Description
Course Overview:
The “Leadership Excellence for Middle Managers” training program is designed to help middle managers enhance their leadership skills and manage their teams more effectively. The course incorporates a blend of theory, practical exercises, case studies, and self-assessments to help managers understand their leadership styles and adapt to the needs of their team and organization. Over the course of eight weeks, the program will challenge participants to step out of their comfort zones, cultivate a high-performance mindset, and lead with purpose.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand and differentiate between various leadership styles and their appropriate applications.
- Implement strategic thinking and decision-making in their management practices.
- Foster a positive and productive team environment.
- Manage and resolve conflict effectively.
- Communicate with clarity and influence to a range of stakeholders.
- Facilitate change and innovation within their teams and wider organization.
- Develop personal resilience and stress management techniques.
Benefits:
- Enhanced Leadership Skills: Learn the necessary skills to become an effective leader and foster a productive team environment.
- Improved Decision-Making: Develop the strategic thinking needed to make high-impact decisions and solve complex problems.
- Increased Team Productivity: Apply effective team management strategies to drive productivity and performance.
- Personal Development: Grow personally and professionally through self-assessments, feedback, and reflection.
- Networking: Connect with other middle managers across different industries, providing a rich platform for networking and peer learning.
Course Curriculum: Leadership Excellence for Middle Managers
Week 1: Leadership Styles – Understanding and Applying Different Leadership Styles
Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Leadership
- Understanding the meaning and significance of leadership.
- Leadership vs Management: key differences and overlaps.
- Assignment: Reflective exercise on personal understanding of leadership.
Lesson 1.2: Overview of Leadership Styles
- Exploring various leadership styles (e.g., Transformational, Transactional, Autocratic, Democratic, Laissez-faire).
- Assignment: Identify examples of these leadership styles in practice.
Lesson 1.3: Applying Leadership Styles
- Understanding the situation-based application of leadership styles.
- Interactive exercise: Role-playing different leadership styles in various scenarios.
Week 2: Strategic Thinking and Decision Making
Lesson 2.1: Introduction to Strategic Thinking
- Concept and importance of strategic thinking.
- Differences between strategic and operational thinking.
- Assignment: Real-world case study analysis.
Lesson 2.2: Strategic Decision-Making Process
- Steps involved in strategic decision making.
- Addressing biases and pitfalls in decision-making.
- Interactive exercise: Group decision-making simulation.
Lesson 2.3: Decision-Making Techniques
- Tools and techniques for effective decision making.
- Assignment: Application of decision-making techniques on a hypothetical business scenario.
Week 3: Effective Communication – Conveying Information and Influencing Others
Lesson 3.1: Basics of Communication
- Importance and modes of communication.
- Principles of effective communication.
- Assignment: Self-assessment of communication skills.
Lesson 3.2: Communication Skills for Leaders
- Listening, empathy, clarity, and persuasion in leadership communication.
- Interactive exercise: Role-playing scenarios requiring different communication skills.
Lesson 3.3: Influencing Skills
- Techniques to positively influence team members and stakeholders.
- Assignment: Case study analysis on influence in leadership.
Week 4: Conflict Resolution – Managing and Resolving Conflicts
Lesson 4.1: Understanding Conflict
- Causes, types, and stages of conflict.
- The role of a leader in conflict situations.
- Assignment: Reflect on a past conflict and how it was handled.
Lesson 4.2: Conflict Resolution Styles and Techniques
- Overview of conflict resolution styles (Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding, Accommodating).
- Conflict resolution techniques and strategies.
- Interactive exercise: Role-play various conflict scenarios and resolution approaches.
Lesson 4.3: Mediation and Facilitation Skills
- Role of a leader as a mediator.
- Skills for facilitating constructive dialogue in conflict situations.
- Assignment: Develop a conflict resolution plan for a hypothetical scenario.
Week 5: Team Building – Fostering a High-performance Team Environment
Lesson 5.1: Understanding Teams
- Stages of team development.
- Characteristics of high-performing teams.
- Assignment: Analyze your current team’s development stage and performance.
Lesson 5.2: Building and Motivating Teams
- Strategies for team building and motivation.
- Role of a leader in team performance.
- Interactive exercise: Team-building activities and discussions.
Lesson 5.3: Addressing Team Challenges
- Identifying and addressing common team issues.
- Facilitating team problem-solving and decision-making.
- Assignment: Develop a team improvement plan for a hypothetical or real team.
Week 6: Change Management – Facilitating Change and Innovation
Lesson 6.1: Understanding Change
- Types and stages of organizational change.
- The role of a leader in change initiatives.
- Assignment: Reflect on a past change initiative and its impact.
Lesson 6.2: Change Management Models and Strategies
- Overview of popular change management models (Kotter’s 8-step model, Lewin’s Change Model).
- Strategies for managing and leading change.
- Interactive exercise: Case study analysis on successful and unsuccessful change initiatives.
Lesson 6.3: Fostering Innovation
- Understanding the link between change and innovation.
- Techniques to encourage innovation within the team.
- Assignment: Develop a change management plan for a hypothetical scenario.
Week 7: Personal Resilience and Stress Management
Lesson 7.1: Understanding Resilience
- Concept and importance of resilience in leadership.
- Techniques for building personal resilience.
- Assignment: Personal resilience self-assessment and reflection.
Lesson 7.2: Stress Management for Leaders
- Identifying sources of stress in leadership roles.
- Techniques for managing stress.
- Interactive exercise: Stress management activities and relaxation techniques.
Lesson 7.3: Promoting Wellbeing in the Team
- Role of a leader in promoting team wellbeing.
- Strategies for addressing team stress and burnout.
- Assignment: Develop a wellbeing initiative plan for a hypothetical or real team.
Week 8: Course Review and Personal Development Planning
Lesson 8.1: Course Review
- Review and reflect on key learnings from the course.
- Q&A and discussion session.
Lesson 8.2: Personal Leadership Development Plan
- Guided session on creating a personal leadership development plan.
- Peer review of development plans.
Lesson 8.3: Next Steps and Course Closure
- Discussion on implementing learning in the workplace.
- Course closure and feedback collection.
Testimonials:
“This course was a game-changer for me. The balance of theory and practical exercises helped me gain a deeper understanding of my leadership style and areas for improvement. I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned immediately in my role.” – Julia R., Operations Manager
“Leadership Excellence for Middle Managers opened my eyes to the impact of my management decisions on my team and overall business. The networking opportunities were also incredible. I’ve built relationships that have been invaluable.” – Mark D., Project Manager
“An extremely engaging and beneficial course. It provided me with the tools to manage my team more effectively and increased my confidence in my decision-making abilities. I highly recommend it to any middle manager looking to grow.” – Aiden L., Department Manager
