I'm fulfilling a dream: Designing a course for first-time managers!

So this is a dream-come-true moment! I am designing a curriculum for first-time managers, and I am offering through the Online News Association!

First-time managers are in a unique point in their careers — they’ve never led direct reports before and now their performance will be based on their team’s performance. They are no longer responsible solely for themselves.

This is a huge challenge and shift! And one that doesn’t get enough attention. That’s why I am so thankful for ONA for trusting me to bring Adaptive Leadership Skills for First-Time Managers to life!

When I first became an editor, I thought the biggest part of my job was to put out the product. As long as we made print deadline, all would be well. LOL.

Turns out, that was about 40% of the job. The remaining 60% was about the relationships I had with each of my team members:
➕ Do I support them enough?
➕ Do I know how to work well with them based on their styles?
➕ Do I set a path for success for everyone?

To do this well, I learned that we need emotional intelligence, resilience, trust and frameworks for healthy conversations and relationships.

I muddled my way through this over the years by making mistakes and following my instincts. But you don’t have to do what I did!

I designed this course to give participants space to learn about things rarely discussed on the day-to-day. It’s stuff I wish I learned when I was a baby manager.

One of my joys is to help people feel more confident in their jobs, so if you need guidance, join us!

Over four virtual, two-hour sessions on Tuesdays in August, I’ll get you started on crafting your own leadership statement and share insights grounded in behavioral research.

This program is designed for new leaders with 0-2 years of experience — but if you haven't had recent formal leadership training, join us!

Cost is $399 for ONA members and $499 for non-members (the math: An annual membership is $75, so you'd get a discount & membership benefits for less than the non-member price 💡 ).

We are keeping the class to a manageable size, so acceptance is first-come, first serve. I hope to see you there!