New Managers Learn To Flourish

The Challenge

Knauf Insulation is the UK’s leading Insulation Company. They asked Clear Thinking to design and deliver a Management Development Programme that would give new managers the confidence, knowledge, skills and insight to flourish in their management role.

The Solution

Before we did anything else, we got to grips with the culture and aspirations of the Knauf business. There was a lot of talking and listening involved with some key people, so that we had clear outcomes and an early outline of the possible content. With critical success factors mapped out and key opinions heard, we could craft the content accordingly.

Knauf wanted something pragmatic so the programme combined classroom learning with one to one coaching sessions and some in-house activities too. Each Performer was able to learn from the facilitator, from the group, and work on their unique management challenges in a safe environment too.

We created a mix of content specifically to meet the challenge we had be set, helping the Performers to focus on themselves, then their teams and then on the wider business and encouraged them to try new approaches as soon as they got back to work, to really help learning stick.

The Results

The Performers eloquently describe how the Programme helped them…

“The biggest benefit for me has been getting the best out of my team by changing my approach; I now step back and consider the options, I also adapt my approach and respect the fact that people are all different.”

“It has helped me to communicate better with my Boss.”

“I used to make decisions really quickly and now I take time to reflect and I’m coming to better resolutions.”

“It has helped with my self-esteem and given me more confidence.”

“I feel like I’ve been given a box of tools, and I can pick the right tool and use it when I need to.”

Knauf Insulation have worked with The Clear Thinking Partnership for a number of years now. We have run 2 cycles of a Management Development Programme as well as a couple of cycles of a similar programme aimed at Team Leader Level.

The Management Development Programme is aimed at employees who have recently been promoted or recruited into management positions. We have also place delegates on the programme who have had some more lengthy experience managing teams but no formal training or coaching in the area.

The Clear Thinking Partnership really do work as partners with the business, they get to know the business really well and listen carefully to all the stakeholders involved in the programme. The programme is always designed to fit the needs of the business and is not an off the shelf solution. The Directors, Kate & Bev, are really flexible and have often had to bend the schedule to fit in with all the unexpected events a busy work environment throws at you.

The programme itself has been received really well by all of our delegates and the mix of ‘classroom' sessions and individual coaching sessions works really well. Both Kate and Bev will often come up with valuable insights and suggestions as a result of the information they pick up from delegates, managers and the HR team. 

We are in the process of planning cycle 3 and have so many employees requesting a place on the programme we have had to introduce a selection process. I would not hesitate in recommending The Clear Thinking Partnership as a Management Development provider to your business.

Lisa FlahertyHead of HR - Northern EuropeKnauf Insulation