11 top tips for training new people managers

(I’ve just got my first role as a people manager! Help me!!!)

Training new people managers can be a challenging task, but it is essential to ensure that your team is led by effective and compassionate leaders. 

I have worked for too many companies who have implemented formal management training that came with a significant financial and time investment and still find that their people managers are unable to manage people.

Managing people can be a very challenging job. Especially if people managers forget that their staff are human beings! 

In this article, I’ll share my 11 top tips for training new people managers, and explain why it's essential to treat employees like humans and create psychological safety within the team.

Tip 1: Start with the Basics

Before diving into more complex topics, make sure your new people managers have a solid understanding of the basics of people management. This includes understanding the legal obligations of an employer, communication skills, and basic conflict resolution.

Tip 2: Emphasize the Importance of Empathy

Empathy is essential for effective people management. Ensure that your new people managers understand the importance of putting themselves in their employees' shoes and showing understanding and compassion.

Tip 3: Create Psychological Safety

Creating psychological safety is crucial for a team to thrive. Ensure that your new people managers understand how to create an environment where team members feel safe to express themselves, share ideas, and take risks without fear of ridicule or punishment.

Tip 4: Encourage Open Communication

Open communication is essential for building trust and creating a positive work environment. Encourage your new people managers to be open and transparent in their communication with their team.

Tip 5: Foster a Sense of Connectedness and Purpose

Help your new people managers understand the importance of fostering a sense of connectedness and purpose within the team. This includes encouraging team members to work collaboratively and creating opportunities for them to bond at work by understanding and celebrating difference.

You can read how connectedness impacts on performance here

Tip 6: Train on Performance Management

Performance management is a critical aspect of people management. Ensure that your new people managers understand how to set goals, give constructive feedback, and provide recognition and rewards.

Tip 7: Train on Conflict Resolution

Conflict is inevitable in any workplace. Ensure that your new people managers understand how to identify and address conflict within the team in a constructive and positive way.

Tip 8: Provide Training on Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are critical for creating a positive and inclusive work environment. Ensure that your new people managers understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and how to manage a diverse team effectively.

You can read more about DEI here

Tip 9: Encourage Continuous Learning

People management is an ongoing learning process. Encourage your new people managers to continue learning and growing in their role through training, mentorship, and coaching.

Tip 10: Emphasise the Importance of Work-Life boundaries

Work-life boundaries are essential for employee well-being and productivity. Ensure that your new people managers understand the importance of work-life boundaries and how to encourage them within their team.

Tip 11: Consider External Resources

Consider hiring an external HR consultant to support your people management training. They can provide valuable expertise, insights, and training materials to help your new people managers succeed.

Training new people managers is essential for building a strong and effective team.

By emphasising the importance of empathy, creating psychological safety, fostering a sense of connectedness and purpose, and providing training on key topics such as performance management, conflict resolution, and diversity and inclusion, you can set your new people managers up for success.

Additionally, considering hiring an external HR consultant who can provide valuable support and expertise to help your new people managers thrive.

Remember, treating employees like humans is the foundation of effective people management.

I've developed and implemented numerous people manager training programmes, and coached many people managers. Get in touch at alex@alexkotsos.com to discuss how I can help support your people manager needs.

N.B Photo courtesy of Stéphan Valentin on Unsplash