This is a predecessor course to our intensive workshop on Strategic Communication, in which we facilitate a team of yours to actually plan major breakthroughs for your organization. But if you want an overview of where those breakthroughs are likely to come from, you can explore that in this survey workshop.

Organizations and sectors go through cycles of innovation and execution. Each dynamic compliments the other. Innovation is essential for the development of new ideas in a changing world. Good execution and management are essential to scaling up an organization's success and building something sustainable beyond the vision and leadership of founders and innovators. This creative tension parallels the one that exists between management and leadership within most organizations, or even within many nonprofit executives charged with setting new directions.

There are successful models for making the most of this creative tension. One of the best is the Communication Mapping Process that we have been pioneering for several years. It creates a common ground for responsible innovation for all staff, regardless of position or disposition.

Communication (both internal and external) is the life blood of an organization. Without the bonds of well established communication, an organization is reduced to its component parts. Communication creates sustainability, culture, and energy.

Breakthroughs in communication are essential in today's rapidly changing environment for most social change and social service organizations. There are forces at play that demand action from responsible nonprofit leaders: the Internet, economic and regulatory pressures, globalization, competition for donors, and other pressures are making business as usual increasingly difficult.

And yet, the essential qualities of an organization and the precious talents of its staff must play a major role in the process of innovation. Technical or regulatory outsiders should not ride roughshod over the core competencies of an organization. That is why a common framework for innovation is so important.

This workshop starts with a solid exploration of the power and practice of Communication Mapping. It then extends that practice with implementation techniques, early success strategies, and advice for managing expectations and adoptions of change. It leads naturally into our Strategic Communication Intensive.