How to create the best training programs for managers

In today’s marketplace, organizations must prepare their leaders for quick thinking and adaptation to change. Managers must juggle many responsibilities simultaneously, making robust leadership training programs for new managers a necessity.

With nearly 77% of organizations falling short of their leadership potential, it’s imperative that managers are armed with the proper skills needed to succeed. However, it can be challenging for organizations to create effective new manager training programs that suit different needs and levels of work experience.

In this article, we’ll discuss the common components of the best leadership training programs for new managers. We’ll also answer some of the top questions about leadership skills training programs, such as:

• How are leadership and management connected?
• What skills should training for managers develop in learners?
• What are the benefits of leadership training programs for new managers?
• What is the best method for creating successful leadership training programs for managers?

But before we dive into what makes the best training programs for managers, let’s cover the differences between leadership and management as well as some of the most critical skills for today’s top managers.

What’s the connection between leadership and management?

While leadership and management can refer to two separate concepts, they're actually intertwined. Managers need to be strong leaders for their teams to succeed, and leaders need to demonstrate the practical managerial skills needed to keep things running.

Leadership is about inspiring your team to reach its potential and take ownership of the objectives you’ve set forth. Management, on the other hand, is about delegating tasks, setting goals and deadlines, and monitoring progress.

Leadership is the foundation of management. Without it, managers may struggle to motivate and engage their team members. You can differentiate the two terms by referring to the following:

• Management: task delegation, goal setting, process implementation, and progress monitoring.
• Leadership: inspiring others to action, communicating a vision and direction, and motivating employees.

Clearly, you need both leadership and managerial skills to be an effective manager. And the best way to ensure that new managers possess both is to provide leadership workshops for managers and leadership skills training programs.

5 essential management skills

While hard skills are certainly important, the most essential skills for successful managers today are actually soft skills; we refer to them as “power skills.” Here are five skills the best leaders have in common:

People management

Managing people is one of the most important tasks of a manager, but it’s about so much more than simply being “the boss.” You need to be able to direct your team members while keeping them challenged and motivated. Managers bring teams together, encourage collaboration, and ensure employees are working towards achieving personal and company goals.

Critical thinking

Critical thinking skills are important for problem-solving and decision-making. Managers must be able to think on their feet and be ready to jump into action to resolve conflicts or challenges at any moment.

Communication

A good manager must be able to communicate with their team effectively. They need to be able to get everyone on the same page and make sure everyone is aware of what needs to be done to reach key milestones and goals.

Organization

The most successful managers know how to keep a team organized and on track. They set clear goals and timelines, monitoring project progress regularly.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence, or the ability to understand and manage your emotions, is another critical skill for effective managers to possess. They need to be able to stay calm under pressure and know when to communicate with their team.

Managers are often the liaison between their departments and upper-level executives. They play a crucial role in the success of your organization, as they're responsible for overseeing employees and meeting important objectives.

What are the benefits of leadership training programs for new managers?

A manager ultimately needs to have the skills to guide and motivate a team to reach established goals with confidence. For managers to excel beyond the basics, new manager training is a must. Leadership training programs for managers provide modules that tie back to developing the core skills we just reviewed.

From leadership workshops for managers to leadership training for supervisors, finding and implementing the right leadership training mix can make a significant impact on your organization.

Consider the benefits of investing in manager training programs:

1. Help managers gain self-confidence and build trust
2. Increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace
3. Establish a clear understanding of organizational goals and objectives
4. Improve communication between departments
5. Foster a culture of collaboration and innovation
6. Support managers in developing power skills

By investing in leadership training programs, you can help your managers lead a motivated, collaborative, and positive workplace.

Success depends on creating custom manager training programs

While training programs for managers offer many benefits, the best leadership training programs for new managers fit the specific needs of your organization. Before you implement any kind of manager training program, work with a training partner that takes time to analyze your organization's goals.

Once you have a firm grasp on the goals for your training for managers, you can customize a training program accordingly. Custom training means your managers consume compelling content that’s unique to your organization.

The best leadership training for new managers also harnesses the latest technology, such as learning management systems (LMS), to deliver training experiences that drive long-term results.

Evolve your managers into leaders with custom leadership training

By investing in the right leadership training for new managers, you can help them learn hard and soft skills to become outstanding leaders. And with the right corporate learning partner, it’s easy to develop and deliver effective leadership training programs to your workforce.

As a top training consulting firm, Unboxed Training & Technology supports L&D leaders by providing cutting-edge learning technology, developing engaging custom content, and sharing current trends in the corporate learning space. With our custom leadership programs, you can ensure your managers become successful leaders in your organization specifically.

Schedule a demo of our management and leadership training programs to learn how we cater learning content to the needs of your company.