Leadership & Continuous Learning
Module 3: Communicating About Change
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This FutureU module explores the role of communication in effective decision making, especially as it relates to any change in an organization that could affect morale, organizational culture, and performance. Although the focus is on internal communication, participants also consider the impact of organizational change on customer relations, public image, and other external factors.
Participant Profile
Executives and mid- to upper-level managers responsible for playing a leadership role in communicating about organizational change.
Topics
- The role of leadership in creating effective communication.
- How best to communicate the rationale for, and specifics of, a planned change.
- How to educate those who must implement and cooperate with a planned change.
- Sources of resistance to change and ways to overcome them.
- Implicit and contradictory messages that cause employees to disregard efforts at communication.
- The impact of group norms, organizational culture, industry type, and the organization's history on change efforts.
- Appropriate methods for communication: informal or formal, written or verbal, hi-tech or low-tech.
- Appropriate settings for communication: individual face-to-face discussions, group presentations, memoranda, reports, or meetings.
- Leadership and followership behaviors that support change.
- Techniques, strategies, and processes necessary for implementing change and how to evaluate them.
Module Design
When delivered online, this module lasts two weeks when offered as part of the focused-learning program in Leadership and Continuous Learning. It is also available as a stand-alone, four-week online course. In either case, it requires an average of 10 hours a week of online participation and study time.
Delivery Options
Off-the-shelf or customized to meet your organization's needs. Usually delivered entirely online, via FutureU 's Internet-accessible electronic campus or on your own Intranet. Participants "attend class" from their own desktop or laptop computers, at home or at work, and at whatever time is most convenient to them. Such asynchronous online delivery is especially suited to geographically separated employee groups and those who find it a challenge to fit learning into an already full work schedule. Can also be adapted for on-site delivery.
Customization
Every organization faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities. The FutureU team can customize this module or any other FutureU module or program to address your real workplace concerns and integrate case study material based on your organization's experience. This course can also be modified for "blended" delivery integrating a mix of face-to-face and online work to ease those with little technology experience into the world of online learning.
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