Igniting performance with the right training gives your first-time managers limitless potential to succeed.
Managers. You’ll find them in almost every department of every organization. Usually they’ve gotten to where they are thanks to specialty skill sets, knowledge and experience–but do they really know how to be effective managers?
The truth is that many struggle to lead their teams while fostering collaboration and resiliency simply because they haven’t been trained to do so.
Managing a team for the first time can be daunting.
It’s easy to forget that being a good manager requires an entirely distinct set of skills. This is even more pertinent for first-time managers, who need special guidance in order to build strong foundations, establish best practices, and aspire to becoming future leaders. As L&D professionals, your goal should be to give your new managers all the tools they need to prepare for their new role and effectively lead their team to success.
But before you can design an effective program, it is critical to define the business and learning outcomes that you want your program to achieve so that your efforts align perfectly with business needs.
The ideal program for first-time managers is blended.
The most effective way to make sure you deliver on outcomes and keep your first-time managers focused and motivated is with blended learning. Blended learning also allows them to put their new skills to the test with real business problems they’ll need to solve using their newly acquired knowledge.
We recommend mixing live virtual sessions (synchronous) with online individual training (asynchronous). The right blend builds understanding and collaboration through peer-to-peer interaction, expert facilitation, feedback, and assessments, enabling new managers to take charge of their own development while also learning to collaborate with colleagues.
Other critical elements you’ll need to create a first-time manager program that drives results.
Premium content – Exclusive content, created by subject-matter experts, should focus on the skills they’ll need to be effective managers and lead their teams.
Engaging activities – Innovative digital activities, designed by Blended Learning experts and supported by innovative technology, provide an immersive and effective learning experience.
Experienced facilitators – Experienced facilitators should be there to guide first-time managers through practical exercises to put their learnings to the test, ensuring maximum engagement and fortification of new skills.
Measurement & data – Leverage your dashboard to track progress and gain a better understanding of how your new managers learn, so you can improve your programs within shorter time intervals to deliver results.
How to ensure your first-time manager program is a success.
Most people are not born to be managers. It takes the right skills and behaviors to ensure they are successful and will make an impact in your company. Learning new skills is just the first step.
Be sure they know how to put these management fundamentals into practice by giving your new managers opportunities to frequently test their new knowledge in real-world scenarios. Programs should also focus on establishing best practices and behaviors from the outset.
And lastly, first-time managers should be encouraged to actively contribute to their team’s performance. A manager with skills like collaboration, problem-solving, curiosity, and a growth IQ mindset will help them reach their goals.