Change Management Certificate Course
Become a Strategic Partner in Change
April 29, May 6 and 13 | 1-3 p.m. ET
Three consecutive modules
Register for this immersive three-part certificate series to drive transformation at your company, become a trusted advisor to C-suite, and seize your seat at the table.
Becoming a Change Management expert as a communicator requires a combination of strategic thinking, leadership skills and a deep understanding of how people react to change. You’re in a unique position to lead your organization’s transformation, whether it’s a merger, leadership transition, reorganization, or integration of a new technology, to name a few.
We invite you to immerse yourself in Ragan’s latest certificate course to provide you with the fundamentals, insights and blueprint to be the Change Management leader in your organization. This is one of the only certificate programs designed for communicators and with your current role in mind.
Ragan’s Change Management Certificate Course, taught over three weeks and just two hours each week starting April 29, will help you identify the structured approach to transitioning your employees and organization to the desired future state.
In this course, you’ll gain an understanding and fluency in organizational change, process change and people change, along with the a review of the key change management models to ensure your success.
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You’ll acquire the skills you need to:
- Craft world-class change comms plans that address organizational risks.
- Develop Expertise in Change Communication Tactics.
- Build influence and leadership skills.
- Collaborate cross-departmentally to effect positive change.
- Increase your influence and impact as a strategist.
- Identify the change management framework that will work for your initiative.
- Deliver informative, tailored communications that keep shareholders informed.
CURRICULUM
Master these key skills and strategies in just a few short weeks, and be prepared to seize the opportunity as a critical collaborator during times of change. If you can’t attend a live session, you’ll receive the on-demand versions to complete the course.
Week 1
April 29, 2025, 1-3 p.m. ET
Foundations of Change Management
Organizations frequently undergo significant transformations, whether it’s a merger, a technological shift or CEO transition, or a cultural overhaul. It’s no longer enough to merely respond to change; successful leaders need to anticipate the impact of marketplace adjustments, new regulatory requirements, changes in business strategy or implementations of new technology within their organizations. This first course sets the stage by examining the foundational elements of change management by examining the four stages of change: disruption, exploration, rebuilding, and transformation. You’ll explore the importance of readiness assessments to gauge your organization’s appetite for change, along with methods for engaging stakeholders who might be cautiously skeptical or outright resistant. From anticipating potential pitfalls to understanding how ingrained cultural norms impact every decision, we’ll discuss the crucial steps for creating an environment where change is understood and, ultimately, embraced.
Attendees will learn:
- Change readiness: Methods for evaluating organizational appetite and leadership support.
- Stakeholder engagement: Techniques to identify, categorize, and proactively collaborate with individuals critical to your change effort.
- Risk assessment & mitigation: Approaches for spotting potential roadblocks early and developing countermeasures.
- Cultural considerations: Insights on aligning change objectives with shared values, traditions, and behavioral norms.
- Communication foundations: Essentials for crafting transparent, timely messages that resonate across all levels of your organization.
- Real world case study: In this examination of a technology shift, we’ll unpack all the steps taken to prepare for the rollout.
Light Homework: Review the change readiness assessment for your company.
Week 2
May 6, 2025, 1-3 p.m. ET
Planning for Success: Frameworks and Roadmaps
Once you understand your organization’s readiness and have a strategy to keep stakeholders engaged, the next step is selecting the right change models and frameworks. We’ll delve into leading methodologies—from classic approaches like Kotter’s 8-Step Process to more contemporary models such as ADKAR—gaining clarity on when each model is most effective. You’ll also examine leadership’s role in steering transformations, highlighting how executive sponsorship and dedicated change champions can spur progress. Beyond adopting a framework, you’ll learn how to tailor these methodologies to your specific environment, whether that means calibrating communication strategies, reshaping team structures, or escalating efforts to overcome resistance.
- Popular methodologies overview: Comparative analysis of key approaches (Kotter, ADKAR, etc.) and their ideal use cases.
- Leadership & sponsorship: Roles and responsibilities of executives, plus ways to coach influential change champions.
- Customizing frameworks: Tactics to adapt universal models for mergers, tech rollouts, or shifting corporate goals.
- Strategic communication plans: Blueprint for segmenting audiences and delivering the right message through the proper channels.
- Overcoming resistance: Advanced negotiation and conflict resolution skills to maintain positive momentum in challenging climates.
- Real world case study: We’ll explore a major, confidential company transition from its inception to rollout.
Light Homework: Review a handout covering different change management frameworks, and select the model that would best suit the scenario, and list why.
Week 3
May 13, 2025, 1-3 p.m. ET
Navigating Change: Measurement and Post-Event Analysis
Our final session covers tracking and analyzing the impact of your change initiatives, and the role of refining to reinforce successful implementation. We’ll explore how to blend both quantitative metrics, like adoption rates or productivity indicators, and qualitative data, such as employee sentiment and feedback, for a holistic view of progress. You’ll also learn methods for ensuring that newly implemented processes, team structures, technology rollouts, or cultural norms become part of everyday practice. By the end of this session, you’ll not only know how to close the loop on a change project—you’ll be prepared to fuel continual improvement and confidently guide your teams into new frontiers.
- Measurement & evaluation essentials: Core metrics for assessing success, from engagement data to goal-specific KPIs.
- Qualitative & quantitative data: How to gather and interpret survey results, anecdotal evidence, and performance statistics in tandem.
- Showcasing ROI: Approaches to present compelling proof-of-concept for continued leadership support and future initiatives.
- Iterative improvement loops: Techniques for frequent reviews and agile adjustments that keep momentum alive.
- Sustaining & reinforcing change: Practical steps to embed fresh processes and values so they endure long after the rollout.
- Real world case study: How a leading healthcare organization rolled out a change management plan around their executive’s financial goals—and how their KPIs laddered up to leadership.
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PRESENTERS
Presenters will be added soon.
Top 8 areas you’ll master upon completion:
- Change Frameworks & Methodologies: An overview of popular models like Kotter’s 8-Step Process or the ADKAR Model, and when to apply each approach.
- Stakeholder Analysis & Engagement: How to identify, categorize, and work with various stakeholders—especially those resistant to change—to build consensus and foster buy-in.
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Techniques for identifying potential roadblocks or resistance points and strategies to address them proactively, maintaining momentum.
- Communication Strategies: Best practices for cascading messages, creating transparent feedback loops, and tailoring communications to different audiences during periods of transformation.
- Cultural Considerations: Insights into how organizational culture, values, and norms can accelerate—or hinder—change initiatives, and methods for aligning culture with new goals.
- Leadership & Sponsorship: The critical role of leadership support, plus techniques for coaching leaders and change champions who drive lasting organizational transformation.
- Measurement & Evaluation: How to set meaningful metrics, track progress, and gauge the success of change efforts through both qualitative and quantitative data.
- Sustaining & Reinforcing Change: Practical steps to consolidate recent changes—be it a corporate relocation, a new CEO, or the rollout of an intranet—so teams keep evolving, without impacting business productivity.
Top reasons to attend this virtual certificate course
- Be called on to lead transformational change, crisis and cultural initiatives.
- Solidify your role as a revenue driver and employee value creator.
- Become a strategic counselor—increasing your organizational influence.
- Master measurement strategies to demonstrate success.
Secure your seat today for this exclusive internal communications course offered by Ragan and PR Daily.
Ragan Insider Member
$1895
Group pricing for 3 or more is available when going through the registration process!
If you can’t attend one or more of the modules live, you will receive the on-demand versions to complete the course.
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WHO ATTENDS
Communications professionals from these organizations have earned certificates:
Get Recognized!
Level up your expertise and career with this immersive program. You’ll master powerful strategies and skills for crafting messaging that captivates employees, propels business objectives and solidifies your standing as a strategist. Earn the recognition you deserve, along with your official Certificate of Completion!
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