What is this course about?

During tough times, productivity, performance and achieving organisational goals are all disrupted. This course equips managers with the skills and techniques required to lead their teams through difficult periods. Managers will be able to confidently assess situations, formulate plans and then successfully execute their strategies. They will be able to make the tough decisions, to motivate their teams and to skillfully manage in spite of challenges.

For the organisation, this course increases the capacity and capability of managers to prepare for and respond to tough times. Organisationally, managers who are ready for tough times can navigate through difficult and uncertain situations with greater confidence and competence, achieving the best possible results.

What defines "tough times"?

"Tough times" refers to a business climate that is not "business as usual." "Tough times" are different for different people and organisations. This could be the result of an economic downturn, outsourcing, a change in management, major reorganisation, a company sale, merger or acquisition, downsizing and the like. In the face of this reality, organisations require strong leaders who can communicate effectively and credibly. Successful leaders must often take a hard look at current processes and procedures, re-evaluate how things have always been done and make tough decisions to guide their teams to an eventual turnaround of the situation.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for first line to middle managers who must manage their teams through difficult situations or during uncertain times.

What background do I need?

You should have knowledge of day-to-day management best practices and principles at the level of Course 290, Management Skills, or Course 906, Management Skills for an IT Environment.

How is this course structured?

This course is structured around a dynamic style of learning created by Learning Tree called RealityPlus^TM-an immersive experience that engages you in authentic tasks within a simulated real-world context. Through case studies, individual, group and role playing activities, you are immersed throughout the course in evolving scenarios where the decisions you make affect the outcome of the simulation. The RealityPlus learning method is presented in a safe environment where you gain new skills and practice the most effective techniques to bring back to your work. At the end of your course, you are prepared to immediately and successfully apply these new skills within your organisation!

What kind of skills will I learn in this course that are different from Course 222, Leadership Skills: Building Success Through Teamwork, Course 290, Management Skills, or Course 906, Management Skills for an IT Environment?

In Course 222, you learn how to develop your teams to maximise their strengths and enhance productivity in day-to-day management scenarios. In Course 290 and Course 906, you learn core management skills, tools and techniques that help you deliver customer focused results.

This course builds on your core leadership and management skills and emphasises how to apply those skills in tough or difficult situations. Pragmatic solutions are explored and developed for the types of challenges encountered when times are not quite "business as usual."

I have been through tough times before. Can I still benefit from taking this course?

Tough times vary depending on the economic climate, the organisation, its people and so on. This course exposes you to a variety of scenarios that represent some of the most common challenging situations. You learn how to make the most of your management skills to handle with ease whatever tough situation you may encounter next.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much of this course is hands-on?

You spend approximately 70 percent of the course in activities. Role playing, group and individual activities include:

• Creating guidelines for tough situations
• Informing employees about layoffs
• Creating the message for a presentation to employees
• Preparing good answers to difficult questions
• Being prepared for employees' emotional reactions when delivering bad news
• Managing the rumour mill
• Demonstrating the need for strong leadership
• Acting with honesty and integrity during unpredictable times

Is this course applicable toward a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification?

Yes. Though this course is not designed as preparation for an exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward, or maintaining, a PMI certification. Most PMI certifications require a specific number of PDUs in order to obtain and maintain the credential. Completion of this course provides 17 professional development units (PDUs).

Learning Tree offers several courses that help you prepare for PMI certifications, including Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam, which prepares you for PMI's most popular certification. For more details on these courses and PMI certifications, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

The following courses may be of interest to you:

• 224, The Art of Coaching: Enabling Employees to Achieve Their Potential 
• 274, Managing Performance 
• 902, IT Relationship Management: Aligning IT with the Business 
• 222, Leadership Skills: Building Success Through Teamwork 
• 290, Management Skills 
• 906, Management Skills for an IT Environment 
• 909, Management Skills for the Middle Manager 
• 275, Leading Virtual and Remote Teams 
• 252, Strategic Planning for Organisational Success 
• 297, Personal Skills for Professional Excellence 
• 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving 
• 292, Communication Skills: Results Through Collaboration 
• 294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority 
• 904, Responding to Conflict: Creating Resolution and Cooperation 
• 244, Assertiveness Skills: Communicating with Authority and Impact