Upskilling Leadership: Why Managers Need Training More Than Ever
- mzhu16
- Mar 12
- 3 min read
Companies are racing to upskill their workforce—adopting new technologies and fresh skills to stay competitive. But what about the managers leading these teams? Too often, they’re left on the sidelines with outdated playbooks. Neglecting leadership training is a critical mistake that can derail teams and hinder progress. In today’s fast-paced work environment, upskilling leadership is more essential than ever to drive performance, foster resilience, and tackle emerging challenges.
The Overlooked Need for Manager Training
Managers do more than oversee tasks; they shape culture, drive engagement, and guide teams through uncertainty. Yet, many rise to leadership roles without formal training, relying on trial-and-error or outdated approaches. Modern day challenges—managing hybrid teams, leading through technological change, and coaching a multigenerational workforce—require a sophisticated skill set that intuition alone can’t provide.
"Leadership is not innate; it is learned. The ability to lead effectively comes from education, experience, and effort." — John C. Maxwell
The numbers speak for themselves: McKinsey’s 2023 report shows that companies investing in leadership development see 37% higher revenue per employee and 9% higher gross margins. Yet, LinkedIn Learning’s 2022 study found that only 48% of organizations prioritize leadership training for mid-level managers. This gap leaves managers unprepared, leading to disengaged teams, stalled projects, and missed opportunities.
The Case for Upskilling: AT&T’s Transformation
AT&T offers a prime example of how manager upskilling can drive organizational change. In the early 2010s, facing shifts in the telecom industry, AT&T launched its “Workforce 2020” initiative, investing over $1 billion to retrain 140,000 employees—focusing heavily on managers. The company identified a need for STEM skills in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Rather than hiring externally, they trained managers in both technical and leadership competencies like change management and team coaching. By 2020, 80% of AT&T’s managers had completed at least one training module, boosting operational efficiency, reducing turnover, and positioning the company as a leader in digital innovation. (Sources: AT&T 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report and Harvard Business Review, 2021).
"Leadership development is the single most important investment an organization can make." — Bill Gates, The Road Ahead (1995).
Why These Skills Matter Now
The modern manager’s role has expanded beyond traditional oversight. Here’s why three specific skills are non-negotiable:
Coaching Skills: Employees today crave growth and feedback, not just directives. Managers who can coach rather than command unlock higher engagement and innovation. A Gallup study found that teams led by strengths-based coaches are 12.5% more productive.
Change Management: With constant disruption from AI, market shifts, and global change, managers need tools to lead through uncertainty. Effective change management training can boost project success by up to six times, according to Prosci.
Hybrid Team Leadership: Remote and hybrid work is here to stay. Managers must master virtual collaboration, maintain culture across distances, and balance flexibility with accountability—a skill set 71% of leaders say they’re still developing, per a 2023 Deloitte survey.
Designing Targeted Leadership Programs
Upskilling managers requires precision. Here’s how to build an effective leadership development program:
Assess Current Gaps: Use data—surveys, 360-degree feedback, and performance metrics—to identify growth areas, such as communication or emotional intelligence.
Tailor the Curriculum: Customize training to your industry. A telecom firm might emphasize tech leadership; a retailer, frontline motivation.
Blend Learning Formats: Use workshops, mentoring, and on-the-job simulations. Hands-on practice reinforces skills more than lectures.
Measure Impact: Track team productivity, engagement, and retention, linking outcomes to business goals to demonstrate ROI and refine the program.
Make It Ongoing: Leadership is continuous. Offer micro-courses, coaching circles, and on-demand resources to support ongoing growth.
Sounds like a lot of work? Don’t stress! With Circle LMS, building your leadership program is quick and easy. Simply share your needs, and its AI handles everything—from identifying skill gaps to generating tailored content and delivering personalized, ever-evolving training paths. You can expect fast, impactful results with minimal effort.
Grow Your Leaders with Circle LMS
"An organization's ability to grow is directly tied to the growth of its leaders." — John C. Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership (1998).
Managers aren’t born leaders—they’re made through deliberate development. Organizations that invest in leadership training will see stronger performance, culture, and resilience.
Ready to empower your leaders? Book a demo with Circle LMS today to discover how our AI-driven platform can create customized, data-backed training for your unique needs.
Comments