Training Course on Change Management Communication for Organizational Development Practitioners

Course Outline

 

Module 1: Understanding Change and the Role of Communication

ü  Defining organizational change and its various forms

ü  The critical role of communication in successful change initiatives

ü  Why change initiatives fail: common communication pitfalls

ü  Linking communication strategy to change management models (e.g., Kotter, ADKAR)

ü  The leader's role in communicating change

ü  Practical Session: Analyzing a real-world organizational change initiative for its communication strengths and weaknesses.

Module 2: The Psychology of Change and Resistance

ü  Understanding the human response to change: emotions, stages of grief, cognitive biases

ü  Common reasons for resistance to change

ü  Identifying different types of resistors and their communication needs

ü  Strategies for empathy and active listening during change

ü  Building psychological safety to encourage open communication

ü  Practical Session: Brainstorming potential sources of resistance for a hypothetical change and developing empathetic communication responses.

Module 3: Developing a Strategic Change Communication Plan

ü  Defining change communication objectives and desired outcomes

ü  Key components of a comprehensive change communication plan

ü  Aligning communication with the overall change management roadmap

ü  Creating a communication timeline and identifying key milestones

ü  Resource allocation and budgeting for change communication

ü  Practical Session: Developing a high-level change communication plan outline for a specific organizational change.

Module 4: Stakeholder Analysis and Message Tailoring

ü  Identifying and mapping key stakeholders (employees, managers, customers, unions)

ü  Understanding stakeholder concerns, interests, and influence

ü  Segmenting audiences for targeted communication

ü  Tailoring messages to resonate with different stakeholder groups

ü  Developing a stakeholder engagement matrix

ü  Practical Session: Conducting a stakeholder analysis for a hypothetical change initiative and identifying their communication needs.

Module 5: Crafting Compelling Change Messages

ü  Principles of clear, concise, and persuasive communication during change

ü  Developing a compelling "why" for the change (the burning platform and the vision)

ü  Addressing the "what's in it for me?" question for employees

ü  Communicating potential challenges and risks transparently

ü  Creating consistent messaging across all channels

ü  Practical Session: Drafting key messages for a specific change initiative, focusing on the "why" and employee benefits.

Module 6: Channel Strategy and Implementation

ü  Selecting appropriate communication channels for different messages and audiences (e.g., town halls, email, intranet, team meetings, video)

ü  Leveraging face-to-face communication for impactful conversations

ü  Utilizing digital tools for broad reach and feedback

ü  Managing communication cascades through leadership and managers

ü  Developing a communications calendar and managing content flow

ü  Practical Session: Designing a multi-channel communication approach for a change announcement, considering different employee segments.

Module 7: Leading Difficult Conversations and Managing Resistance

ü  Techniques for facilitating open and honest dialogue about change

ü  Preparing managers to lead change conversations with their teams

ü  Addressing fears, anxieties, and misinformation proactively

ü  Active listening and empathetic responses to resistance

ü  Strategies for turning resistors into advocates

ü  Practical Session: Role-playing a difficult conversation with an employee resistant to change.

Module 8: Measuring Communication Effectiveness in Change

ü  Defining metrics and KPIs for change communication (e.g., awareness, understanding, sentiment, engagement)

ü  Methods for gathering feedback: surveys, pulse checks, focus groups, sentiment analysis

ü  Analyzing communication effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement

ü  Adjusting communication strategies based on feedback and data

ü  Demonstrating the value of effective change communication

ü  Practical Session: Designing a short survey to assess employee understanding and sentiment regarding a recent organizational change.

Module 9: Building a Communication-Supportive Culture for Change

ü  The role of leadership in modeling transparent and consistent communication

ü  Fostering a culture of open dialogue and feedback

ü  Empowering managers as key communicators of change

ü  Creating channels for ongoing communication and learning

ü  Embedding change communication as an ongoing organizational capability

ü  Practical Session: Brainstorming strategies to empower middle managers to become more effective change communicators.

Module 10: The Change Communicator as a Strategic Partner

ü  Elevating the role of communication in organizational development

ü  Advising senior leadership on communication strategy during change

ü  Collaborating effectively with project teams, HR, and other departments

ü  Developing a personal toolkit for navigating future change initiatives

ü  Continuous learning and adapting to new change challenges

ü Practical Session: Developing a stakeholder engagement plan for communicating the value of effective change communication to senior leadership.

About Our Trainers

The training will be delivered by a team of highly experienced Organizational Development Practitioners, Change Management Consultants, and seasoned Internal Communication Leaders with extensive backgrounds in facilitating successful organizational transformations across various industries. Our trainers bring a wealth of practical strategies, real-world case studies, and insights into managing the human dimension of change through effective communication. Their expertise ensures that participants gain actionable skills and a deep understanding of becoming pivotal drivers of successful change.

Quality Statement

We are committed to delivering high-quality, practical, and relevant training programs that empower professionals to excel in their roles and contribute significantly to the success of their organizations. Our courses are continually updated to reflect the latest industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices.

Admission Criteria

ü  Participants should be reasonably proficient in English. 

ü  Applicants must live up to Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free
2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.
3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.
4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.
5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254737296202

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Phoenix Center for Policy, Research and Training Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.
2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.
3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.
2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.
3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location.

For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737296202 or Email training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@phoenixtrainingcenter.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254737296202