Regulatory Communication

1-day course for regulatory staff including support staff, in person or online

Colleen Trolove

What it’s about

You're the bridge between complex regulations and the public

Do you:

  • draft regulatory guidelines and interpretation information

  • communicate with people about regulated processes?

If so, you interpret regulations and explain them clearly to people who aren't experts. That's challenging!

As you write, you need to explain what's required AND motivate people to comply. You’re trained to focus on regulatory detail, but you know the human element is important too. You know that people comply when they feel capable, responsible, action-oriented, and positive towards their regulator.

Let’s combine accuracy and human-centred writing

You bring the regulatory knowledge. I bring expertise in clear writing. Together, we'll focus on writing that’s both accurate and easy to understand. You'll learn how to write so your readers understand exactly:

  • what they need to do

  • why they need to do it

  • what happens next.

This course goes into detail on the science of how people read, what information they focus on, what they ignore, and what tones spark different emotional responses.

Are you dealing with resource consents, environmental compliance, or other local- or central-government requirements? You'll learn how to translate complex requirements into clear communications people can act on.

Practical session where you get work done

Bring your actual notices and communications. We can look at them together and reflect on possible improvements or alternative ways to express the same information.

You'll practise evidence-based techniques to help you refresh your approach to written communication.

What the training covers

Bridging the expert-public gap

  • Your role as an interpreter of regulations

  • Putting yourself in the readers’ shoes

  • Identifying what your readers need to know

  • The science of how people read and its implications for you as a writer

Getting the tone right

  • Writing with authority and empathy

  • Building cooperation through your language

Structure and content that works

  • Starting with the most important information

  • Making actions and deadlines crystal clear

  • Explaining 'why' at the right level of technicality

  • Creating clear pathways for questions and help

Putting it into practice

  • Converting technical requirements into plain language

  • Explaining complex concepts clearly

  • Using examples and explanations effectively

  • Writing instructions that are easy to follow

  • Managing challenging situations through clear communication

Review and refine

  • Hands-on practice with your own writing

  • Peer review and feedback

The specifics

Who’s it for?

Up to 14 regulatory staff including support staff

How long?

1 full day at your venue

How much?

All trainings are $8,000 + gst per day plus travel

What format?

In person or online, but not a mix of both

Before the training

You can give me document samples to use in the training (optional)

To bring on the day

  • Laptops

  • A document to review

Colleen Trolove

Download the full course outlines

Plus the ROI information you need to make a strong business case for this training

Quick descriptions of courses

  • Why is it so hard to get documents signed off? Why is it always a track-changes, version-control nightmare?

    You recognise good when you see it but aren’t sure how to help people get their half-assed writing up to standard - and still be their friend. If any of that sounds familiar, this training’s for you!

  • You know, you really should know how to write a report. (Read that in a whiny, snarky voice for full effect.)

    Ahhhhmm, no, you shouldn’t. Because every report is different. There is no one right way. But I can give you the tools and the confidence to figure out how to write the right report, every time.

  • This course helps anyone who writes at work to do it better, faster, and more effectively. We cover emails, reports, and literally any kind of writing from content-writing to legally-binding documents. Increase your confidence, learn the latest best ways to write, and save some time and sanity!

  • Tell me your goals for your team's writing.

    Give me samples of their writing.

    I'll give you the workshop your team never knew they always needed.

  • People sometimes ask me how to sound more professional in their writing. How to pad it out. How to use big words. But they’re crazy and you’re not. So you want to know the NUMBER ONE thing I get asked: How do I make my writing more clear and concise? Here’s how.

  • We spend SO MUCH time writing emails. What if I told you a simple email formula could get you faster replies? Less to-ing and fro-ing? Get people to do the things you ask and do them fast? Get you more YESes? This shit really is some kind of magic (well it’s actually neuroscience, but, you know…).

  • What even is technical writing? Well, if you’re communicating complex information, you’re doing it. And most of us do technical writing without any guidance or qualification. Take a couple of days to find out what you should be doing. What’s current industry best practice? A few powerful tools will make all the difference!

  • Although it would be nice to do a Jerry Maguire and scream SHOW ME THE MONEY at the top of your lungs, that doesn’t seem to get the best results in a business setting. So here’s a training to teach you the art and skill of persuading (so people will show you the money).

  • If you want to write policies to tick a box and sit on a shelf, find another course! Our focus here is to write policies that both work for your business AND get used by the people who need them. We’ll cover all the good foundational stuff of clear, modern business writing, then we’ll focus on the requirements of policy and procedural writing at a specialist level.

Full descriptions of courses