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. 

Instructor(s)

Martha Muzychka, ABC

Martha Muzychka, an ABC, MC, and IABC Fellow, serves as the Principal of Praxis Communications, an independent consultancy located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 2005, her work centers on various areas, including health, gender equity, education, culture, natural resource, and social policy.

 Martha demonstrates strengths in communications, qualitative research, policy analysis, consultation processes, reputation and crisis management, and writing. In her professional endeavors, she explores innovative approaches for communication and engagement, combining a unique community perspective with a solid foundation in strategic communications principles. Her clientele encompasses both large and small organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as across Canada, spanning the government, non-profit, community, and private sectors. Martha brings extensive experience to the table, including public speaking, workshop development and presentation, and group facilitation.

She offers workshops and training sessions to institutions, corporations, and community agencies, covering topics such as business writing, communications and media relations, evaluation and qualitative research methodology, reputation management, social media, design thinking, and creativity in business development. Since 2014, Martha has been a licensed trainer with MDC, delivering key programs like Think on Your Feet, Writing Dynamics, and The Skilled Presenter to professionals.

Martha specializes in creating custom training for various audiences, including corporate, institutional, and community sectors. Additionally, she develops supporting materials like PowerPoint presentation slides, trainer and participant modules, handouts, and evaluation forms, incorporating innovative teaching techniques designed to support adult learners and reinforce learning objectives.

Since 2020, Martha has invested in professional development focused on online facilitation and engagement. She has adapted her existing training programs to virtual environments and implemented these strategies for new training programs.