Congratulations! Whether you’re an aspiring first-time manager or starting your first week as a manager, I want to take a moment to recognize your milestone accomplishment. So, kudos to you! As a Leadership Coach and Ex-Director, I deeply understand how exciting, overwhelming, and challenging it can be to transition from an individual contributor to a managerial position. It’s a significant change and one that will take time, effort, and continuous work to get comfortable. In this article, I’m going to share a few resources if you’re looking for the best first time manager course for.
When it comes to transitioning into a management role, I want you to recognize that this shift requires not only a change in new responsibilities but also the development of new essential skills and mindsets. If you’re an individual who just received a promotion, I hope that your company is supportive of you pursuing additional training opportunities. I also hope that they are willing to find and pay for a first time manager course for you.
To support this transition, I partnered with LinkedIn to develop a first time manager course, Skills for Your First 90 Days as a New Manager. This course for new leaders is less than 1 hour and provides essential knowledge and practical skills to help you thrive in your new role in your first 90 days!
Skills for Your First 90 Days as a New Manager
This course is the perfect first time manager course and I am extremely proud of it. I took lessons from my own experience and years of training other managers and combined all the best practices into this course. This management course covers how to lead with intention, strategies for building strong relationships with your team, developing trust, managing your career, new skills development, and so much more!
In order to access this course, you will need to have a LinkedIn account.
Skills for the modern manager from Skills for Your First 90 Days as a New Manager by Chelsea Jay
If you have trouble accessing this link, please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and I can send you a link so that you can access this first time manager course for free for 24 hours.
What if I’m still figuring out if I’m management material?
If you’re still in the early stages of figuring out if you want to be a manager, that’s ok! I actually wrote a couple of articles that you may find helpful. Click here to check out How to be a Good Leader and Why Leadership is Important.
If you know that you are ready to become a manager, but not sure where to start, I also created a LinkedIn Learning course that will help you build the skills and reputation to become an impactful, influential, and incredible first time manager.
Building the Reputation and Skills to Become a First-Time Manager
If you’re ready to become a manager and want an easy to follow and implement roadmap, this is the perfect course for you as an aspiring manager.
Positioning yourself as "management material" from Building the Reputation and Skills to Become a First-Time Manager by Chelsea Jay
If you prefer one-on-one coaching, I have a 5-session coaching program, Launchpad to Leadership that would be perfect for you! After working together, you’ll be equipped with the tools, strategies, clarity, and confidence to identify opportunities, define your leadership style, self-advocate, and brand yourself as “management material” for managerial roles.
How to Train a First-Time Manager
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to pursuing management training for new supervisors. This is because training a first-time manager involves a well-rounded approach that includes a mix of formal education and hands-on experience. It’s also important to remember that everyone has a different learning style and preference. Effective leadership requires your willingness to not only lean into your preference, but also not being afraid to step outside of your comfort zone to try other training options.
When looking for training as a first time manager, here are some key components of the best training for new managers:
Structured Courses: For a great learning experience, enrolling in structured courses, such as those offered on LinkedIn Learning, can provide you with essential knowledge on management principles, leadership styles, and best practices. These courses cover a wide range of topics from communication skills to strategic thinking.
Mentorship Programs: Seeking out and shadowing experienced mentors can provide invaluable guidance and support. Mentors can share their experiences, offer advice, and help you as a new manager navigate the complexities of your role.
Workshops and Seminars: This is one of my personal favorites because participating in workshops and seminars can allow you to engage with experts and peers, fostering a learning community and a strong social network. These sessions often provide practical tips and interactive learning experiences. Making these connections will play a critical role in your leadership qualities, learning process, and they can even greatly influence your soft skills. Having a community of great managers can also help you avoid any common mistakes most new managers make.
On-the-Job Training: Practical experience is necessary to your professional growth. Every workplace is different. From their expectations, policies, practices, to the type of environment they foster. Dive in with integrity, curiosity, and the willingness to ask for and truly listen to constructive feedback.
Feedback and Reflection: This deserves a section of its own! Regular feedback from supervisors and team members, along with self-reflection, can help understand your strengths, weaknesses, perceptions, and areas for improvement. Constructive feedback will help you as a new leader to foster continuous development and growth.
What is the Best Online Course for a First-Time Manager?
As mentioned above, you are unique! With that in mind, the best manager course depends on your needs and the skills you want to develop. However, I do recommend seeking out a comprehensive courses that will cover fundamental management skills, leadership development, and practical application tend to be the most effective. My LinkedIn Learning courses, tailored for new managers, offer a balanced mix of theoretical knowledge and practical insights. This course was designed to equip first-time managers with the tools they need to succeed.
Skills for the modern manager from Skills for Your First 90 Days as a New Manager by Chelsea Jay
When you Become a Manager for the First Time, What Should You Focus On?
Becoming a manager for the first time can be overwhelming, but focusing on a few key areas can help smooth the transition:
Building Relationships: Establishing trust and rapport with your team is a must. Take the time to understand each team member’s strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. You’ll need to use your effective communication and active listening skills to build strong relationships.
Setting Clear Expectations: Everyone likes to know what is expected of them. As a leader, this is your job! Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. This clarity helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures everyone is aligned with the team’s goals.
Developing Leadership Skills: Focus on developing essential leadership skills such as decision-making, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence. These skills are crucial for managing team dynamics and driving performance.
Continuous Learning: Embrace a growth mindset and continuously seek opportunities to learn and improve. Stay updated with the latest management trends and best practices.
Time Management: As a manager, you’ll have to juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities. Having effective time management skills will help ensure that you can prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and support your team efficiently.
Justification for Pursuing First Time Manager Course
If you work for a smaller organization who needs “justification” for your participation in leadership training and professional development opportunities, I want to provide you with a quick script to share with your supervisor.
Below is a snapshot of what you can write to request
“Training for first-time managers is crucial because it provides the foundational knowledge and tools needed to lead a team effectively. Without proper training, new managers might struggle with common challenges such as team dynamics, conflict resolution, and performance management. Investing in training ensures that new managers can navigate these challenges successfully, leading to higher team morale, employee engagement, increased productivity, and overall organizational success.
I want to succeed in this role and become a strong asset to my team and the company. Receiving approval to take leadership development courses will help me succeed in my role as a leader, mentor, coach, and contributor.”
Conclusion
There are many ways to find a great first time manager course. I hope you’ll utilize the training videos I’ve shared in this article. If you’re interested in discussing a more formal training live or a virtual session for your team, I’d love to partner with you and provide ongoing support. Please reach out using the contact form, or sign up using the link here.
If you watched either one of my LinkedIn Learning courses, drop a comment below and let me know what you think! Cheers to your success in your leadership role!
