Write with purpose--craft clear, compliant, and actionable policies that drive real organizational impact.

Effective policies are essential for organizations to ensure consistency, accountability, and compliance with legal and regulatory standards. Introduction to Policy Writing will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to write clear, concise, and effective policies that align with organizational goals.

Participants will explore the fundamental principles of policy writing, including the purpose and structure of policies, the distinction between policies, procedures, and guidelines, and the importance of clarity and consistency. Best practices such as using active voice, defining key terms, and maintaining accessibility will be emphasized. Participants will analyze real-world policies to identify essential components, such as scope, compliance measures, and revision protocols.

This 1-day course also focuses on drafting and refining policies to ensure effectiveness and clarity. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises, including drafting a policy statement, applying plain language principles, and peer-reviewing policy sections. Strategies for avoiding ambiguity, structuring policy documents for readability, and conducting effective self-editing and peer-review processes will be covered. Case studies will highlight common pitfalls and solutions in policy writing.

Finally,participants will learn how to effectively communicate and disseminate policies within an organization through various channels. Strategies for training employees, monitoring policy effectiveness through key performance indicators, and gathering feedback for continuous improvement will be discussed.

By the end of this course, participants will have the tools and confidence to create well-structured, effective policies to enhance organizational efficiency and compliance.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand key principles, components, and structure of effective policies.
• Write clear, actionable, and accessible policies using best practices.
• Identify stakeholders and integrate their perspectives into policy development.
• Strengthen persuasive, evidence-based writing to support recommendations.
• Design policies with implementation strategies and measurable evaluation methods.

Course Duration: 1 day | Continuing Education Contact Hours: 7

Course Endorsements and Partnerships

This course qualifies as credits toward the International Association of Business Communicators' (IABC) professional certifications.  

When applying to sit for either the exam for Communications Management Professional (CMP)® or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP)® or to apply for recertification, Gardiner Centre courses can be an integral part of your application package. 

To learn more about this global standard certification, visit: gcccouncil.org. To inquire about sitting for a certification exam, contact the local IABC NL chapter at iabcnl@gmail.com, or visit: iabcnl.com.