Course Overview
This course provides a unique opportunity for those actively involved in or contemplating change to understand the associated influences and risks, and to enhance their effectiveness in managing change.
Change agents will only be successful if they can help others interpret the benefits of change and apply them to their own perception of reality. The most successful change managers capture the imagination of others. A fundamental message underpinning the course is the need for change managers to support people on the journey of change.
This highly interactive two-day course will allow you to work with other change agents to share best practice and learn new techniques for supporting success.
Each day focuses on a different perspective - Day 1 looks at what needs to be in place for any change to be successful; Day 2 addresses the need to build robust relationships with key stakeholders.!
Skills Gained
Skills Gained
- Understand the need to prepare organisations for change and new technology - readiness frameworks
- Plan communication to support success in change
- Identify the key stakeholders associated with the change and assess their buy-in
- Understand the need to build new relationships and develop existing relationships with key stakeholders
- Manage stakeholder relationships to ensure success in change, building teams and handling resistance
- Plan for new ways of working, identifying and resolving environmental and capability gaps
Prerequisites
- Leaders of change in their organisations who need to acquire and practice formal techniques for managing the change process
- Anyone ready to expand beyond the boundaries of project management to consider a holistic view of sustainable change within their organisations
Course Outline
Introduction & Overview
You will be introduced to the other participants on the course, and to the format of the day. You will be asked to share the issues you would like to address to help you be more successful
The Realities of Change
Introduction exercise to share your current change projects with your fellow delegates
What is Change? - The act of becoming different
Change agents often refer to their change project as 'the change' assuming everyone understands what it really is. This session will help you to position your change and describe it in a way that is meaningful for others
Introduction to Case Study
You will work in groups to address the expected benefits and the issues arising from significant change project. A plenary session will ensure that all thinking is shared amongst the wider group.
Frameworks for Change
Short explanation of an holistic model of change. The critical success factors of the 5 stages will be identified and explored. The roles and responsibilities which support success will be discussed. This will be followed by case study application
Identifying the Stakeholders
Main group exercise using workshop technique to identify the key stakeholders for the case study change project. The resulting list will be further explored to extract stakeholders who are directly or indirectly affected by the changed and those that are internal or external to the project.
Building the Vision for Change
Introduction to visioning technique and workshop application to describe the vision for the change project. The workshop will drive out the benefits measures for the change Communications During Change 1 - How People React to Change This interactive session will explore the ways in which people respond to change (the emotional cycle) and how this can affect their take-up of information. Application to your own change environment
Communications during Change 2 - Communication Techniques
Group discussion to identify the need for an effective communications strategy during the change period. This session builds on the discussion from the previous session and draws out the need for a formalised approach to communication. The role of facilitation to build commitment and trust in change will be explored. It is followed by case study application.
Review of Day and Key Learning
This short session will help position the learning from Day 1 of the course and encourage you to consider how you will apply the learning when you are back at work.
Welcome
You will have a chance to share your learning from Day 1 and gain clarification of any issues that have arisen. We will remind you of Day 2 content. You will have realised by now that the sessions are like jigsaw pieces for success - they can only give you the full picture when they are all in place. They inter-relate and inter-connect.
Cultural Considerations
Organisational culture is a considerable issue for any change leader. Changes that embrace the existing paradigms are more likely to be successful than those that challenge the way the organisation operates. This session will share with you a way of assessing cultural fit, but also remind you that it will not be until the community really signs up to the change that you will be fully successful.
Building Teams for Change
Many experts in change suggest that it easier to make change happen when lots of people are involved. In this session we will look at the difference between teams that recommend things and those that have the day-to-day operational responsibility and we will think about how we might bridge the gap between them. We will also share a planning tool for implementation which helps people towards success.
Conflict, Power and Influence
Another piece of the jigsaw, but this time focused more on you as an individual. We will help you understand your own personal strengths when managing change and consider ways of enhancing this personal effectiveness. Always a popular session, we will apply the learning to your own change projects
Supporting Change - Cosseting the Enthusiasts
As change agents we spend far less time than we should with our supporters and enthusiasts. Using case study material you will build plans for developing effective working relationships with the key stakeholders who support the change and discuss the potential impact of this action on other stakeholders. The Partner Chart will be introduced as a method of tracking stakeholder buy-in.
Handling Resistance
Another popular session which helps change agents put resistance into perspective. We will explore a number of proven techniques for handling resistance and examine the Partner Chart further to build suitable strategies for handling real-life resistance.
Course Review
During this final session we will ensure that the issues you identified at the start of the course have been addressed. By way of a review, we will share some sound guidance to remind you of the key factors for success in change. We will recommend further resources to support your success.
