At senior level, communication strategy is not about channels and tactics — it is about influencing how an organisation thinks, decides and acts. This course is for experienced strategists who want to operate at that level. You will learn to design research-backed communication strategies, align them with organisational objectives, and present and justify them persuasively to top management.
Advanced strategy frameworks and success factors, evidence-based communication research, defining strategic objectives, and earning leadership buy-in.
Every session runs in a small, boardroom-format group — typically six to eight senior professionals. Your trainer tailors content to the specific industries, organisations and challenges each participant brings, so you work on real situations, not generic examples. The learning combines evidence-based best practice briefings with structured discussions, practical workshops and peer learning. This is training with a coaching and consulting flavour — focused on building skills and producing outputs you can apply in your work immediately.
- Design sophisticated communication strategies that influence organisational direction
- Conduct and commission objective research to inform strategic communication decisions
- Use data and evidence to target communication strategy with precision
- Integrate communication strategy with organisational goals and business priorities
- Present and justify a communication strategy persuasively to senior leadership
- Evaluate and adapt strategy based on measurable outcomes
- Position the communication function as a strategic driver within the organisation
- Apply advanced strategic frameworks to complex, multi-stakeholder communication challenges
- Communication strategy best practice and success factors
- Making strategy clear, simple and practical
- Step-by-step processes for creating a communication strategy
- Practical workshop
- Qualitative communication research: interviews, focus groups, observation
- Analysing and assimilating stakeholder research
- Quantitative communication research: content analysis, surveys, polling
- Setting evidence-based communication goals and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Case study examples
- Integrating communication strategy with organisational strategy
- Aligning communication goals with business goals
- Evaluating which issues communication should target
- Defining values, personality and voice for strategic communication
- Working with management to empower the communications function
- Communication and the Board: managing a charged relationship
- Presenting communication in the language of management
- Working with other departments and securing their support
This course is for PR managers and directors who operate at a strategic level — designing, managing or justifying communication strategy to senior leadership. It builds on practical strategy skills and is designed for professionals who want to position communication as an organisational driver.
- Live Online14–15 October 2026· $950Book
- Dubai3 November 2026· $1,200 plus VATBook
- Live Online11–12 November 2026· $950Book
- Live Online9–10 December 2026· $950Book
The following are some of the ISOC trainers who regularly lead this course, depending whether you join us in London, Dubai or live online.
Yes. We deliver this course for teams of any size, tailored to your organisation’s context and objectives. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Communication Strategy Design and Development teaches a practical step-by-step system for building a communication strategy. Advanced Communication Strategy is designed for professionals who already have that foundation and want to operate at director level — designing strategies that influence organisational direction and earning senior leadership buy-in.
Yes. The practical workshops are designed so you can apply frameworks directly to your own organisational context and leave with work you can build on immediately.
Nothing specific is required. If you have a current project, challenge or organisational context relevant to the course, bring it along — the practical exercises can incorporate real-world scenarios.