The Maximum Performance Management Development Programme

A practical approach to managing yourself and those around you, this unique ‘bite-sized’, ILM-recognised programme will help managers step up and make a difference.

Aimed primarily at new and aspiring managers (and also a very good refresher for managers who have not been through a structured development programme before), the programme takes a ‘bite-sized’, modular approach which gives participants plenty of tools and strategies for dealing with everyday challenges in the workplace as well as the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences, reflect on their own, and benefit from the inspirational advice and guidance of your choice of expert trainer.

Format: a series of seventeen modules delivered over 10 days, roughly one day per month, and two 1:1 coaching sessions. Full use of materials to supplement the workshops and Mindmarker, a learning reinforcement tool, to help embed your learning.

Delivery options: on an in-house basis (whether ‘off-the-shelf’, ‘tailored’, or ‘fully bespoke’) the programme is run in either physical or virtual classrooms as required. Our open programme is usually held twice a year in London, but for the cohort starting in Autumn 2023 we’ll be entirely virtual.

Make a booking: To book a place on our open programme, download the booking form here.

Introduction

Most organisations set their new managers up to fail.

They don’t do it deliberately, of course, but they do keep doing it. We’ve all been there. We get promoted to our first management role not because we have shown proficiency in managing people, but because we are good at achieving targets, KPIs, goals, etc. We are technically proficient. And why do organisations promote the technically proficient? Because organisations are not great at succession planning and because they look for the wrong skills set when appointing new managers.

Lack of succession planning means that appointments are made on a reactive basis, without time to prepare people for the appointment. So, managers are appointed because of their technical proficiency, not because of any sign of management skills or a passion for leading a team. Remember, too, that most people’s reason for leaving a job has nothing to do with the money – it’s usually because they have little or no respect for their manager.

So, are you going to keep letting your new managers – and the people they manage – down? Or are you going to do something about it? Here’s an opportunity for you.

After years of running bespoke management development programmes on an in-house basis for a wide range of organisations – public sector, private sector, voluntary sector, large and small – we distilled the most common issues that managers struggle with and have designed a unique, modular, open programme to address just those issues. The programme takes a structured approach over ten months, dealing with all the key topics in ‘bite-sized’ fashion, roughly one day a month. It’s a very experiential, stimulating, challenging programme that requires the participants to do ‘bite-sized’ assignments (‘pre-work’) in preparation for each module. This pre-work will be a mix of e-learning modules completed on the Aptimore platform as well as some activities or questionnaires. The programme starts with a psychometric profile (Facet5) and gives lots of opportunity for skills practice and feedback in a supportive environment. You will be supported throughout the programme by having the use of a personal coach – our very own Scott Rumsey. You will be having three personal 1:1 coaching sessions to discuss your role as a manager and any relevant challenges and successes you may be having. The agenda will be entirely yours. Furthermore, to ensure that the learning isn’t left in the classroom, you will be using an App called Mindmarker which is a learning reinforcement tool. By signing up you will receive learning nudges and prompts as well as exercises and resources to maximise your development as a manager.

Programme

MODULE 1

WELCOME TO YOUR MDP (½ DAY)

  • Welcome and introductions
  • Why invest in managers?
  • Expectations
  • Aptimore and Mindmarker explained
  • 1:1 coaching support

 

MODULE 2

WHAT MAKES A MANAGER? (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – FACET5 personal profile)

  • Identifying skills and traits of effective managers
  • How do you compare?
  • What is the balance I need to manage?
  • Introduction to FACET5
  • Your FACET5 report
  • Reflections on strengths and development areas
  • Learning review

 

1:1 COACHING SESSION WITH SCOTT RUMSEY (1 of 2)

 

MODULE 3

CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR SUCCESS (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – Aptimore online module – Managing Teams)

  • Your experiences of good and bad managers
  • How to create an environment for success
  • Managing your team through maturity stages
  • Setting expectations
  • The shadow of a leader
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 4

MANAGING MY TIME (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – time log)

  • Time traps
  • Dealing with procrastination
  • Are your efforts aligned?
  • To-do lists
  • Prioritising
  • Urgent v Important tasks
  • The OATS principle
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 5

CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS (FULL DAY)

(Pre-work – what your team appreciate / what they don’t! / Aptimore online module – Feedback)

  • Your conversation barriers
  • Skills needed to be effective
  • Be specific!
  • Observations and inferences
  • Transactional Analysis
  • Learning review

(We will be using actors on this workshop to maximise your learning!)

 

MODULE 6

MANAGING PERFORMANCE REVIEWS (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – Looking at your current appraisal scheme / Aptimore online module – Developing Others)

  • The performance conversation and structure
  • The agenda
  • Setting clear goals
  • Measuring performance
  • Behavioural objectives
  • Make the conversation interesting for both parties
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 7

COACHING SKILLS TO DEVELOP OTHERS (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – Aptimore online module – Coaching)

  • What is coaching?
  • Spectrum of skills needed
  • Stop giving the answers!
  • The coaching game
  • 1:1 practice session using GROW
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 8

EFFECTIVE DELEGATION (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – Aptimore online modules – Delegation 1 & 2)

  • Is your team ready?
  • The Reina trust model
  • A trust questionnaire
  • 4 steps to successful delegation
  • Learning review

MODULE 9

MANAGING THROUGH CHANGE (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – identifying your organisational changes)

  • Being an effective change agent
  • The change transition curve
  • Forcefield Analysis
  • Detecting and managing resistance
  • A change scenario!
  • Learning review

 

1:1 COACHING SESSION WITH SCOTT RUMSEY (2 of 2)

 

MODULE 10

COMMUNICATING AND PRESENTING WITH IMPACT (FULL DAY)

(Pre-work – Aptimore online module – Communication Clarity)

  • The speaker v the listener
  • Memorable messages
  • The 6 principles of sticky ideas
  • Delivering jaw-dropping moments
  • Combatting anxiety
  • Analogies and metaphors
  • Pictures and props
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 11

INFLUENCING AND NEGOTIATING (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – Influencing questionnaire / Aptimore online module – Impact and Influence)

  • Influencing power bases
  • Networking for success
  • Negotiation self-assessment inventory
  • Win-win negotiation
  • Influencing in meetings
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 12

RUNNING EFFECTIVE MEETINGS (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – meetings where you work – effective or not!)

  • Why do we have too many meetings?
  • The role of the Chair
  • Dealing with challenging situations
  • A strong opening – setting the scene
  • The meeting process
  • PIMS – getting involvement in meetings
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 13

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE (EI) AND YOUR PERSONAL BRAND (½ DAY)

Pre-work – EI questionnaire / Aptimore online module – Empathy)

  • What is EI and why is it important?
  • The 4 competencies
  • Your EI awareness
  • Sympathy v Empathy
  • Your personal brand
  • The Johari Window
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 14

LEADERSHIP STYLES (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – watch 3 chosen TED Talks on leadership)

  • The management v leadership debate
  • Transactional v Transformational leadership
  • Intent-based leadership
  • Your desire to lead – a questionnaire
  • The resilient manager / leader
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 15

PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – a case study)

  • Problem solving – a practical challenge (1)
  • Emotional v logical decision-making
  • Decision making strategies
  • Problem solving – a practical challenge (2)
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 16

MANAGING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS (½ DAY)

(Pre-work – how you deal with conflict)

  • How you deploy your strengths in relationships
  • The difference between motivation and behaviour
  • The impact of your preferences on others
  • Overdone strengths
  • Managing conflict in relationships
  • Learning review

 

MODULE 17

YOUR REVIEW AND REFLECTIONS – WHAT NOW? (¾ DAY)

(Pre-work – Career Driver questionnaire)

  • Your Aptimore full report
  • Your learning records
  • The power of why!
  • Your manager profile
  • Your present v your future – 1:1 conversations
  • The MDP reflections
  • Your Maximum Performance and ILM certificates
  • Celebrating success!

Options

For an in-house programme clients can choose whether to have the programme ‘as is’ or whether to tailor it in any way. Our in-house approach gives organisations the full flexibility of a ‘pick and mix’ approach. You can choose the order of the modules that suits you. For example, you may want to have a performance management module aligned to your performance management framework and timescales.

You may also want to include your own sessions around our modules. If you currently have HR training and you want to include it then you can. We can weave it in to a full programme so all managers get a consistent approach.

You may want a launch event that sets out the expectations for the programme, where you invite the participants’ line managers to get buy-in so they understand what is going to be covered and where they can support.

You can also add new modules (we have lots to choose from…) or omit any of our modules, so if a ‘bite-size’ approach suits your business model then let’s have the conversation!

Your participants need to feel that this programme was written for them. By working with you and exploring what that looks and feels like, we can create a tailored Management Development Programme that is aligned to your values and behaviours, and set the evaluation and ROI against these.

To summarise, this programme has been designed with a number of delivery options in mind:

  • It can be delivered for your organisation on an in-house basis, entirely ‘off-the-shelf’. We have a small team of specially selected trainers (ten of them, based around the country, from Somerset to Scotland) from whom you can take your pick (depending on location, experience or best ‘fit’ with your organisation).
  • Or we can deliver a tailored version for you. This might mean dropping or adding modules according to the audience’s learning needs; using a different psychometric; tailoring materials to incorporate organisational values, policies or processes; or perhaps changing the format in some way – whatever will work best for your organisation.
  • Or we can develop a completely bespoke programme for you. This might take some inspiration from the ‘flagship’ programme set out here, it might not – the choice is entirely yours.
  • And if you haven’t got quite enough people to justify an in-house programme, then the very popular open programme might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s held twice a year, in London.

Can’t decide? Give us a call on 01582 463460 and we can talk you through the options.

Testimonials

‘The biggest compliment I can give the course is that I took it 15 years too late! I have been on a lot of training courses and this is by far the best.’

‘I am recommending this programme to a lot of people! I am saying that, This programme is different! It is interactive, it is refreshing and it changes the way you are as a manager and relational to people. The contents are extremely good and relevant.’

‘It’s a great programme. As a new manager, it’s given me a very comprehensive toolkit with which I can go back into the workplace and manage and develop my team.’

Delivery team

LEAD FACILITATOR

Cyrus (Managing Director of Maximum Performance) designed this programme. An exceptional international trainer, facilitator and coach, he specialises in helping managers to focus on their roles and responsibilities with the aim of getting great results with the people they manage. He has helped organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to improve their performance through a range of interventions covering leadership challenges, motivational management and corporate and executive 1:1 coaching.

Cyrus is enthusiastic and practical in his approach. His strong facilitation skills and focus on his audience create a powerful learning experience. This comes through very clearly in his book, Brilliant Workshops, published by Pearson Education.

 

 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS EXPERT

Kat has worked as a voice-over artist for BBC, Sky, ITV1, Sony Pictures, Spotify and many more. Unusually, she used to combine this with working in the City as an insurance broker, managing a client body of high net worth and high profile clients in media television and film. She is now a full-time freelance trainer and coach, making the most of her unusual combination of acting skills and director-level business experience by specialising in helping clients to control and optimise their body language and non-verbal communication techniques, structuring presentations for effect, and giving the kind of vocal empowerment needed to both succeed and be seen to succeed.

 

 

PERSONAL COACH

Scott is a Lead Consultant at Maximum Performance. A very experienced and enthusiastic trainer, facilitator and coach, he relishes the opportunity to help managers succeed in their roles and careers. His prime aim is to encourage managers to get the best out of their people by applying a positive psychology coaching approach, understanding how they want to be managed and what motivates each individual.

Scott helps a range of organisations across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors achieve their objectives using facilitation, team building and coaching interventions. He gets great feedback from a range of clients, including easyJet, S&P Global, D B Schenker, Stevenage Leisure, British Dental Association, North Herts Homes, Sofa.com, SoleTrader, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Living Ventures, Essendon Country Club, Capel Manor College, Flow Energy, The Royal British Legion, De Lage Landen, Geodis, Northampton Borough Council, etc, etc.

FACILITATOR

Jamie is a highly experienced, qualified, award-winning and nationally recognised professional within the world of learning and development. Passionate about empowering change, transformation and growth in a fun, creative and inspiring way, he has designed, delivered, facilitated and run world-class bespoke workshops, transformation events, corporate coaching, qualifications, apprenticeship support, business development and call guides.

With a degree in psychology and counselling, Jamie is also an ILM NLP Practitioner Coach, a trained Level 3 Assessor and is qualified to facilitate Insights and Belbin. His knowledge and implementation of the training cycle, Kirkpatrick evaluation, psychology, psychometrics, accelerated learning and coaching has enabled him to help individuals and businesses optimise their potential and over achieve on KPIs and return on investment.

Jamie runs some modules on this programme.

FACILITATOR

Nick has 30 years’ experience in training, coaching and consultancy. He enjoys working with managers and leaders to help them reach their potential, overcome challenges and create a work environment where individuals and teams thrive.

Nick runs some modules on this programme.

FACILITATOR

Alastair has leadership experience that is riven with authenticity in the trenches after over 5 years as a CEO of a national charity, facilitating leadership support and development. He has been developing business leadership teams from large household names to small businesses, using his leadership experience to inspire and inform growth.

Alastair runs some modules on this programme.

Consultant trainers

This programme is far too popular for Cyrus and Scott to be able to do all the deliveries themselves. They can, however, advise you as to the most appropriate consultant trainer for your specific requirement.

 

AILEEN RALSTON is a highly experienced learning and development professional, originally with a finance sector background and now working with clients such as BP, Prudential, MoD and the Scottish Executive. Her ability to build relationships and inspire participants creates an extremely positive learning environment. She brings a wealth of personal experience to many situations. Aileen is based in Scotland.

AMANDA DUDMAN is a highly experienced coach and facilitator specialising in providing management development programmes, coaching and facilitation services to the public, private and VCSE sectors. Amanda works at all levels within organisations, from the board (or Elected Members, in local authorities) to front-line. Amanda is based in Milton Keynes.

JAMIE CHAMBERS is a highly experienced, qualified, award-winning and nationally recognised professional within the world of learning and development. Passionate about empowering change, transformation and growth in a fun, creative and inspiring way, he has designed, delivered, facilitated and run world-class bespoke workshops, transformation events, corporate coaching, etc. Jamie is based in Derby and works across the country.

RACHEL COLEMAN  is a highly regarded training and HR professional. Her degree in Sociology (with Psychology) and her foundation in HR led Rachel to a career in Kodak’s management consultancy group where she specialised in behavioural skills-based training including management, team and personal development programmes. Rachel is based in St Albans and works across London and the south-east.

SUSIE ASHFIELD has worked as a voice-over artist for BBC, Sky, ITV1, Sony Pictures, Spotify and many more. Unusually, she used to combine this with working in the City as an insurance broker, managing a client body of high net worth and high profile clients in media television and film. Susie is based in London.

International trainers

This programme is available for delivery on a global basis, using our international network of more than 140 associate trainers in more than 60 countries around the world, as shown in purple on the map.

The programme materials are available in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese (we are currently delivering the programme in local languages in Austria, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Portugal and Spain and in English in Sweden). Other languages available on request.

 

The open programme...

Programme dates

Autumn 2023 programme dates

Two virtual sessions per day: 10-12 in the morning and 2-4 in the afternoon.

  • Welcome session: 25 September 2023 (12.00-13.15)
  • Modules 1 & 2: Welcome to your MDP / What makes a manager? – 18 October 2023
  • 1:1 coaching session
  • Modules 3 & 4: Creating the environment for success / Managing my time – 22 November 2023
  • Module 5: Crucial conversations – 12 December 2023
  • Modules 6 & 7: Managing performance reviews / Coaching skills to develop others – 11 January 2024
  • Modules 8 & 9: Effective delegation / Managing through change – 21 February 2024
  • 1:1 coaching session
  • Module 10: Communicating and presenting with impact – 14 March 2024
  • Modules 11 & 12: Influencing and negotiating / Running effective meetings – 23 April 2024
  • Modules 13 & 14: EI & your personal brand / Leadership styles – 16 May 2024
  • Modules 15 & 16: Problem solving & decision making / Managing working relationships – 13 June 2024
  • Module 17: Programme review – 18 July 2024

 

Spring 2024 programme dates

Two virtual sessions per day: 10-12 in the morning and 2-4 in the afternoon.

  • Welcome session: 4 April 2024 (10.00-11.00)
  • Modules 1 & 2: Welcome to your MDP / What makes a manager? – 18 April 2024
  • 1:1 coaching session
  • Modules 3 & 4: Creating the environment for success / Managing my time – 14 May 2024
  • Module 5: Crucial conversations – 27 June 2024
  • Modules 6 & 7: Managing performance reviews / Coaching skills to develop others – 23 July 2024
  • Modules 8 & 9: Effective delegation / Managing through change – 18 September 2024
  • 1:1 coaching session
  • Module 10: Communicating and presenting with impact – 17 October 2024
  • Modules 11 & 12: Influencing and negotiating / Running effective meetings – 19 November 2024
  • Modules 13 & 14: EI & your personal brand / Leadership styles – 12 December 2024
  • Modules 15 & 16: Problem solving & decision making / Managing working relationships – 23 January 2025
  • Module 17: Programme review – 11 February 2025

Price

The fee for the programme is £2,995 + VAT per person (but give us a call for discounted rates for public sector and VCSEs).

Fact file

Format

Generally run as a series of seventeen ‘bite-sized’ modules, two a day, over a period of ten months, key features of the open programme include:

  • A psychometric profile (Facet5) for each participant (completed online before the start of the programme)
  • ‘Pre-work’ before each module, to ensure that all participants have addressed the issues in advance of each module, thereby allowing all the sessions to be run at the optimal level and speed
  • Individual and group exercises and skills practice sessions in each module, for truly experiential learning
  • High quality programme materials
  • ILM Development Programme certificate of attendance for each participant (which can be used as evidence for CPD purposes, where appropriate)
  • Personal support offered by two 1:1 coaching sessions
  • Learning reinforcement tool – Mindmarker
  • Full use of Aptimore e-learning materials to support the workshops

 

Who should attend?

The programme is ideal for:

  • All those being considered for promotion to their first management position
  • Any newly appointed manager
  • It is also a useful refresher for any manager who has been in
    post for a while but who has not had the benefit of attending
    a structured development programme

Previous participants have been in their mid-twenties right through to their early fifties. They’ve come from all sorts of organisations, large and small, in sectors such as media, leisure, central government, international development, energy, PR, accountancy, insurance, property, charities, etc, etc.

The programme appeals particularly to smaller organisations who do not have enough potential new managers at any one time to justify running a development programme internally.

 

Location and timings

The welcome session will be 1 hour and 15 minutes for each cohort.

There will be two virtual sessions per day via Zoom: 10:00-12:00 in the morning and 2:00-4:00 in the afternoon.

How to book

Just complete and return the booking form and we’ll send you an invoice or VAT receipt as appropriate.

Please send your completed form to helen.nuttall@maximumperformance.co.uk.

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The Maximum Performance Management Development Programme gets fantastic feedback. Give us a call on 01582 463460 to talk through how it might work for you.