Over four days of training, the Management 1st programme offers them help on the basics of managing a team – from coaching and communication skills to presentation techniques, effective listening and dealing with conflict.
Research published last month by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development found that 36% of line managers have not been trained in how to supervise people, causing cultural problems within organisations. In addition, nearly half of employers (48%) said that individuals were promoted into managerial roles based on their performance record rather than people management or leadership skills.
People 1st’s own research reveals that high staff turnover means that managers are often promoted much earlier than in the past, and 34% of employers say their staff would benefit from additional management and leadership training. A further 35% say their staff need more training in coaching and motivating others.
People 1st Training Company managing director Sharon Glancy said: “Becoming a manager for the first time can be quite daunting. One day you’re a member of the team; the next, you’re leading it. Often, managers are appointed on the basis of being ‘good at their job’ and, while practical skills are important, becoming a people manager requires a whole new set of skills that don’t always come naturally. If new managers aren’t prepared, it can have a critical impact on results and retention.
“We’ve all heard the saying that people leave managers, not companies, and that’s one of the issues that Management 1st will address."
Calvin Davids, a manager for Mexican restaurant chain Chiquito, was one of the first people to try the Management 1st training programme. “It has made me more aware of my behaviour, conducting myself as a manager and leading my team,” he commented. “It has helped me get more involved and be more confident in facing difficult challenges. I have put what I learnt from the training into practice and have seen good response and results.”
The Management 1st programme is available as an in-house training programme, or organisations can have their own trainers trained to deliver the programme.