Welcome to a new year with The Workshop.
I’m Julie, a Senior Narrative Advisor at The Workshop and over the summer in between camping (in the remnants of a cyclone) and spending time with my friends and whānau at the beach I’ve been thinking about how impactful narratives can be, when used strategically and intentionally.
For most of us, the start of a new year prompts us to think about what the future holds. It's a time when we reflect on where we’ve been and then make plans for the year ahead in both our personal and professional lives. These plans act as a map, helping us keep on track and focused on what is most important to us as the year progresses.
We hope you’ve had time over the summer break to reflect on 2022 and are ready to start thinking about 2023.
What's your narrative strategy for 2023?
Just like in our personal lives, the beginning of a new year is a great time to get really clear on the impact we want to have in the world. What are the changes you’re working towards that will make the biggest difference to people and the planet? Once you’re clear on what changes are needed you can focus on your narrative strategy.
Narrative work is strategic work with long-term goals — you can use narratives to shift mindsets to build support for changes that will make the biggest difference for people and the planet.
If the changes you want to make in the world are the destination then your narrative strategy is like a map. It will keep you going, help you to know where you are along the way and then enable you to know and celebrate when you get there.
If you do not have a narrative strategy you risk using your precious storytelling resources to tell benign stories which don’t land or are ineffective in shifting mindsets towards the changes that will make the biggest difference. Or you accidentally successfully share an unhelpful narrative that makes the change you are trying to create even more difficult.
If you’re curious about using narratives to create change, you’ll find lots of information and free guides on our website. You can also get in touch to chat with one of the team about how The Workshop can help you on your narrative journey.
Narratives for Change Foundations training
We're now offering Narratives for Change Foundations training in three different formats with dates available for the first half of 2023.
1-day in person - 14 February 2023
Delivered in a central Wellington location, our expert trainers will teach you the fundamentals of Narratives for Change, facilitate group activities, and answer questions about how this applies to your work.
In person training is also a chance to connect in person with others also learning about how to communicate about the changes that make the biggest difference.
Our February 1-day training is fully booked, the next public training is likely to be scheduled for mid 2023. If you’ve got a group of 12 or more people wanting to work together on a similar topic or issue, talk with our team about booking private Foundations training. Private training runs just like our public training but you’ll get the extra benefit of building connections and learning alongside other people who are working on similar topics.
Live virtual via zoom - starting 27 Feb 2023
Our live virtual zoom based training allows individuals from all over the country to learn together, see and hear each other, without having to travel. Sessions are 2 hours long and occur during working hours. Our expert trainers deliver the fundamentals of Narratives for Change and provide opportunities for focussed group discussion and learning in breakout group activities.
Online short course - starting 28 April 2023
This is our most comprehensive and flexible version of Foundations. Delivered via our online platform, Moodle, where people read and watch pre-recorded content. Participants can work through course content, individual activities, and group forums (facilitated by our expert trainers) at times that suit them best each week. Our content will also be supported by small group activities with other participants at times that suit all people in the group.
Advanced training on Climate
Are you working in climate communication? You can book for our advanced training on Climate narratives.
Advanced Training on Climate is designed for people who want to build on what they’ve learnt in Foundations training and apply it to their work changes that make the biggest difference for our climate. Delivered over five, 2-hour zoom sessions, this training draws on our climate change specific insights and has a strong focus on implementing narrative strategies.
Book Advanced Training on Climate - starting 21 April 2023
We’ve moved the dates for Advanced Training on Climate. This course will now start in April. The new dates allow for people who have not yet done Foundations training to complete the live virtual Foundations training before the Advanced Training on Climate starts.
If you’d like to book both Narratives for Change Foundations and Advanced Training on Climate we have a bundle option
Book Foundations and Advanced Training on Climate together - starting 27 February
Check out our training page for all your options
What's new at The Workshop
New guide and toolkit for how to talk about opening our streets
In December The Workshop in partnership with Waka Kotahi launched a new comprehensive guide and toolkit to support the significant work that is happening across Aotearoa to open our streets for people who walk, ride bikes and take public transport.
The guide gives you tested ways to talk about the changes needed to get all people and goods moving in better ways around our towns and cities. You can use this advice to show people an alternative possibility of how their world could look, to tell stories that change the narrative, and to insert those stories in the public conversation.
Read: How to talk about opening our streets for people who walk, ride bikes and take public transport
The toolkit supports the comprehensive guide and gives you tested messages and practical ways to structure your communications. It includes:
longer tested messages you can use whole or in parts
a shortcut sheet of words and phrases to embrace or replace
a story structure that helps you use Narrative for Change strategies in each story you create
a template to help with your narrative strategy
a checklist to help put it all in action
Tell us how you've used Narratives for Change
If you’ve been reflecting on your progress and narrative wins from 2022 we’d love to hear from you. Tag us in your social media or send us examples of how you’ve used narratives to shift mindset for your area of work.
Creating long term change takes lots of people and organisations using helpful narratives to shift mindsets. We’d like to share and celebrate the great work that you’re doing to make Aotearoa a more inclusive and just place that protects the wellbeing of our people and the planet.