Build a Better Manager: Manage Your People
Drive higher IT results through practical communication tactics.
Contributors
- Brad Armstrong, Senior Engineering Manager, Code42 Software
- One anonymous contributor
- Management skills training is needed, but organizations are struggling to provide training that makes a long-term difference in the skills managers actually use in their day to day.
- Many training programs are ineffective because they offer the wrong content, deliver it in a way that is not memorable, and are not aligned with the IT department’s business objectives.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- More of the typical manager training is not enough to solve the problem of underprepared first-time IT managers.
- You must overcome the key pitfalls of ineffective training to deliver training that is better than the norm.
- Offer tailored training that focuses on skill building and is aligned with measurable business goals to make your manager training a tangible success.
Impact and Result
Use Info-Tech’s tactical, practical training materials to deliver training that is:
- Specifically tailored to first-time IT managers.
- Designed around practical application of new skills.
- Aligned with your department’s business goals.
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why and how you should best support new IT managers’ transition into leadership, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.
1. Train managers to communicate effectively
Understand the importance of effective communication for first-time managers, and deliver practical training in communicating with a variety of people and settings relevant to first-time managers.
2. Train managers in performance management
Give your first-time managers a solid foundation in setting meaningful goals and metrics for their teams and employees.
3. Train managers to give coaching and feedback
Understand the difference between coaching and feedback, and give your first-time managers the skills to use both tactics as appropriate to assist their staff in meeting their performance and development goals.
Guided Implementations
This guided implementation is a nine call advisory process.
Guided Implementation #1 - Train managers to communicate effectively
Call #1 - Discuss need for training and training structure.
Call #2 - Discuss facilitation plan and tackle challenges.
Call #3 - Discuss long-term skill-building strategies.
Guided Implementation #2 - Train managers in performance management
Call #1 - Discuss need for training and training structure.
Call #2 - Discuss facilitation plan and tackle challenges.
Call #3 - Discuss long-term skill-building strategies.
Guided Implementation #3 - Train managers to give coaching and feedback
Call #1 - Discuss need for training and training structure.
Call #2 - Discuss facilitation plan and tackle challenges.
Call #3 - Discuss long-term skill-building strategies.
Book Your Workshop
Onsite workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost onsite delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
Module 1: Communicate Effectively
The Purpose
Train managers to communicate effectively with a variety of people, in settings relevant to first-time managers.
Key Benefits Achieved
Managers gain skills and confidence in:
- Interaction with different communication styles
- Tailoring communication methods to activities
- Making meetings more effective
Activities
Outputs
Deliver the Communicate Effectively manager training module
- Completed Participant Workbook for the Communicate Effectively module, including an action plan for the attendees
Module 2: Performance Management
The Purpose
Train managers to set meaningful, business-aligned goals and metrics for their team and individual employees.
Key Benefits Achieved
Managers gain skills and confidence in:
- Setting SMART goals based on business and department objectives
- Developing meaningful measures to track goal achievement
- Using an objective basis for feedback to employees
Activities
Outputs
Deliver the Performance Management manager training module
- Completed Participant Workbook for the Performance Management module, including an action plan for the attendees
Module 3: Coaching and Feedback
The Purpose
Train managers to coach employees and give constructive feedback.
Key Benefits Achieved
Managers gain skills and confidence in:
- Coaching employees for personal and professional development
- Giving feedback in a constructive way
Activities
Outputs
Deliver the Coaching and Feedback manager training module
- Completed Participant Workbook for the Coaching & Feedback module, including an action plan for the attendees
After each Info-Tech experience, we ask our members to quantify the real time savings, monetary impact, and project improvements our research helped them achieve. See our top member experiences for this Blueprint, and what our clients have to say.
Client
Experience
Impact
$ Saved
Days Saved
Cascades, Centre des Technologies
Guided Implementation
10/10
N/A
N/A
San Diego County Office of Ed
Guided Implementation
9/10
N/A
N/A
