Management Training Courses: A Buyer's Guide
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An organisation is only as good as its people which means that investing in the development of staff is key to the success of any company. A high standard of management skill within a business creates an environment in which employees are motivated, clear about their aims and objectives and able to communicate between levels effectively. Management training courses provide managers with the skills they need to manage people, time and resources with maximum efficiency and minimal conflict.
Whether the candidate is new to a managerial role or already has significant experience the skills and tools gained from an effective management course will be felt within the organisation almost immediately. A trainee will come away from such a course with not only new techniques and insights but also the confidence to start implementing the new knowledge straight away.
This Buyers’ Guide will introduce the potential buyer of management training to the options available and provide advice and guidance on selecting the appropriate course and course provider.
Management Training Course Benefits
In a typical company hierarchy staff are arranged in a pyramid style structure with each level of management is sandwiched between a larger layer of staff beneath and a smaller layer above. An effective manager not only needs to lead those below them but also be able to effectively communicate with those on the layer above. In addition they must also be able to determine how much time to devote to each task and which tasks to delegate in order to ensure the most effective use of resources.
Management training courses exist to tackle all these issues, helping to develop skills in the following areas:
- Leadership and motivation of a team
- Establishing objectives and performance standards for each team member
- Planning and prioritising tasks
- Effective delegation and time management
- Conflict resolution
- Communication
- Identifying training and coaching needs within a team and helping to deliver them
- Understanding individual and team development
- Discipline of team members and dealing with grievances
- Identifying and defining the requirements of management and planning for continual personal development
Management Training Options
Choosing the right course of management training is a case of working out exactly what your aims and objectives for the training are and then selecting a course with matching content or hiring a company to deliver bespoke training.
Open Courses
Many companies offer open courses of 1day to 1 week in duration. These take place at a dedicated training venue where candidates participate in classroom based learning or practical and group oriented activities. Some are residential courses that take place at a country retreat so that the trainees are taken away from the distractions of the workplace and can focus on the task at hand.
Some open course options are:
- Introductory Courses
For first time managers or those with some direct experience but still getting to grips with the core skills. Introductions to management focus on defining the role and key responsibilities of a manager, identifying the people management and leadership skills necessary for getting the best out of a team and effective time management and delegation of tasks. They help the candidate understand the role of performance management and how to put together a personal development plan for continual improvement. Introductory courses for new managers normally last two or three days.
- Leadership Training
Intended for managers with considerable experience these courses focus on developing advanced motivational, coaching and influencing techniques. Someone who masters these skills is more than just a manager; they are a leader and can motivate and empower teams to strive towards a single unified vision. Usually a two day course.
- Employment Law Training
Any manager who deals with employment issues has to be familiar with the concepts and requirements of employment law. Such courses teach the candidate the basics of employment law and how to navigate disciplinary, grievance and appeals procedures while minimising the risk of legal action. More advanced courses are aimed at HR, recruitment and payroll managers or Directors and are intended to help candidates protect their companies from employment tribunals and ensure compliance with current legislation. One or two day courses.
- Conflict Resolution
Conflict is a normal part of life and endemic to the business environment but when conflict is handled badly it can have seriously negative effects. A course of conflict resolution teaches managers to identify conflict triggers, to use trust and respect to diffuse conflict and how to confidently confront conflict situations in a variety of business situations. Usually a one day course.
- Performance Management
Managers of teams need to know how to measure the performance of team members, how to conduct reviews, set appropriate goals, deliver feedback effectively and how to use rewards to motivate. They also need practical techniques for achieving all of the above. Performance management courses aim to provide just that and last from one to two days.
- Finance Training
Even non-financial managers need to be acquainted with the basic concepts of business finance in order to manage a budget and communicate effectively with other parts of the business. A basic finance course teaches the business cycle, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, general accounting principles, cash flow management, cutting costs, improving margins etc and normally lasts two days.
- Negotiation Skills Training
Negotiation is a key skill in business and one which managers will call upon time and time again in a variety of situations which range from changing departmental budgets through to negotiating service contracts. Courses which teach negotiation skills focus on the practical side of things and last two days on average.
- Sales Management Training
Managing a sales team requires a special set of skills and techniques so that goals and objectives are always crystal clear and sales people are always highly motivated. Training courses for sales managers help candidates plan for the short, medium and long term and last one to two days.
The above is just a small selection of the different types of open course available – others include project management training, HR training for non HR staff, NLP training, change management and many others. Many training providers offer courses that form part of an accredited qualification with the CMI or ILM.
Tailored Training Courses
Bespoke management training courses are available for anything form one candidate upwards and can be delivered in-company or at an outside training venue. A management training provider will work with your company and the candidate to come up with a course that delivers exactly the skills, knowledge and techniques required for a niche role or an unusual working environment so that tried and tested management methods are available to any business or organisation.
Choosing a Management Training Course Provider
You can view course content and agendas on most training companies websites, where you can also assess whether they provide CMI or ILM accredited courses and find testimonials or case studies from previous clients.
Some other factors, besides absolute cost, which you might want to consider when choosing a training company are:
- Length of course: How long with the candidates need to be away from the workplace?
- Number of attendees: Large training groups will lead to less individual attention and could subsequently deliver a lower standard of training.
- Incidental costs: If you’re bringing a trainer into your company will they charge travel and incidental expenses or is the price quoted fully inclusive?
- Accreditation: Will gaining any certification on offer involve an additional charge?
- Suitability: Carefully consider the temperament and style of the candidate and try to find a training provider to suit.
Different people learn in different ways – there is no one size that fits all. You might want to go over the options with the candidate themselves in order to get their input.
Once you’ve decided upon the right course make sure you’re able to book it at a time that suits both the candidate’s workload and the needs of your organisation. Management training courses lay the foundations for the skills and techniques acquired over the course of a whole career – foundations which need to be solid, so take your time and don’t rush into your choice.
