Yesterday we welcomed Manager of Security & Risk for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Richard Drouillard, to speak to our Technical Leadership Committee on a highly requested topic – improving communication in IT. The first in our new Special Topics: Technical series, Richard discussed how better communication leads to better outcomes, whether you’re talking to leadership or non-technical staff members.
Why Communication Matters in Modern Cybersecurity
The talk opened with a familiar reality: doing modern cybersecurity in older organizations is hard. Long established processes and limited resources can create an environment where even small adjustments spark lengthy debate, while big changes sometimes land without discussion at all. This contrast raises an important question: why do people react so strongly to the status quo being challenged? Much of it, as Richard noted, comes down to their internal biases and how the information is framed.
Richard accepts a gift of local treats from ICT Research Analyst Aislyn Laurent.
Human Behaviour, Learning, and Organizational Change
Drawing on several years of personal reading about how the human brain processes new information, the Richard shared practical insights on how to approach sensitive conversations more strategically. He reflected on his professional experience, sharing anecdotes like how a fun exercise can teach folks about password security, or how an employees tough personal experiences might affect their reaction to training – all real scenarios that connect directly to barriers many leaders face. He showed that by understanding how people learn, manage uncertainty, and respond to perceived risk, IT teams can help move their organizations toward more secure practices with less friction.
Looking Ahead
We sincerely appreciate Richard talking time to deliver this talk – his insights had a big impact, and we couldn’t turn down a visit from one of our neighbouring municipalities. We look forward to building on this conversation in future sessions and continuing to support IT leaders across the region through our Special Topics Series.
Meaningful, stress free change starts with engaging your team in collaborative communication. Find out how CWE can facilitate the those conversations by learning more about membership today.
