Since 2016, the Human Resources Organizational Development team has guided 125 directors and managers through its Change Resilience Development Program (CRDP). This is in addition to a wide variety of training and professional development opportunities it offers for all employees.
In May 2023, 21 more managers joined the CRDP’s group of graduates, having completed one full training day a month from February to May. Participants included managers from across the university in units as diverse as Campus Wellness and Support Services, University Advancement, Environmental Health and Safety and Sustainability, as well as each of Concordia’s faculties and schools.
During the program, participants’ work revolves around the change management aspects of an initiative they are responsible for planning and implementing in a six-month timespan. Each session gives them the opportunity to further their project with the support of the program’s facilitators and their peers.
“We provide them with tools and approaches to work on their change initiative. There's time for individual reflection, discussions in small subgroups and plenaries, and a lot of networking also takes place, which makes the whole experience very interactive,” says Natalie Camirand, manager of organizational development and one of the program’s facilitators.
“The fact that participants bring their own change project and real-life experiences to the table also makes it very concrete.”
Tools and resources for managing change in an evolving environment
The CRDP was relaunched in 2023 following a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the program’s content is updated and adjusted for each cohort — based on feedback from previous participants, as well as new management and change trends — this year’s relaunch had added elements.
“Resilience, leadership development and our capacity for implementing and managing changes as we come out of a pandemic continue to be very important,” says Carolina Willsher, associate vice-president of Human Resources. “We need to adapt, pivot with agility and respond to an evolving landscape. The CRDP provides many tools to help support this leadership and change journey.”
Joseph Leger, manager of research and graduate communications, appreciated how the program helped him on his leadership path by allowing him to connect with fellow managers. “Seeing as I’m in the early stages of my managerial career, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me,” he says.
“The program does an excellent job of providing participants with tools and resources. But perhaps more importantly, it gives you the opportunity to take an existing project you’re working on and have it stress-tested and reviewed by other managers who can share their thoughts and expertise.”