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Certificate

This class is part of the Project Leadership Certificate

Studies reveal staggering failure rates for many change programs-- over the past fifteen years, at best, only a third of change initiatives met their objectives in organizations across North America and Europe. Additional studies show that there is less time to do more work with fewer resources than ever before; and that there is an unrelenting demand for better performance in spite of mature markets, industry consolidation, frenzied acquisitions, and increased competition.  In this heated business climate, managers, staff support professionals, and change practitioners do not have the time or the luxury to sample new fads in hopes of making a difference in performance.

This two-day program challenges conventional wisdom and practice, taking a realistic view of organizational dynamics and the challenges of effecting meaningful change.  Because many people who are charged with leading or supporting critical initiatives must often rely on exercising indirect influence (since they lack control over financial or human resources, or have limited decision-making authority), this program targets consultative practices that dramatically increase the chances of achieving sustainable, desired results.  Specifically, the program prepares staff professionals to: 1) achieve positive change by tackling the obvious & converting inert knowledge into action and results; 2) employ an outcomes-based rather than activities-based approach; and 3) apply effective consulting tools and practices.

Topics

• Converting inert knowledge into positive change
  • The Performance Paradox  (Unearthing “The Dinosaur in the Living Room”)
    • Unleashing organizational potential
    • Bridging the gap between awareness and action
  • Reframing the core challenge and mindset
  • Managing awareness, accountability and attainment
• Designing change projects for success
  • Project success defined
  • What works, what doesn’t, and the underlying factors
  • Developing high impact consultative practices
• Applying effective consultative practices
  • Understanding the organizational “client system” and identifying hidden factors
  • Client mapping
  • Building sponsor and stakeholder relationships, interviewing, and conducting exploratory discussions

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this class, participants will:

• Discover ways to achieve positive change by tackling the obvious and converting inert knowledge into action and results
• Bridge the gap between awareness and action
• Employ a high impact consulting model that has better chances of delivering actual results that are sustainable
• Apply effective consulting tools and practices to strengthen sponsor and stakeholder relationships
• Uncover hidden factors that can impact a change or consulting project
• Learn how to map and analyze an internal or external “client system”
• Leave with a blueprint for fostering strong relationships and shaping well-designed projects

Who Should Attend

Staff professionals are defined as those positions and people responsible for facilitating change within an organization, but who do not have the requisite authority or power to make it happen.  These may include HR staff, OD practitioners and change agents, project or program managers, lean production coordinators, quality professionals, or internal/external consultants.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Intermediate

Participants should have five to ten years of work experience as a staff support professional and the ability and opportunity to make an impact within an organization.

Continuing Education Credits

Costs

Individual Participants: $1,140 by credit card; $1,165 by check
Affiliate/Health Affiliate Partners: Two class days per participant.

Resources for current students, faculty, and staff.