Why the focus on manager engagement?
Because it was chosen by YOU! After every Customer Connect, we always ask what our customers want us to discuss in the next event to ensure we provide you with the content and opportunities you desire.
Why is manager engagement crucial?
Empowering and engaging managers with L&D is incredibly important and steers the success of your initiatives. How?
- Enhanced employee engagement: When managers actively participate in L&D, it signals to employees that their growth and development are valued. This can significantly boost employee engagement and motivation.
- Alignment with organizational goals: Managers can ensure that L&D initiatives are aligned with the strategic goals of the organization. This alignment helps create actionable learning experiences that are relevant and beneficial to both the employees and the organization.
- Improved learning outcomes: Managers can provide context and relevance to the training, making it more applicable to the employees’ daily tasks. This practical application enhances the effectiveness of the training.
- Retention and talent development: Engaged managers can identify skill gaps and development needs within their teams, facilitating targeted training that helps in retaining top talent and preparing employees for future roles.
- Fostering a culture of continuous learning: When managers champion L&D, it fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning within the organization. This culture encourages employees to seek out learning opportunities and stay updated with industry trends.
In this event, we divided into groups to discuss the critical question: How can HR and L&D teams support managers?
Here are the key findings we heard from our customers about how HR and L&D teams can support managers with practical and attainable solutions:
Activities:
- Management skills: Provide training on feedback, time management, adaptability, and decision-making
- Practical tools: Provide tools that help HR tasks like managing absence, performance management, and conflict
- Leadership development: Tiered programs for new, experienced, and senior managers with hybrid delivery (in-person, eLearning, coaching)
- Coaching and mentorship: 1:1 coaching to boost confidence and implement learning
How to establish them:
- Communication: Leveraging tools like Kallidus Learn for course promotion, notifications, and push reporting
- Cross-departmental partnerships: Engaging internal comms teams for publicity and manager buy-in
- Program design: Pilot leadership programs, starting small, adjusting based on feedback
- L&D culture building: Report training completion to leadership to increase visibility, accountability, and celebrate progress
Challenges and Tips to Overcome:
- Resistance from long-term managers: Engage gently, emphasising the value of new skills for saving time and improving outcomes
- Time constraints: Show the long-term benefits of skill development, even in a time-poor environment
- Compliance-focused attitudes: Market learning as development rather than just compliance
- Lack of awareness: Build awareness of non-compliance training by offering accessible toolkits and leadership pathways
What Works:
- Celebrate wins and provide incentives to maintain engagement
- Focus on ongoing communication and leadership support for sustained buy-in
- Offer flexible, tiered learning options for various management levels and needs
Thank you to our customers who engaged in these insightful discussions. It was great to understand what has and hasn’t worked from everyone’s different experiences, and to share with peers the advice and tips.
Missed out on the event? Do not worry, as the recording is now live on The Academy.
New to Kallidus and want to find out how we can support you to empower learners, managers, and L&D leaders whilst maintaining compliance and encouraging development? Speak to one of our experts today to find out more.
Written by Claire Moloney Claire is an enthusiastic and meticulous content writer whose passion is to support growth and continual learning for everyone.
