Engaging Stakeholders to Spark a Movement
A Sense of Urgency is arguably the most critical – and often under-leveraged – ingredient in both inspiring and sustaining change. Learn how to create true urgency, and practice how to keep people on board and energized about your change. Then explore how to identify, recruit, engage, and equip a set of people to serve as your Guiding Coalition – spearheading the coordination of efforts over the course of your change.
About This Course
Engaging Stakeholders to Spark a Movement was designed by Kotter experts based on all we have learned through decades of empirical research observing, analyzing, and documenting patterns across thousands of change efforts. This course offers a deep dive into Accelerators 1 + 2 in Kotter’s change framework: Create a Sense of Urgency and Build a Guiding Coalition.
Dr. Kotter wrote the book A Sense of Urgency as, working side by side with organizations undergoing change, he observed that an overwhelming number of those organizations underestimated the importance of creating true urgency as a success factor in achieving their vision.
Too often, leaders believe they have generated a healthy level of urgency across their organization when, in fact, the “urgency” they observe is either insufficient or is masquerading as complacency or false urgency. This course begins by teaching you how to recognize the characteristics of true urgency, and then practice ways to energize large groups of people to move forward together with a sense of shared purpose.
In this course, you will also have the opportunity to dive into the construct of a Guiding Coalition. In the dual operating model – the organizational structure outlined in the Science of Change – the Guiding Coalition serves as the nucleus of the network and the connective tissue to the hierarchy.
As part of the experience, you’ll practice igniting true urgency and building a Guiding Coalition through practical, real-world experiences, including case studies, simulations, and application to your own change initiatives.
With the Science of Change and an Action Plan as your guide, you’ll immediately practice applying what you’re learning, and you will leave the course with tools and techniques for carrying your learning forward.
Core Content
Engaging Stakeholders to Spark a Movement is ideal for change leaders who are either at the beginning of a change effort or are in the midst of a transformation and are struggling to build sufficient momentum for the change.
While not required, we recommend completing Foundations of Change prior to taking this course.
4-6 hours of total learning (including interactive activities, practical exercises, and reflection time)
At the completion of this course, you can expect to:
- Apply core principles of effective change to your own change initiatives and identify ways to enhance their success.
- Recognize behaviors that indicate when people are aligned, feel a true sense of urgency, and are actively supporting a change.
- Engage others more effectively in change by addressing diverse needs, with a strong emphasis on building urgency.
- Articulate why a Guiding Coalition is uniquely positioned as a critical driver of successful change.
- Recruit and engage a diverse group of individuals who can have the greatest impact on guiding successful change.
- Develop a concrete action plan to advance your individual change initiatives.
Course Outline | Engaging Stakeholders to Spark a Movement is based on two core content modules:
Module I. Igniting True Urgency
In this module, you will explore the difference between true urgency, false urgency, and complacency. You will decipher how to identify each, and will learn how to ignite true urgency using an understanding of various styles you can expect to encounter in your change efforts. You will also practice communicating for urgency using a series of tips and tactics for building and maintaining urgency throughout the course of any transformation.
Module 2. Building a Guiding Coalition
After the Course
Completion Badge
Upon successful completion of this course and your demonstration of understanding of the content, you will receive a verified badge that you can share on LinkedIn, in your email signature, and on your CV. Your badge will be unique to you and will be verified by Credly.
Community Access
Upon completion of this course you will receive a complimentary 6-month subscription to the online Kotter Community, where you can access exclusive content and connect with other Kotter change practitioners, fellow course participants, and Kotter experts.