Hospitality business employees taking their first step up from team member to manager will now have access to additional support from sector skills council People 1st which has launched its Management 1st training programme.
The four-day programme helps managers get to grips with the basics of managing a team - from coaching and communication skills through to presentation techniques, listening effectively and dealing with conflict.
“Becoming a manager for the first time can be quite daunting,” said Sharon Glancy, People 1st’s managing director. “One day you’re a member of the team; the next, you’re leading it.
“Often, managers are appointed on the basis of being ‘good at their job’ and, while practical skills are important, becoming a people manager requires a whole new set of skills that don’t always come naturally.”
Research published last month by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) found that more than a third of line managers (36 per cent) have not been trained in how to supervise people, causing cultural problems within organisations.
In addition, nearly half of employers (48 per cent) confessed that individuals were promoted into managerial roles based on their performance record, rather than people management or leadership skills.
A lack of management and leadership skills is a huge issue for hospitality businesses in particular. Further research, carried out by People 1st, revealed that high staff turnover means that managers are often promoted much earlier than in the past, with 34 per cent of employers claiming that their staff would benefit from additional management and leadership training. A further 35 per cent said their staff needed more training specifically in coaching and motivating others.
The Management 1st programme has been developed in response to these findings, with Glancy adding that if new managers aren’t prepared, it can have a ‘critical impact’ on results and retention.
“We’ve all heard the saying that people leave managers, not companies, and that’s one of the issues that Management 1st will address. “By giving first-time managers the training and support they need to manage their teams effectively, not only will you develop your managers as individuals, but you will also improve motivation and engagement within their teams.
“It can help create a culture of training and support as those managers move up through the business.”
