INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
In today’s complex and fast-paced communication landscape, organisations must deliver messages that are not only clear and consistent but also aligned with strategic objectives. Effective strategic communication is no longer optional, critical for maintaining trust, building reputation, and influencing stakeholder perception.
This Strategic Communication: Thinking, Planning and Execution training course equips communication professionals and organisational leaders with the tools to design and deliver impactful communication strategies. Participants will learn how to conduct environmental scanning, anticipate emerging issues, align communication with organisational goals, and measure results. With a strong focus on forward-thinking and real-world application, this course delivers a comprehensive approach to strategic communication planning and execution.
This Strategic Communication: Thinking, Planning and Execution training course will highlight:
- Aligning communication strategies with corporate objectives
- Assessing communication environments through research and stakeholder analysis
- Designing content and messaging that reflects strategic intent
- Horizon scanning, forecasting, and scenario development
- Evaluating the effectiveness of communication initiatives with KPIs and measurable outcomes
COURSE DETAILS
Objectives
By the end of this Strategic Communication: Thinking, Planning and Execution training course, participants will be able to:
- Understand how communication drives strategic success across the organisation
- Develop communication strategies that engage stakeholders and manage risks
- Define clear goals, audiences, and tactical approaches for communication plans
- Conduct internal and external environmental analysis to shape messaging
- Apply methods for monitoring, evaluation, and demonstrating communication impact
- Build communication frameworks that respond proactively to emerging trends
Training Methodology
This Strategic Communication: Thinking, Planning and Execution training course uses various proven adult learning techniques to ensure effective assimilation and retention of the information presented. This highly interactive training course will prompt delegates to reflect on their thinking, communication style and practice.
Your Tutor will guide and facilitate learning using a wide variety of methods, including direct input, video, discussions, case studies and group and individual exercises to focus on the themes of the course, practice skills and receive feedback.
Organisational Impact
Organisations will benefit from enhanced communication capabilities that:
- Align closely with business goals and support overall strategic direction
- Enable data-informed decision-making and trend analysis for proactive planning
- Improve cross-functional collaboration between communications and operational teams
- Strengthening stakeholder engagement and organisational transparency
- Establish a culture of measurable and accountable communication
Personal Impact
Participants will leave this training course with advanced communication competencies, including:
- Confidence in leading or contributing to strategic communication initiatives
- Enhanced ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences
- Practical experience in using research to shape communication strategies
- Greater awareness of external trends and strategic foresight techniques
- A robust toolkit for planning, executing, and evaluating communications effectively
Who should Attend?
This KC Academy Strategic Communication: Thinking, Planning and Execution training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will significantly benefit:
- Communications professionals
- Directors with communications responsibility
- Corporate Communications Practitioners / Managers
- Public Relations Officers / Managers
- Public Affairs Practitioners
- Marketing Officers / Managers
- Anyone planning a career in PR
DAILY AGENDA
Day 1 : Why is Strategic Communication Important?
- What is communication important – and what is ‘strategic’?
- It starts with the corporate strategy
- Exploring corporate strategy to define your role
- The place of business and communications plans
- Structures for Communications strategies and plans
- Applying these insights to your organisation
Day 2: Researching Strategy
- The big picture – analysing trends
- Using SWOT, PEST and PESTLE
- Analysing Opportunities and Threats
- Over the horizon events – early warnings
- Research skills
- Research sources
Day 3: Stakeholder Communications
- Mapping your regular stakeholders
- Identifying ‘situational stakeholders’ by project and issue
- Planning stakeholder communication activities
- Recognising the need for campaigns
- The skills of negotiation and persuasion
- Stakeholder narrative and messaging
Communications Strategy
- Vision, mission, values and strategy
- Account management and business communications strategies
- SMART objectives
- Creating KPIs and CSFs
- Developing your communications plans
- Consulting on your draft strategy
Day 5: Evaluation
- Communication – what can be measured
- Gathering and using data
- Making your data gathering plan
- Acquiring the tools – your ‘tech stack.’
- Making strategy happen
- Reporting to the C Suite
Certificate
- On successful completion of this training course, KC Academy Certificate will be awarded to the delegates.