Background and Challenges
Surrey faced the significant challenge of navigating a fast-track Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), consolidating 12 councils into just two. For communications professionals, this meant working across the region to create a united front while addressing diverse priorities, councillors, and cultures.
The challenge was twofold:
- Building strong partnerships and a cohesive approach across the region amidst differing council identities and priorities.
- Equipping communications professionals to manage the cultural and psychological aspects of LGR, including myth-busting, calming rumours, and shaping the identity of the new organisation.
Trueman Change Involvement
Trueman Change partnered with Surrey to deliver a focused session for eight communications professionals, designed to address the unique challenges of LGR and provide practical tools for success.
Key activities included:
Research-Based Insights: Sharing Trueman Change’s research on LGR and exploring the psychological models relevant to communications, such as identity and motivation.
Identity and Culture: Helping participants understand why identity matters during LGR, how it impacts resistance to change, and the critical role of communications in shaping the organisation’s future identity.
Culture Exploration: Supporting participants to identify and navigate the different cultures across the region, with a focus on how messaging plays a central role in cultural alignment.
Networking and Collaboration: Facilitating exercises to strengthen relationships and build a united approach, including a networking lunch to connect participants with colleagues they hadn’t worked with before.
Outcomes and Solutions
Trueman Change’s session provided Surrey’s communications professionals with the tools and insights needed to navigate the complexities of LGR and create a collaborative, region-wide approach.
Key outcomes included:
- Strengthened Partnerships: The session helped build stronger relationships and a united front among communications professionals across the region.
- Psychological Insights: Participants gained a deeper understanding of identity, motivation, and the psychological aspects of change, equipping them to manage resistance and shape the organisation’s future identity.
- Cultural Awareness: The session highlighted the importance of culture in LGR and empowered participants to align messaging with the diverse cultures across the region.
- Practical Tools: Communications professionals left with actionable strategies for myth-busting, calming rumours, and managing the messaging around LGR.
