New Manager / Supervisor Certificate

“Frontline Manager: The first or second level managers (line managers, office managers, supervisors) directly responsible for production of goods and services, and supervision of clerical staff and shop floor employees.” (Businessdictionary.com)

Specifically designed for new or prospective managers and frontline supervisors, this four-week program builds critical skills, including how to increase productivity, engage employees and positively impact the health and growth of your organization.

This program provides training and on-the-job practice in four cornerstones for managing people and teams: Performance Management, Employee Development, Employee Engagement and Employee Productivity. Completing the Certificate gives you proficiency and confidence performing the skills essential to these four areas:

Role of a manager/supervisor
Communication
Delegation
Goal-setting
Coaching, feedback and conflict management
Critical thinking and problem solving
Accountability
Time management

To support your proficiency and confidence in your role, this hands-on program includes:

Four days of face-to-face, classroom instruction*
Action plans to be implemented on the job
Templates/forms and other resources that can be used back at your job

*We can also bring this training to your organization. For more information, visit customized training.

Curriculum Requirements: Earn the New Manager/Supervisor Certificate by completing four core courses and assigned online and on-the-job activities over four weeks.

Instructor

Rodney (Buck) Hillestad

Rodney (Buck) Hillestad is founder and president of Hillestad Learning Technologies, a training and development company specializing in training design and delivery, along with leadership/managerial, and team skills. Buck regularly delivers classes for the University of Wisconsin extensions and is ... read more

Who Should Attend

Newly promoted supervisors/managers, prospective managers, existing supervisors/managers who want to improve their skills, and entrepreneurs new to supervising staff. This program is most beneficial for those new to their manager/supervisor role or those who have not had the benefit of formal management training.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

The New Manager/Supervisor Certificate program provides training and practice in the skills and techniques you will use to:

Transition into a new manager/supervisor role
Set clear expectations and effectively manage employee performance
Communicate effectively in a variety of situations
Support employees with effective performance feedback and coaching
Continuously develop employees to improve their productivity and engagement
Adapt your management style to changing employees and business conditions
Delegate responsibility to grow employee capability and autonomy
Manage time and work to balance employee growth with business needs
Practice and model efficient problem-solving and critical thinking
Sustain healthy trust-based relationships with employees and management

Course Outline

Course 1 – Performance Management

Role of a manager

- Improving productivity and engagement
- Leading teams
- Accountability for managing both process and people
- Managing process and people
- Focusing on continuous improvement
- Balancing the needs of the business with the needs of the employee
- Modeling behavior
- Common challenges and barriers faced by managers and supervisors
- Adapting management style/approach
- Influencing: with and without authority
- Effective communication

Performance Management

- Define performance management
- Setting goals/expectations
- Monitoring performance
- Providing feedback
- Rewarding performance
- Review and action planning

Course 2 – Coaching and Feedback

- Review – Week 2 curriculum and assignment
- Importance and benefits of coaching and feedback
- Defining coaching and feedback
- Feedback method: F.A.S.T.
- Coaching model: 5-step dialogue
- Critical communication strategies and skills
- Practice
- Review and action planning

Course 3 – Delegation and Development

- Review – Week 1 curriculum and assignment
- The importance and benefits of delegation
- Relationship between development and delegation
- Defining “development”
- Managing development as a continuous process
- Delegation and time management
- Delegation process
- Practice
- Review and action planning

Course 4 – Problem-Solving and Conflict Management

- Review – week 3 curriculum and assignment
- Understanding problem-solving
- Practicing and teaching critical thinking
- Problem-solving mindset
- Problem-solving models
- Interpersonal conflict as problem-solving
- Conflict management styles
- Conflict management approaches
- Practice
- Review and action planning

Notes

Delivery Format:
Four-week program, one course per week

Testimonials

"The course was excellent to help me prepare as I take on new challenges and responsibilities. The interaction with other participants was great to help me understand different points of view that relate to different areas within my own organization." — Carlos Correa, Marlo Incorporated

"Eye-opening. The program helped me come to the realization that I have a lot of improvements to make with the way I supervise people. I liked the small class size most. I also appreciated the relaxed atmosphere." — Link Gross, Milwaukee, VAMC