How are your company’s management training programs working for you? You do have management training programs, don’t you? You’ll need this investment to efficiently develop and maintain the skills of your management staff, not just now, but throughout the company’s future. A carefully planned and implemented training plan can bolster your current management team, which can go on to shape the company’s up-and-coming management team, and so on. So whether your company has recently hired new leaders or has a cadre of seasoned veterans, everyone can benefit from these six must-have management trainings.

1. Management Basics. There’s always something new to be gained from a review of the basics, because mastering these fundamentals is the first step to becoming a top-notch manager. One side of management basics is modeling effective management skills, through topics such as decision-making, delegating, and demonstrating courage, integrity, and organizational stewardship. The other side is building strong employees, through topics such as coaching and mentoring, performance development, and offering feedback.  Learning how to demonstrate exemplary supervisory skills and working to help employees be their best forms the foundation of any leadership position.
2. Leadership. Leadership styles can affect everything from employee morale to productivity, and can also help avert human resources issues. From new managers to experienced ones, every supervisor can benefit from leadership training, especially as management strategies grow and change. Leadership training includes effective supervision, team-building skills, and strategic leadership and thinking. This training also presents an opportunity to discuss different management styles, and to learn the scenarios where each style is most effective.
3. Business Ethics. Proper ethical procedure helps protect the company and its employees, so management training—and retraining—in ethics is critical. Ethics encompasses a wide umbrella, including sexual harassment, employee diversity, and corporate responsibility. Ethics also includes following proper legal and environmental procedures (such as how the company disposes of hazardous materials), and the proper treatment of employees and customers/clients. Managers should be equipped to make the right ethical decisions as those choices present themselves, to help prevent legal or HR concerns.
4. Customer Service. Employees will look to their managers to make the tough calls. So when customer-service issues become sensitive or escalated, customers will begin interacting directly with management. That’s why it’s critical that managers are trained in customer service, in areas such as conflict resolution, problem-solving, and communication, as it relates to the customer/client. Of course it’s also important to be trained in customer service as it relates to the company and employee relations, but managers should be fluent in this special type of customer service.
5. Employee Wellness. As managers are watchful over employee performance, they should also be mindful of employee wellness. This includes obvious on-the-job issues, such as ergonomics and employee safety, but it also includes more sensitive, sometimes personal issues. Managers should learn to facilitate satisfying work-life balances for their employees. Perceptive managers may also learn to spot uncharacteristic behavior or sudden changes in performance. They should be knowledgeable about stress management and EAP options for employees in need.
6. Human Resources. Managers are often the first line of defense in potential HR issues, such as employee conflict, disciplinary situations, and even new hires and terminations. Leaders should be well versed in basic employment law and the company’s policies and procedures, and should be able to explain the reasoning behind key points. They should also learn proper documentation strategies to stay on top of any potential issues as they arise. Managers should also learn when a matter qualifies as an HR issue, and when that matter should be formally referred to the Human Resources Department for handling.

Could your company use a helping hand in management training? Whether it’s Supervisor 101 Training or one specific training area, YES! Your Human Resources Solution offers efficient solutions customized for your company and its employees. Backed by over 20 years of Human Resources experience, we pride ourselves on our ability to connect your business initiatives with employee needs to achieve strategic objectives. We’ll give you that extra push to keep your business running at its best! For more information on our comprehensive HR-consulting services, contact us for a free consultation.