Staff can enrol in new management program
How to drive results and build alignment with others
Current, new and future managers are invited to register for the new Management Fundamentals Program, developed and led by learning and organizational development (LOD), human resources.
Participants will need to take 10 required sessions (35 hours) and four peer-coaching modules per year in the program, and develop an ongoing learning portfolio that will be presented at the end of the program. The learning portfolio will help participants track their skill development throughout the program.
Any faculty or staff can register for the program, and registration is now open on the human resources website. Participants do not move through the program as a cohort, but take individual sessions at their own convenience.
Facilitator and programs coordinator with LOD, David Grad brings a wealth of experience managing the program. Being a Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), Grad has a Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology and this fall he will teach a course in career development at the Faculty of Education.
Grad is enthusiastic to share information about the program and met with Human Resources to answer the below questions.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
DAVID GRAD: The Management Fundamentals Program is open to all staff and designed to develop current, new and future managers. It’s a great opportunity for current staff to learn from each other through peer coaching, session activities, and program content. The program also provides a community for new and future managers to receive mentorship and learn from the experiences of current leaders on campus. Our goal is to provide a learning community through sessions and peer coaching to develop and grow leaders. Everyone can benefit from the program.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SESSION ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS?
We’ve integrated experiential education practices and learning portfolios into the structure of the program, it requires participants to take an active role in their learning and development. At the beginning of the program, participants will identify their personal development goals in terms of management and leadership for their learning portfolios. As participants progress through the program, they will add to their learning portfolios after each session — highlighting ideas, strategies and actions to try help with their learning goals.
Participants will also attend four required peer-coaching sessions per year in the program. (They can attend more if they like!). In these sessions, they have an opportunity to work through challenges and highlight successes experienced as they try implementing ideas and strategies from their learning portfolios. An added benefit is the training and practice for all participants to develop their foundational coaching skills. At the end of the program, all participants will present their learning portfolios — highlighting their experiences, successes, struggles, and so on.
CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PEER-TO-PEER COACHING?
It’s sort of a double-layered learning activity. Everyone gets an opportunity for in-depth training and practice with coaching skills, which are highly recommended as an integral function for all managers to master. In addition to training and practice as a coach, you receive coaching! We are really encouraging everyone in the program to not only come to sessions and learn — but to take what they are learning and turn it into action. Our peer-coaching sessions are an opportunity for participants to work through challenges, brainstorm and highlight successes.
Moving into a supervisor role is a great step in your career. It shows you’ve shone as a leader and you are trusted to take on the responsibility of formally leading others. It is also a difficult transition because you are moving from managing the concerns, career and performance of yourself — to an entire group of people.
THE SUPERVISORY ROLE IS AN IMPORTANT ONE IN ANY ORGANIZATION. CAN YOU SHARE WHAT YOU THINK MAKES A GOOD MANAGER?
I’d argue there are two clusters of behaviors that are important for supervisors and managers to master. Often they seem at odds, but they are definitely complimentary. First, a strong supervisor, manager and leader knows how to drive results and build relationships. Driving results is all about communicating strategy, building alignment around values and goals and hitting targets. Second, building relationships is about building trust, helping to develop others and creating community. It’s all about merging concern for business goals with concern for people.
Great supervisors and managers are able to tap into their team’s discretionary effort (that extra energy we put into work when we care and are motivated). I feel the only way to tap into that discretionary effort is to demonstrate to employees you care about their growth, development and community as much as the “business goals.”
IF PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT BEING A MANAGER, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE?
Moving into a supervisor role is a great step in your career. It shows you’ve shone as a leader and you are trusted to take on the responsibility of formally leading others. It is also a difficult transition because you are moving from managing the concerns, career and performance of yourself — to an entire group of people. The advice I’d give is to take this Management Fundamentals Program! The other advice I’d give is to find other supervisors or people in your network you can connect with regularly, bounce ideas off, talk about your challenges and help reframe your experiences. Find people who will really challenge you to take on the perspective of others, think through problems and take care of yourself.
HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM FIT WITH HR’S GOALS AND/OR THE UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGIC PLAN?
The Management Fundamentals Program is our way of inspiring minds, creating pathways and building community with staff. The program supports the growth of an excellent work and learning environment through training on management best practices, coaching others and growing our professional networks.
To register for the Management Fundamentals Program, visit the human resources website.
Graduates of the former Supervisory Excellence certificate program can also complete this new management program, and will get credit/advanced standing for courses already taken. For more information about this item or general program information, contact David Grad at david [dot] grad [at] umanitoba [dot] ca or (204) 474-8468.
LOD courses and workshops cover topics such as interpersonal communications, wellness at work, presentation skills and project management. All fall programming is now open for registration on the LOD website.