop and exercise in order to succeed. The competencies profiles developed by the Communications Community Office serve as the reference for the required skills and abilities.

Workshop content reflects the stated communications competencies generally used in the federal Public Service to define job descriptions, recruit new communicators and assess performance. Designed to provide participants with immediately actionable new skills and knowledge, the workshop combines formal instruction with a generous dose of group discussion and practical exercises.

What will you learn?

This workshop will focus on:

• The competencies expected of junior communications advisors
• Government of Canada policies and procedures governing the provision of communications advice and services
• How Government works: structure; operations; central agencies; Parliament and its committees
• What are “citizen-centred” communications and consultations and how to keep that focus
• What junior advisors need to know about the Web and social media
• The roles of communications advisors and what makes for successful delivery of their services
• What is strategic communications thinking and planning
• The basics of effective writing
• Developing a communications plan
• Performance measurement and reporting for communications projects
• What is the “Challenge Function” and how to exercise it effectively

What will you take away?

• Workbook
• Exercises and handouts

Professional Competencies

• Values and Ethics: Serving through integrity and respect
• Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
• Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners
• Excellence: Delivering results

Sample Agenda

Day 1

Day 2

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

Manager, Transport Canada

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
• Determine your power or sphere of influence with each stakeholder group
• 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
• 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

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

Why should you attend?

Oral briefings have never been more important

Time is a precious resource senior managers and decision makers faced with multiple issues and events competing for their attention. And the issues are ever more complex and multi-layered, often involving an expanding range of interests and stakeholders, while playing out in a communications universe that shrinks response times as it simultaneously drives media competition for the latest story. The oral transmission of information, analysis and policy/action recommendations and their rationale through briefings and presentations has never been more important in the operation of government.

Your effectiveness depends on how well you plan, prepare and deliver

The effectiveness of anyone responsible for preparing and/or delivering briefings or presentations to meet the needs of ministers, executives, management or the requirements of committees, public hearings and consultations, is dependent upon two sets of competencies: preparation and planning and delivery.

Developing your competencies pays off

Preparation and planning include:

• defining issues and key messages,
• identifying and understanding audience needs;
• structuring the briefing or presentation;
• focusing on clarity, simplicity and brevity;
• identifying likely questions and responses;
• determining and taking account of the physical setting and its impact upon delivery.

Delivery is concerned with:

• voice level, speaking style and adaptation to the audience;
• posture and body language;
• use of visual aids;
• keeping on message and ensuring key messages are transmitted;
• dealing with distractions, interruptions and questions;
• practising and rehearsing.

Developing these competencies and associated skills and techniques will enable you to develop and deliver any briefing or presentation with confidence.

What will you learn?

• The common factors responsible for ineffective briefings and presentations
• How to apply audience analysis – perspectives, needs and priorities – as a key determinant of briefing or presentation content, structure and delivery style
• How to identify and craft key messages to be transmitted
• How to identify and develop a clear position on issues that will or are likely to arise and identify and prepare for traps, e.g., what not to say, what to say
• How to transmit technical concepts, information and data at a level appropriate to the audience and event concerned
• How to comfortably deliver different types of presentations for different audiences or events
• How to apply delivery techniques and use speaking notes and visual aids
• How to use verbal and non-verbal techniques for effective communication
• The strategic importance of and techniques for “staying on message” and focusing on outcomes
• How to deal effectively with questions – including unexpected questions – from an audience
• How to apply techniques for dealing with a hostile audience; and for maintaining calm, composure, confidence and situational control
• How to deliver diverse types of briefings and presentations with confidence
• How to undertake a structured review of a briefing or presentation to identify lessons learned

What will you take away?

• Participant notebook consisting of presentation slides
• A video clip of your briefing presentation with instructor critique
• A link to post-workshop resources available for download
• Certificate of completion

Professional Competencies

• Thinking Things Through: Innovating through analysis and ideas
• Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners

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

Sample Agenda

Note: This agenda is designed to outline basic coverage of the subject matter and is adjusted and customized for the specific needs of individual participants and small groups.

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

Workshop Participant, Health Canada