Stakeholder Engagement & Communications

Course Overview

Stakeholder & Communications Principles is an introduction to the theory and practice of this key activity in any change programme. The course provides an overview of the responsibilities, tools and skills required to manage this capability effectively. The course can lead to a nationally recognised award accredited by EDI following an assessment exercise.

Duration: taught course 1 day, total of 20 hours of study time for the award.
In-house courses: Can be tailored around a current or planned Change Programme.

Aims
Promote an understanding of the critical role of Stakeholder Engagement to the success of change in organisations.

• Introduce the Stakeholder Engagement Process and supporting tools
• Introduce Communication Management techniques for Stakeholder Engagement.

Benefits of attendance

• Greater understanding of the criticality of stakeholder engagement and effective communications
• Familiarisation with the techniques and tools
• Communications in the change lifecycle
• Develop a workplace action plan to support stakeholder engagement through communications

Course Content

Identify and Analyse Stakeholders

• Where to look for stakeholders
• Running stakeholder identification workshops
• Stakeholder analysis methodology
• Achieving effective categorisation

The Stakeholder Map

• Purpose of the stakeholder map
• Identifying areas of interest
• Refining stakeholders and interests
• Identifying priorities for resource management

Communications Theory and Practice

• The problems with communications
• Communications channels
• Effective communications
• Feedback and assessment

Managing Stakeholder Communications for Change

• Objectives for stakeholder engagement and how to achieve them through effective communications
• The problems with non-communication
• Managing change resistance through communication

Strategies and Plans

• The stakeholder engagement cycle
• Developing the stakeholder engagement strategy
• Roles and responsibilities
• The communications plan
• Execution of the strategy and plan

Action Planning

• Delegates to develop an action plan to go back and deliver effective stakeholder engagement and communications within their organisations.

Course Methodology
Attendees are encouraged to bring forward relevant situations from their workplace for illustration and discussion (Chatham House rules apply). The case study and exercises are relevant to the organisational situation of the attendees who are encouraged to use their own experience to
broaden the exercises. The assessment is based on the workplace situation and requires the delegate to apply knowledge and tools from the course to their own situation. Our trainers have an excellent track record in adding value above the course content.

The award is administered by the Centre for Change Management.