The Objectives of Change Management Training

In today's dynamic business landscape, one thing is sure: change is inevitable. Whether it's technological advancements, shifts in market dynamics, or organisational restructuring, the ability to navigate change effectively has become a critical determinant of success for businesses worldwide.

Achieving strategic goals, crafting an aspiring vision, agility in delivering a product or service to market ahead of competition and sometimes just keeping the operational lights on and employees engaged is change enough.

Change by its pure nature, is dynamic, often unwelcome, usually comes at the worst possible time and stretches our resilience, motivation and brain-power.

Change management is the capability referenced to accommodate and include all aspects of the change process, across all its complexities.  Considered a skill of the future, isn’t it time for you to invest in this required capability through completion of the APMG Change Management Accredited training programs?

Change management is often referenced as a journey from current to future state, using tools and approaches to achieve a business outcome.

With the rapid pace of change, the reliance of our leaders to develop and lead themselves (and us!) coupled with the ongoing challenge of doing more with less, the importance of change management cannot be overestimated. 

Change management training aims to build awareness about the need for change, provide practical strategies for managing resistance, and cultivate a continuous improvement and innovation culture.

By investing in change management training, organisations can empower their employees to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and transformation. 

Change management is not just a business imperative; it's a strategic advantage in today's rapidly evolving world. By embracing change management principles and investing in change management training, organisations can position themselves for long-term success and unlock their full potential in an ever-changing landscape. 

Change Management Foundation Training is a cornerstone in equipping professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate organisational transitions. Key objectives of this foundational training program are: 

At the heart of Change Management Foundation Training lies the comprehension of fundamental concepts surrounding change. Participants learn about the different types of change, change models, and the organisation context in which their change is occurring. Participants learn how to proactively respond to emerging challenges, the effect on the organisation’s culture and understand the triggers and drivers of change. 

Change leadership requires the need to be visionary and forward thinking, and the ability to be agile and responsive to our constantly and rapidly changing business environment.  By understanding human dynamics, we can adjust our approach to how we lead and support our people and teams.  Advocacy can be provided to support people who are in key change roles. Another objective is to provide knowledge on how to build an effective change team.

Successful change initiatives require the support and involvement of various stakeholders. Through stakeholder analysis and understanding of power dynamics, appropriate engagement and communication strategies can be developed and tailored accordingly. 

Change doesn't happen by chance; it requires a balance of planning, agility but most importantly collaborative ‘co-design’ approaches that actively involve people in envisioning and creating solutions that meet their challenges. APMG’s training equips participants with the tools and techniques to develop change plans that adapt to the organisation’s complex environment. 

Resistance to change is a natural human reaction, but it can derail even the most well-conceived initiatives. Our training program equips professionals with strategies for effectively identifying, addressing, and mitigating resistance. By understanding the underlying reasons for resistance and employing appropriate tactics, change agents can minimise disruptions and foster greater acceptance of change. 

Change Management Foundation Training serves as a catalyst for organisational transformation, equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate through transitions effectively. Who are the ideal candidates for this foundational change management training program?

Individuals who aspire to lead change initiatives within their organisations are prime candidates for Change Management Foundation Training.

In today's fast-paced business environment, professionals often find themselves navigating through frequent transitions, whether it's organisational restructuring, process improvements, or technology implementations.

Complementary professional roles play a crucial role in facilitating organisational change as change skills equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill this critical role effectively. 

Change initiatives often take the form of IT or Business driven projects, and project managers and teams are at the forefront of driving these initiatives to success. This includes Project Managers and Project teams, Agile Squads, Business Leaders and Change Sponsors.  By aligning change management activities with project objectives, they can enhance project outcomes and ensure smoother transitions. 

Change Management Foundation Training is invaluable for leaders looking to cultivate a culture of innovation and adaptability. By understanding the principles of change management and leading by example, organisational leaders can inspire confidence and commitment among their teams, driving successful change initiatives from the top down. 

Beyond specific job roles, Change Management Foundation Training appeals to anyone seeking professional development opportunities. Change Management and Leadership is a key capability for our future of work.

Building upon the foundational concepts covered in Change Management Foundation Training, the Practitioner Training delves deeper into the principles and theories underlying effective change management.  Participants learn how to apply proven change management techniques in real-world scenarios, ensuring the successful execution of change projects from start to finish. 

A key objective of Change Management Practitioner Training is to enable participants to evaluate the effectiveness of change initiatives and measure their impact on organisational performance. Participants explore further measures for sustainable change, how new ways of working are adopted to create the new norm. By adopting a systematic approach to evaluation, organisations can identify lessons learned, refine their change management practices, and drive continuous improvement in their change capabilities. 

Ultimately, the overarching objective of Change Management Practitioner Training is to enhance organisational resilience in the face of ongoing change and uncertainty. By equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to navigate through transitions effectively, organisations can adapt more quickly to changing market conditions, capitalise on emerging opportunities, and maintain a competitive edge in today's dynamic business landscape. 

Individuals must have successfully completed the Change Management Foundation to be able to complete the Practitioner Training. In particular:

Experienced change managers who have practical experience in leading or supporting change initiatives are ideal candidates for Change Management Practitioner Training. This includes change managers, change agents, and other professionals with a background in organisational change. 

Project managers and program managers responsible for overseeing large-scale change projects or transformational initiatives can benefit by gaining a deeper understanding of change management principles and techniques to ensure the successful delivery of project outcomes. 

Human resources (HR) professionals and organisational development (OD) practitioners are critical in supporting organisational change efforts. Knowledge and skills align with broader HR and OD objectives, such as talent management, employee engagement, and cultural transformation. 

Though consulting skills themselves are not covered in these courses, consultants and advisers specialising in digital, transformation programs or organisational realignments would gain important change management insights to enhance their expertise and credentials. Professionals are equipped with the tools and techniques to add value when delivering high-quality consulting services to clients across various industries, helping organisations navigate complex change initiatives more effectively. 

In many organisations, change initiatives involve cross-functional collaboration, requiring individuals from different departments and disciplines to work together toward a common goal. Change Management Practitioner Training may benefit cross-functional teams involved in specific change projects or initiatives, enabling them to align their efforts, communicate effectively, and overcome challenges more collaboratively. 

The goal of the APMG Change Management training is to enhance your thinking, your tools and your approaches to assist you in facing each and every change, understanding that each change will have different implications, different impacts, different outcomes and each person impacted will respond differently.  You don’t learn one methodology, one process, one set of tools or canvases, our goal is to equip you to work alongside your employees, managers, leaders and stakeholders to support the sustainable delivery and transition of the changes to improved business ways of working.

In summary, change management is essential for organisational success. It guides how you prepare, equip, and support employees to adopt and manage change, ensuring a more resilient and agile business.

Change Management Foundation:

The Change Management Foundation course is an entry level qualification for anyone interested in understanding the basic principles of achieving successful organisational change, transition or transformation. It is designed to equip you with the knowledge and ability to become an effective team member in change projects. The course is typically 3 days in length and the examination is completed at the end of the course.

Change Management Practitioner:

The Change Management Foundation certificate is a pre-requisite to completing this certification. The Practitioner training offers strategies to manage learning and development that support change, a framework for coaching colleagues with a focus on listening and feedback techniques, insights into handling conflict during change, and approaches for collaboratively designing change processes. These elements aim to equip participants with the necessary tools and understanding for guiding and sustaining change in their organisations. The Practitioner course is typically a further 2 days, with the exam also being completed at the end of the course.