Course Outcomes

This management skills training course will:

  • Help participants pinpoint their strengths and development opportunities.
  • Prepare managers to lead a variety of people.
  • Provide participants with an opportunity to practice their delegation, coaching, and performance feedback skills.
  • Offer a forum to discuss strategies for dealing with challenging situations and difficult employees.

Course Overview

In this age of tight resources, managers need to be able to count on good work from both employees they supervise directly and those they don’t. This dynamic training program is designed for managers who delegate to traditional teams and for those who supervise blended teams whose members include direct reports, tricky dotted- line reports, “temporary loans,” and virtual teams. Through hands-on activities and practice exercises, participants will learn how to better focus on the fundamental components of delegating effectively, setting goals, giving performance feedback, and providing growth opportunities.

Program Objectives

At the program’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

  • Articulate their strengths and growth opportunities as managers.
  • Recognize the four behavioral styles and how to coach each.
  • Capitalize on their style for more effective communication.
  • Delegate tasks to others.
  • Set SMART goals for themselves and others.
  • Provide constructive feedback and follow up on goals and workgroup targets with subordinates.
  • Counsel an employee who is not performing up to expectations.
  • Illustrate the impact of body language and vocal tones on communication.
  • List tactics for dealing with difficult behaviors.
  • Effectively run a business meeting.
  • Develop an action plan to improve their supervision skills.

The following outline highlights some of the course’s key learning points. As part of your training program, we will modify content as needed to meet your business objectives. Upon request, we will provide you with a copy of the participant materials prior to the session(s).

Workshop Outline

What Is a Team?: The Basics of Group Dynamics

This training seminar begins with a discussion of the team-building process: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. Participants will learn what a team is and how managers can set the stage for successful group interactions. To identify opportunities for growth and to get a baseline understanding of strengths and weaknesses, participants will rate their leadership and supervisory skills using a self-assessment instrument designed to find performance gaps.
 

Now Do This: Delegation Done Right

Delegating to the right staff member with specific goals and targeted outcomes is an ideal situation. On the other hand, when delegation goes wrong, you could find yourself pulling an all-nighter for an AWOL team member before a deadline. This component introduces participants to the mechanics of delegation: who, what, when, and how to do it. They will create checklists with timelines including specific communications, motivations, check-in points, and interventions as needed for maximum effectiveness of each staff member.

 

Building Personal Credibility: Understanding Different Communication Styles

Using Business Training Works’ signature diagnostic tool, The Communication Jungle, participants will learn to identify their own work styles and those of their coworkers and subordinates in order to get buy-in from each type.

 

Be SMART: Goal Setting for Peak Performance

This portion of the course explores the components of SMART goals and allows participants to practice delegating and communicating goals and expectations to the people they supervise. Special emphasis is placed on developing employees and grooming them for additional opportunities.

 

So, How Am I Doing?: Delivering Performance Feedback

Performance feedback should not only happen during an annual review. It should be part of the normal working relationship between managers and those they supervise. This segment explores the steps of giving both positive and negative feedback. Using case studies and real-life examples, participants will have the opportunity to practice giving feedback to subordinates.
 

It’s Not What You Say: Rephrasing for Better Relationships

The lesson in the saying “it’s not what you say but how you say it” is one that takes some people years to understand. In this instance, participants will learn how to use language so that it will be better received. The instructor places special emphasis on delivering messages to subordinates and effectively responding to phrases such as “that’s not my job” and “I don’t know.”

 

Better Questions, Better Answers: Skills for Drawing Out Others

Many people can have an entire conversation without asking a single question. Unfortunately, they often miss the point, miss facts, or miss an opportunity to communicate that they really understand the speaker. This section of instruction focuses on how to ask open-ended and closed questions and when to use each for better team communication.
 

Beyond Hearing: A Model for Better Listening

This component introduces a method for better listening. Participants will learn how to focus on the speaker, empathize with what is being said, analyze the message, and respond appropriately. They will engage in several rounds of practice listening in which they will pinpoint their biggest challenges.
 

Difficult Personalities and Difficult Situations: Dealing with Challenges

Case studies show ways to effectively manage difficult personalities and tough situations. From “negaholics” to backstabbers and whiners to minimal contributors, participants will discuss better ways in which to communicate and manage those whose actions make the process hard.
 

Pull Out Your Pompoms: Becoming a Cheerleader without Being Cheesy

This program ends with ideas for motivating a team to succeed. From emails of appreciation to recognition at meetings, this final lesson focuses on building camaraderie and suggests the extra things managers can do to make their department a better place in which to work.
 

At the program’s conclusion, participants will understand the components of effective delegation, setting SMART goals, constructively giving feedback, and motivating people who work for them. Through this program, they will better understand their work style and areas for their individual growth as leaders who delegate tasks.