Management Training definition
Management training is an activity which helps improve one leadership skills making them better at leadership and managerial skills. The training may emphasize soft skills, such as communication or empathy which helps in better teamwork and enables a better relationship with the team and also teaches people management.
Management training also can focus on the business side of being a manager. Such would be reporting to leaders, more importantly, and effectively leading performance reviews and even talent acquisition.
Individuals who are undergoing the training can be trained in common management skills such as balanced scorecards.
First-time manager training
The skills first-time managers need to know can vary from role to role, using software and tools and understanding the processes of the company. The tools needed for the different functions in the company are also essential to learn as well as learning the software is equally important.
There are personal and emotional skills regardless of years of experience, department, or role a manager is also required to learn personal and emotional skills. Following are the different combinations of professional and personal skills that apply regardless of specific roles.
- The first skill would be how to be a supportive leader.
- Manager should learn ways to personalise support.
- Holistically learn to support people.
- Learn to give continuous and fast feedback.
- Learn to spend time effectively.
- Managers should also learn to set clear expectations.
- Managers should also learn to create a safe environment so that people may find it easy to approach.
- Learn to communicate continuously.
- Managers should also learn how to conduct one-on-one effectively.
- Managers should learn decision making effectively and wisely.
- Managers should also learn how to make a better decision.
- Handling conflict in the workplace should also be learnt by managers.
- They should also learn to create repeatable processes.
- They should also learn to eliminate bias in a performance review.
- Managers should also learn the art of hiring the right candidate.
The above-stated skills are essential to learn regardless of industry, title or level. These skills learnt by a manager can also help in navigating personal challenges. The best managers are fully developed skilled and whole human beings. They know themselves and also can judge others. Thus, these skills help them become a better manager.
Following are some tips for a first-time manager.
- Never stop learning
the best kind of managers tries to keep learning each and every day. They learn from the everyday experiences. They find ways to be open to learning new skills regardless of their level in the industry. They also take advantage of the resources organizations to have for learning and development. - Get to know your team
Understanding each and every member of a team is very necessary for a manager so that he can lead them how they need to be led. Exhibiting empathy is also something a leader should learn. They should also learn how the team members want to be managed, their communication and how they best receive feedback. Understanding the team members and knowing how they function would lead to an environment where there would be mutual trust. - It can be difficult to understand the role shift
it is likely that peers who managers used to work with now may report to them. As there is a shift of roles one should consider how to interact with the former peers. Spending more time with the former peers can create a feeling of favouritism that would create unrest in the team. Though old work friendships at a reasonable distance can be a challenge it is important to create a fair workplace for the entire team. - Find a mentor
Mentorships are one proven way to lead a team where both mentor and mentees show increased productivity and there also shows a significant increase in the retention rate. Sometimes companies do have mentorship programmes but if there is no such opportunity in the organisation one can find out which leader they admire the most in the organisation and ask them if they were willing to mentor you. - Ask for feedback
Handling a new role can be challenging. Getting settled can be tedious. So, ask for feedback so that you can understand what needs to be improved and where you have grown and where improvement needs to be done. Feedback can be positive as well as negative and part of being a leader means to take the feedback as a learning opportunity. The sooner one becomes accustomed to the process the better one will be the learning. Feedback in a one on one process is always a valid option if organisations do not have aid or a tool for so. - Set an example
Be a role model as a manager in your team. Be sure to hold the same standards as a leader as you hold your team to high standards. A leader should keep the line of communication open. Show up in company events, be a team player, never stop learning, and always share the skills developed with the entire team. Let the team know that you are all ears whenever there is an issue with a team member.
While first-time manager training program we can keep in mind the following very essential five skills which would be as follows
Communication skills- great manager are great at communication. It is one of the most important soft skills that a manager should have to effectively communicate with his team.
Listening skill- sometimes a team member just wants to be heard by a manager. Active listening is taught to a first-time manager so that his people can feel that they are being listened to.
Delegation skill- a new manager quickly learns that he cannot do everything single-handedly so it is important for a manager to learn effective delegation of tasks so that the team is productive.
Emotional intelligence- some individuals are born emotionally intelligent and some have to learn through training and practice. It is a very important skill a leader should have.
Thus it is important for a first-time manager training to have training programmes which can garner these skill sets.
