8 Essential Meetings for Change Management
If you’re a change management consultant or lead on a Workday implementation project there are 8 essential meetings you should prioritize.
These are the meetings where you'll gather the intelligence you need to build an effective change strategy, influence design decisions that impact adoption, and build relationships with the people who will make or break your go-live success.
In this toolkit, you'll find practical lessons to help you prepare for these meetings, extract maximum value from them, and translate what you learn into actionable change management strategies.
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1.1 Introduction
As a change management consultant, showing up to the right meetings makes all the difference between being a strategic partner and being overwhelmed by your calendar.
As a change management consultant, showing up to the right meetings makes all the difference between being a strategic partner and being overwhelmed by your calendar.
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1.2 Getting on the Invite List
Too often, the people side of change is treated as a "nice-to-have" or a tangential workstream rather than a critical path to success — and we get left off the invite list.
Too often, the people side of change is treated as a "nice-to-have" or a tangential workstream rather than a critical path to success — and we get left off the invite list.
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1.3 From Attendee to Strategic Advisor
Showing up to the right meetings isn’t just about being in the room — it’s about knowing where you can add the most value.
Showing up to the right meetings isn’t just about being in the room — it’s about knowing where you can add the most value.
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Get maximum value from this toolkit by using it strategically.
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3.1 Sales to Service (Implementer-Side)
Get the backstory — what was promised, what success means, and where change management can add value early.
Get the backstory — what was promised, what success means, and where change management can add value early.
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3.2 Project Kickoff
Build visibility with the client, reinforce adoption goals, and align on governance and timelines.
Build visibility with the client, reinforce adoption goals, and align on governance and timelines.
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3.3 Design & Alignment Sessions
Listen, learn, and capture change impacts as teams explore how Workday will reshape processes.
Listen, learn, and capture change impacts as teams explore how Workday will reshape processes.
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3.4 Customer Confirmation
Confirm alignment on design decisions, process ownership, and any new change implications.
Confirm alignment on design decisions, process ownership, and any new change implications.
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Stay in the loop on decisions, risks, and scope shifts that may affect adoption.
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3.6 Internal Team (Client-Side)
Sync internally to coordinate messaging, timing, and risk management.
Sync internally to coordinate messaging, timing, and risk management.
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3.7 End-to-End Testing
Plan for end-user readiness — comms, training, and tester support start here.
Plan for end-user readiness — comms, training, and tester support start here.
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Integrate readiness, communication, and training tasks into the go-live plan.
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What You'll LearnExpert-Backed Content
Learn to identify and prioritize the 8 essential meetings where change management insights are most critical, so you can maximize your impact without burning out from meeting overload.
Maximize Your Impact
Gain practical tools — including worksheets, templates, and checklists — that you can immediately apply to capture, analyze, and act on critical project information.
Build Your Toolkit
Traci Cuthbertson, Chief Advisor
Develop the skills to extract meaningful change insights from technical discussions, recognize resistance patterns before they escalate, and identify champion opportunities in real-time during project meetings.
Upskill With Confidence
Learn how to position yourself as an influential advisor who shapes design decisions, coaches sponsors effectively, and translates technical project activities into actionable change strategies that drive successful adoption.
Elevate Your Role