Leadership & Management

Leading Organisational Restructuring

Restructuring, mergers of departments and downsizing are among the hardest situations a leader faces. This course covers how to plan and lead restructuring responsibly: designing the new structure, involving HR and legal early, communicating with honesty and care, supporting those leaving and those staying, and rebuilding engagement afterwards.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF

Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Badly handled restructuring damages trust and performance for years. You will learn to lead the process fairly, legally and humanely.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Restructuring case studies, planning workshops, communication role plays and review of legal and HR considerations.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Plan a restructuring with clear rationale and design
Work with HR and legal on fair processes
Communicate restructuring decisions with care
Support affected employees through transition
Manage survivor reactions and maintain performance
Rebuild engagement in the new organisation

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Senior leaders and directors
Department heads
HR business partners
Change managers
Managers implementing restructuring

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Organisational design
Change communication
Employee relations
Empathetic leadership
Transition management

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Why Restructure

09:00–10:08Drivers and options
10:08–11:00Design principles
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Design principles (continued)
11:45–12:53Risks of restructuring
12:53–14:00Case study introduction

Day 2Planning the Process

09:00–10:08Timeline and governance
10:08–11:00Consultation and legal considerations
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Consultation and legal considerations (continued)
11:45–12:53Selection criteria
12:53–14:00Workshop: restructuring plan

Day 3Communicating Decisions

09:00–10:08Announcement planning
10:08–11:00Individual conversations
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Individual conversations (continued)
11:45–12:53Handling emotional reactions
12:53–14:00Role play: difficult news

Day 4Supporting People

09:00–10:08Support for leavers
10:08–11:00Survivor syndrome
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Survivor syndrome (continued)
11:45–12:53Retaining key talent
12:53–14:00Exercise: support plan

Day 5Rebuilding

09:00–10:08Launching the new structure
10:08–11:00Re-engaging teams
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Re-engaging teams (continued)
11:45–12:53Measuring success
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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