I’ve been getting a lot of email recently promoting management training in a box, highlighting the fact that 40% of new managers fail within 18 months. 

I almost want to say, “no kidding,” but I’ll be polite. :-)   Besides, I’m not going to diss the competition. Actually, I’m very glad other people are working on reducing the manager failure rate. As I’m fond of saying, most managers never learn to think like managers. It’s a totally different skill set, not just more or better ways of doing what they did before.

However, this particular ad says, “How to use a ’secret’ method to help solve the toughest management challenges,” and I can only shake my head at the blatant tease. 

My thoughts? If everyone would stop keeping these things a secret, the entire workforce would do much better!

Here’s a secret that I’ll not keep: The skill that makes a person successful in the rank-and-file that also makes a person successful in the manager ranks is the ability to learn.  The biggest obstacle for new managers is believing that because someone said they’re now a manager, they must already know how to be a manager.

Managers must learn to think differently.  But before I make my point, let’s look at the other “how to” items covered in management training in a box:

- Bringing out the best in employees.
- Communicating clearly and effectively.
- Managing time effectively.
- Resolving conflicts.

These are all fine, as new managers need to learn these skills. And I have no doubt the advertised DVD’s will convey some helpful knowledge and understanding on these topics.

But here’s what I never see in these products: How to train your employees.

Since the main focus of managers is people doing the production work, it only makes sense for managers to learn how to train those people to do their jobs.  “Just do it” may work fine as a Nike slogan, but it’s the absolute worst thing to say for making people more efficient and effective in their work.

And you wouldn’t believe the number of people who tell me that “just do it” is the extent of how their training went when they were new on the job.

Managers – learn to think like trainers and the increased productivity from your teams will make you shine like a star.

And —how convenient—I happen to be conducting a two-day “Manager as Trainer” workshop on May 21 and 22 in Boise, Idaho. Here are my teases: 

- A systematic approach to training
- Different training delivery methods
- How to do ‘On The Job’ training that works every time
- Adjusting to different learning styles
- Presentation techniques & tools
- How to measure results of training

Plus a few ‘bonus’ teases:

- Free follow-up phone support for all who attend
- Free templates and ‘crib sheets’ for creating great training
- Free access to online learning modules
- Free lunch on both days  (how can you beat that!?)

Download the flyer and give me a call. I’ll hook you up.

I’m firmly convinced that managers who think like trainers don’t just survive, they thrive.

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Filed in Work, Business, Opinion, Motivation, Management, Leadership, Team Building, Workplace