5 topics your leadership training for managers needs

Managers are key players in any business, regardless of size or industry. Gallup finds that 70% of a team's engagement is influenced by managers; and, as you likely know, employee engagement is a critical factor in performance.

To uplevel your managers from day one, you need the best leadership courses for new managers. Leadership and management training courses provide managers with a broad range of hard and soft skills that are essential to effectively leading their teams.

Let’s look at the difference between leaders and managers, why your managers need leadership development training specific to their roles, and five essential topics to look for in leadership courses for new managers.

Leaders vs. Managers

Neither leaders nor managers outweigh the other in terms of importance. However, we believe their roles are distinct. In short, leaders are strategic, while managers are tactical. Given this distinction, leadership and management training should cater to the specific needs of each role.

• Management Training = Tactical. Managers are concerned with the daily operations of an organization. They make sure things are done right so that the job gets done efficiently. Management training builds skills such as coaching, delegation, conflict resolution, and generally how to manage people.
• Leadership Training = Strategic. Leaders see the big picture, looking forward to how what they do today impacts tomorrow. They have a mission and a vision that they use to motivate others. Leadership training focuses most on developing soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, vision casting, strategic thinking, etc.

Now that we’ve provided some context on the differences between leaders and managers, let’s dive into how this influences training and development.

Why leadership development training for managers is non-negotiable

Leaders and managers play a pivotal role in driving business goals and shaping organizational cultures. Their influence permeates every level of a company, from C-suite decisions to daily team interactions. However, the rise of digital transformations and hybrid work has forced managers to adjust how they manage teams.

While some people may be born with inherent leadership skills, the majority need to be learned. The fusion of experience with structured training on leadership and management launches outstanding leaders and managers. The results of these initiatives are significant:

• Increase productivity
• Improve communication
• Higher employee engagement
• Reduce employee turnover
• Develops emotional intelligence
• Creates a talent pipeline

Investing in leadership training and development for managers builds a strong foundation for long-term success as they gain new tactical skills.

Considering the stakes, the real question isn't whether you can afford to invest in leadership and management training but whether you can afford not to.

5 of the best leadership courses for new managers

Leadership courses for new managers train on subjects that directly influence performance. But in a flooded market, how do you know which business leadership and management training is right for your organization?

Here are seven leadership and management training course topics you should invest in as you build your training library.

1. Communication

When it comes to managing people, communication becomes the most important soft skill. Business leadership training for managers should cover the fundamentals of good communication, such as active listening, nonverbal cues, and public speaking.

2. Conflict resolution

The ability to handle and resolve conflicts in a calm manner that prevents relationships from eroding is a crucial skill for managers. Managers trained in conflict resolution maintain team cohesion and preserve productivity.

3. Coaching

Leadership training for managers needs to include a module on coaching. Managers should know how to monitor employee performance, provide constructive feedback, and create a shared accountability plan based on each employee’s area of opportunity.

4. Collaboration

Managers need to emphasize the importance of teamwork. Leadership training for managers that develops their ability to build collaborative teams not only enhances productivity but also cultivates a positive and inclusive work environment.

5. Change management

Change is never easy but it’s inevitable, so managers need to prepare themselves and their teams for it. Change management is a key topic to include when developing your managers. Managers can directly contribute to the change management process by greatly reducing employee resistance.

Improve your company’s leadership and management training initiatives

From communicating with clarity to navigating the waves of change management, the competencies required of modern managers are diverse.

Improve the effectiveness of your managers with a custom management development training program. By investing in leadership and management training courses, companies lay the foundation for both short- and long-term organizational success.

At Unboxed Training & Technology, our subject matter experts understand the core competencies managers need and design custom content that makes a measurable difference in their performance.

With personalized learning paths created in our skill-building platform, managers receive relevant training based on their role, skill level, and interests. Managers can learn at their own pace and easily build a comprehensive understanding of the foundational skills they need to succeed.

Schedule a demo today to learn how we can take your managers from good to great with a management training program that develops the tactical skills they need.