New Manager Communication Skills: Communicating From the Middle

Course Information: Next public date TBD Private offerings available upon request. Subscribe to our newsletter to for upcoming course information and promotions. This course is brought to you in partnership with Edge-Leadership Consulting

Instructor Denise Holmes Denise Holmes helps leaders and their teams increase their confidence, competence and commitment towards their work, their relationships, and their organizations. Denise, the founder of Edge-Leadership Consulting, built her expert facilitation and coaching skills in the worlds of health care and high tech. She is passionate about helping leaders and teams engage in conversations that matter. … Learn More About Denise >>

Overview

Sometimes, when a person is promoted to a supervisory or management position, communication difficulties come along with the mere acceptance of the new title. These challenges might occur from suddenly having to:

- pass along information decided on from above,
- provide feedback, and not all of it glowing
- negotiate with peers as a boss, not a pal,
- relay employee concerns up the organizational hierarchy, or
- be assertive about the work without being autocratic.

In this fun and interactive session, you will learn how to communicate in ways that help you succeed in your new post, create an efficient workflow and establish a respectful work environment.

Participants will:

• Explore communication challenges that result from being in the ‘middle’
• Learn techniques for communicating and influencing “up”
• Learn skills and practice how to ask directly for what they need
• Know how to confront problem behaviors successfully
• Practice dealing with difficult people effectively

Prerequisites

Come willing to learn, challenge your assumptions, and practice new skills.

Intended Audience

The content is targeted at those who have been in a supervisory or management position for one year or less, but experienced managers who have been flying on instinct will also learn valuable skills. Additionally, those who are expecting to manage employees soon will also learn and be able to plan more effectively for their expected position.

Course Outline

Why You Need This Course:

Do you ever wish you could manage without having to deal with people? That you could get through the work week (or day) without a tough conversation? That you could get both your manager and your staff to collaborate, rather than argue against you?

People often become managers because of their tremendous technical competence and problem-solving skills. Of course, once in a management position, your ability to get work done depends tremendously on others and your ability to communicate with them.

This course will help you understand the system dynamics of being in a supervisory or management position (it’s not personal), and how to communicate effectively within that system.

Training Objectives: What you will learn

• System dynamics of organizational hierarchy to better understand and meet perspectives of those who work under, alongside, and above you.
• Techniques for communicating and influencing “up”
• How to be assertive about your needs and perspectives without being aggressive or authoritarian
• How to confront problem behaviors successfully
• New techniques for dealing with difficult people effectively

Cancellation policy

Sometimes unanticipated events require you to adjust your plans. We want to support our mutual needs for both flexibility and planning. In the event that participants register and then are not able to attend, a minimal $35 cancellation fee will apply when attendance is cancelled at least 48 hours prior to the event. There is no refund when attendance is cancelled within 48 hours of the workshop.