(Virtual Training) The Vital Role of Communications in Effective Engagement

Effective engagement is not possible without skilled communication. Understanding the vital role communication plays in all engagement processes is an important step to improving your engagement outcomes. Through large and small group discussions, real life examples, and hands-on exercises, this course will explore aspects of good communication. The course will also look at the links and symbiotic relationship between engagement and communication. Key topics include the role of communication in public participation, conducting a situation assessment with a communication lens, communication objectives, how communication can impact diversity & inclusion, and the use of plain language.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a member of IAP2 Canada please log into the website (top right-hand corner) to register automatically at the member rate. International IAP2 members require a code to register. Please contact info@iap2canada.ca to obtain it.

This virtual course will be offered in two, three hour segments. Just like the face-to-face training, we expect all participants to attend all sessions listed in the event. To find out the time the training takes place in your time zone you can use this link. 

— Cancellation and Refund Policy —

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will:

• Discuss the relevance of good communication to effective public participation

• Explore the connection between situation assessments and effective communications
  

• Describe the difference between public participation objectives and communication objectives
  

• Review different types of communication objectives and when to use them
  

• Develop communication objectives to support public participation objectives
  

• Discuss how diversity & inclusion influence communication
  

• Determine the diversity of communication materials needed for an inclusive process
  

• Explain the role of key messages in effective communication
  

• Explore a variety of verbal and non-verbal communications skills, including active listening

• Examine the use of plain language in effective and inclusive communication
  

• Discuss ways to communicate technical information in community language

Course Outline

Trainer: Gay Robinson, CP3

Over her 40 year career, Gay has developed extensive expertise in engagement and communication. Through her boutique consultancy in Calgary, she provides strategic counsel, and designs and implements engagement programs for a wide range of clients including municipal governments, school boards, regulators and petroleum industry organizations.

Gay is an IAP2 Canada Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3) and an active member of IAP2 Canada. She has been a licensed trainer for the IAP2 Foundations program since 2005 and serves as an assessor for the IAP2 Canada professional certification program. Gay is also accredited by the Canadian Public Relations Society.