The Communicator Session

The Communicator Session is a week-long strategic communication curriculum with content suited to high-performing and high-potential communication professionals. While the curriculum emphasizes communication within the walls of the organization, external communication professionals are welcome and will get substantial value from the course. Enrollees will attend classes between the evening of Sunday, June 23rd and late morning of Friday, June 28th, and to encourage individual development and coaching, we limit participation to 20.

Across more than 20 hours of instruction, Alan Nelson and Lisa Magnuson will lead a developmental discussion across five areas:

• Understanding Communication as Science
• Creating Value
• Working with Internal and External Counterparts
• Managing Work
• Leading Others

The course does not focus on PR and communication basics—media relations, news writing, editing, promotions, and plans. It covers more strategic topics like changing employee behavior, alignment to strategy, the adoption of new processes and technology, or elevating the credibility of senior leadership, as well as the delicate nuances of the job: partnering with other functions, leading others, and managing up. It also is not an “out of the box program,” and the topics of discussion within the five areas above will reflect the specific roles and challenges of the enrolled cohort. That said, enrollees should expect specific learning and practical counsel across a subset of these topics:

• An argument for communication maturity
• What we should learn from cognitive neuroscientists
• Affecting personal change
• Viewing organizations as conversations
• Five axioms of interpersonal and organizational communication
• The three dominant personal and organizational communication styles
• Thinking strategy
• Building corporate narratives
• Integrating mission, values, vision, and strategy
• Crafting messages of strategic intent
• Creating strategic action
• Making messages compelling
• The question of PowerPoint
• Presentation strategy and prep
• Planning novel communication plans
• Building social capital
• Narrowcasting and the art of stakeholder management
• Realities of change communication
• Managing uncertainty
• The myth of the burning platform
• Cultivating personal and professional advocates
• Establishing advisory relationships
• Communicating up
• Delivering client feedback
• Parasocial interaction and the principles of executive visibility
• Building strong internal partnerships
• Using consultants for effect
• Advocating for ideas
• Scoping communication opportunities
• Managing personal workflow
• Project management for communication professionals
• Audience analysis: The seven questions we always ask
• Gathering feedback to propel counsel
• Communication post mortems as a means of improvement
• Air Traffic Control: A process for surfacing, tracking, and completing communication opportunities
• Cultivating admired leadership
• Motivating and inspiring others
• Projecting executive presence

Tuition, which includes all materials, meals (less alcohol), activities, and accommodations, is $9,000. For admission information or to enroll, please contact our Event Coordinator at 610-644-5597 or events@crainc.com.