Management Training & How to plan for the Future | Issue #25
In this edition of the Leadership Bulletin, we look at the benefits of management training, share a special discount on edfolio's new course, and celebrate a royal endorsement for vocational learning.
Welcome to the latest Leadership Bulletin.
If you’re anything like me, you will be beginning to wonder where 2022 has gone! But remember, even as the year comes to its close, every day counts for leaders and managers to support their teams, improve their organisations and end the year on a high.
Let’s begin.
A TRAINED MANAGER IS A HAPPY MANAGER
Well, they are more likely to be at least. That’s the outcome of a survey by Digits LMS which found that 77% of managers who receive regular management training say they like or love their current job. That compared to just 54% of managers who haven’t received management training. Regular training is unlikely to be the only reason they like or love their job. The fact the employer provides training is probably indicative of the other good things they do, too. But it’s clear that if a business wants to retain quality staff and keep their workforce happy, investing in training is one of the things they need to be doing. You can read more on the findings here.
EDFOLIO’S BRAND NEW E-LEARNING COURSE.
On which note, I’m very pleased to share news of Edfolio’s brand new e-learning course! It’s called ‘Six Months to Great Management’ and it’s based on our unique, 25-point matrix of the skills that all leaders and managers - no matter what their level - need. You can find out more about this course by clicking here. (As a subscriber to the Leadership Bulletin, we’re offering a special £50 discount on enrolments in December. Just enter the code “BULLETIN” at checkout and your discount will be applied). Click here to sign-up.
CRYSTAL BALL OR REAR-VIEW MIRROR - WHICH ONE ARE YOU LOOKING IN?
One of the most common challenges I've come across with business leaders is that they are fighting yesterday's battles. It’s understandable. The challenges we’ve faced are the ones that are freshest in our minds; what’s more, they’re the challenges we’re often expecting to face again. All leaders and managers have to reflect on the past to plan for the future. The key thing is to take what you learn and use it to focus mercilessly on the challenges of the future. What does this look like in practice?
One example might be an "innovation day." This is something I've used in the past to bring organisations, divisions or small teams together to discuss their issues and grumbles, then spend several hours brainstorming (and sometimes even trialling) how to overcome them. Another idea is to spend a day mapping out the future. Within your team you will likely have a lot of expertise and insight about what the future of your sector is going to look like, so bring that team together and ask questions like "what do our customers want? What market changes are coming? What are we well-equipped to do?" Use these techniques to create a model of how your sector is likely to evolve that you can plan for.
KEY FINDINGS FROM LIFELONG LEARNING WEEK.
It was recently Lifelong Learning Week, a celebration (and promotion) of the benefits of learning not just as children or young people, but throughout our lives. To mark the occasion, the Learning and Work Institute published their annual Adult Participation in Learning Survey 2022. Here are some of the key findings:
Just over two fifths (42 per cent) of adults are currently learning or have done so in the last three years.
Gaps in participation by social class have narrowed, but unfortunately this does not appear to be driven by higher participation among those least likely to study.
London has by far the highest participation rate of any English region at 56 per cent. The big gap between regions is clearly a driver of regional inequality.
You can read the full report here.
THE KING BACKS VOCATIONAL LEARNING
Finally, and sticking with our theme of learning, His Majesty the King recently appeared on BBC One’s The Repair Shop, filmed when he was Prince of Wales. The show highlights the work of apprenticeship programmes supported by the Prince’s Foundation, which help young people in particular learn traditional heritage craft skills. It’s well worth a watch and includes the King’s endorsement of vocational learning: “The great tragedy is the lack of vocational education in schools. Actually, not everybody is designed for the academic... sometimes that’s forgotten.” You can watch the programme here.