We recently launched a series of half-day Navigating Change™ modules to address the needs of companies looking for flexibility in how they develop change management skills at various leadership levels throughout the organisation. The need came about when working with a large Australian organisation looking for a fast and flexible way to up-skill managers charged with implementing significant change.

The Navigating Change™ program consists of ten half-day modules that can be combined in a variety of ways to meet the specific needs of different level managers facing different change management challenges. Core to the program are a series of five modules, each focusing on key stages of the planning and implementation processes behind successful change. These five stages provide a practical ‘road map’ to implementing change and force change leaders to anticipate and plan for the human response to change. A feature of the five core modules is the introduction of practical change tools that guide leaders through a problem-solving and decision-making process in relation to their change initiative.

The remaining five modules allow organisations to customise their solution to meet the needs of the change environment they are facing. There is a module designed to develop the team skills needed to lead change as well as an introductory module for senior leaders who need to understand the factors impacting successful change. There are two separate modules designed to address the communication aspect of change. One focuses on change communication in general while the other prepares managers for the difficult conversations that often accompany downsizing and job loss. Finally, there is a module that provides a number of self-management tools and strategies to help those cope with the effects of change first-hand. This last module is designed to maintain motivation and productivity during challenging times.

The Navigating Change™ program can be delivered in any combination of modules allowing organisations to align program delivery with the business planning process accompanying major change. This makes the program well suited to the needs of project teams as well as senior management teams as they implement change within their organisation, division or business unit. The action-learning approach suits this program well and ensures that tangible business outcomes are delivered at the same time as critical leadership capability is developed.

Finally, the program can be enhanced through the integration of a leadership 360-degree assessment and one-to-one or small group coaching. We have found this approach to be invaluable when working with intact teams as it enables leaders to better understand and apply effective leadership behaviours at the critical stages where they can make a personal difference.