Training and Development Solutions delivered a customized Leadership Basics training program for a major San Francisco Bay Area specialty food manufacturer. The three day course was tailored for a group of recently promoted team leads following the completion of an earlier employee development program also delivered by Training and Development Solutions.
The primary objective of the Leadership Basics course was to facilitate team leads in the identification and development of their personal leadership skills and abilities. Through lecture, a variety of individual and small group exercises, and self-assessment, participants were given the opportunity to enhance their effectiveness as team leads by learning and practicing how to give constructive feedback, coach employees to improve performance, utilize appropriate recognition strategies and build and motivate a powerful work team.
Among the key topics covered by the course were:
- Delegation: Clearly defining tasks, providing needed resources to ensure success, focusing on the results rather than the method, and recognizing performance
- Communication: Determining the purpose of each message, considering the perceptions of the audience, using appropriate channels to communicate, and asking for feedback to check for mutual understanding
- Teambuilding: Demonstrating patience and persistence, involving team members, helping the team overcome barriers, building trust and commitment, and valuing diversity
- Conflict Resolution: Stating the problem from each person’s perspective, clarifying the conflict by determining issues and asking questions, brainstorming solutions to the situation, identifying the pros and cons of each suggestion, and agreeing on a mutually acceptable solution
- Collaboration: Identifying common needs, defining shared goals and values, creating a culture of trust, involving others, and developing the group through coaching and constructive feedback
The course instructor incorporated the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment, a questionnaire designed to measure psychological preferences for perceiving the world and making decisions. After determining their personality preferences, participants learned that understanding their different approaches to social interaction can be helpful in working with their teams by moderating and managing their individual styles through awareness of their impact on others.
The Leadership Basics course was very well received, and participants were especially appreciative of the many useful ideas and suggestions immediately applicable to their responsibilities as team leads.
