Client Overview: An IT company with 45 first-time managers who were excellent in their technical expertise but struggled with managing their teams effectively. The client sought a comprehensive training program to develop the managerial and leadership skills of these new managers.
Objective: To provide tailored training that equips first-time managers with essential leadership and management skills, enabling them to lead their teams more effectively. The program was designed for delivery over several months, in three groups of 15 participants each, with a combination of conceptual and follow-up sessions.
Steps Taken:
1. Initial Assessment and Program Design
- Conducted initial discussions with senior management to understand the specific challenges and needs.
- Designed a comprehensive training curriculum focusing on key management and leadership competencies: communication, delegation, 1 on 1 meetings, and team motivation.
- Structured the program to include 3-hour sessions for in-depth concept explanation and 1.5-hour follow-up sessions every three weeks for practical application and feedback.
2. Program delivered in weekly sessions of 2-4 hour and Continuous Support.
- Between sessions, managers were encouraged to apply new skills and reflect on their experiences.
- Provided access to additional resources, such as articles, videos, and books on leadership and management.
- Created a peer support network among participants to share experiences and solutions to common challenges.
3. Assessment and Feedback
- Conducted surveys and feedback sessions after each training phase to assess the effectiveness of the program.
- Adjusted the curriculum based on feedback to better meet the needs of subsequent groups.
Impact & Outcome:
- Managers improved their leadership skills, with noticeable increases in team engagement and performance.
- Turnover decreased, and managers became more confident in leading their teams.
- Teams led by trained managers reported better collaboration and overall morale.
Conclusion: The tailored training program successfully equipped first-time IT managers with the necessary leadership and management skills. The combination of conceptual sessions and regular follow-up meetings allowed for practical application and continuous development, resulting in more effective team management and enhanced overall performance within the company.
Calin Grigorovici and Darius Popirtac are available to discuss similar solutions that fit your team needs.
