A six-month Leadership Development Course, delivered by WCTD, is designed for early-stage leaders transitioning from technical roles into people management, combining classroom sessions, one-to-one coaching and peer learning to build skills in communication, leadership and team performance.
Delegates will complete diagnostic profiling, attend three modules (April–July) focused on self-awareness, organisational culture and performance, and take part in ongoing buddy sessions and action learning groups. The course is fully funded by SAPCA (excluding travel and accommodation), takes place at The Oxfordshire Hotel and Spa and online, and is open to 12 committed candidates able to attend all dates and support the future of the industry.
Managers of people at the first-line manager level require skills and capabilities that allow them to step up and begin to develop away from being an expert (individual contributor) and into the management space (team leader).
This is arguably the most difficult role anyone will take on in the workplace as they are often taking their first step into management and away from being one of the team. They may also have to manage relationships with friends that are now line-reports.
| Session | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module One | 09:30 – 16:30 | 21st – 22nd April | The Oxfordshire Hotel and Spa, Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Thame OX9 2PU |
| Module Two | 09:30 – 16:30 | 20th – 21st May | The Oxfordshire Hotel and Spa, Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Thame OX9 2PU |
| Action Learning Group | 09:30 – 11:30 | 13th June | Online |
| Module Three | 09:30 – 16:30 | 14th July | The Oxfordshire Hotel and Spa, Rycote Lane, Milton Common, Thame OX9 2PU |
Programme Objectives:
- Create a safe place to work
- Motivate and get the best from your team
- Steer your team through multiple change cycles
- Understand personal relationships and navigate challenging situations
- Increase awareness of personal resilience and the impact of pressure
- Know when to use coaching behaviours to foster accountability
- Improve the outcomes of difficult conversations
Example content:
- Understanding your diagnostic
- Creating psychological safety in your team
- Building rapport
- Management v leadership
- Values
- A coaching approach
- Trust and belief
- Performance v pressure
- Role-modelling upstander behaviour
- Learning mindset
- Managing transition and change
- Understanding motivation
- Feedback and difficult conversations
- Goal setting
- Delegation skills
- Resilience and self-compassion
- Managing upwards
- Identifying and dealing with bias