Managerial Competencies
We support organizations in developing managerial competencies that have a real impact on performance and work culture. We work with both experienced managers and those just entering management positions. Our programs strengthen role awareness, develop effective leadership habits, and equip managers with tools that facilitate daily decisions and teamwork.
Want to learn more about our solutions in the area of managerial competences?
What we offer
On-site training at your company's headquarters across Europe, webinars, and online workshops
Mentoring sessions in Polish and English
Comprehensive programs for experienced managers and first-time managers
How we work
We run the Manager Academy and managerial training courses in Polish and English. Our starting points are engagement surveys, 360-degree feedback, ACDC, and psychometric assessments such as ILM72, FRIS, and RMP. We complement these programs with our own e-learning.
Topics, areas, and tools include:
building engagement and motivation
feedback, development and corrective conversations
situational leadership
manager as a coach
change management
managing a multicultural and multigenerational team
conducting 1:1 and team meetings
Our program in practice
Why do some experienced managers generate turnover and talent outflow, while others attract people, building stability, commitment and long-term cooperation?
How does the functioning of an organization change when first-time managers are equipped with key managerial competencies from the outset—instead of acquiring them over the years through trial and error?
What happens to the quality of decisions and cooperation when a manager has a real network of support and exchange of experiences with other leaders in the organization?
We work based on our own original programs and adapt them to the client's specific needs. Below, you can see an example of our program's implementation in the area of managerial competencies.
Want to see how you can build managerial competencies among front-line managers?
Meet our expert in the area of managerial competencies
Marta Carter – trainer, manager, and entrepreneur, co-founder of Blackbird. She has been active in the training industry since 2007 and in the field of managerial competencies since 2019.
She supports organizations and managers in developing the key competencies managers need in their daily work with teams and goals, combining these with the development of self-awareness and managerial maturity.
She graduated from the school of needs-based coaching and the school of group process, she is a certified trainer of the Collaboration Scale and a certified trainer of FRIS and DISC.
She works in both Polish and English and divides her time between Poland and the UK. She runs the Manager Academy and training programs for managers at various stages of development.
Want to learn more about our managerial competencies solutions?
Book a 30-minute online meeting:
An example of our program in the area of managerial competences
How did we build managerial competencies among first-line managers
A global shared services multinational corporation faced the challenge of preparing newly promoted managers to effectively perform in their new roles. The organization wanted to avoid a situation where leaders "learn from others" and teams bear the costs of unconscious management.
The priority was to equip new managers with key competencies – from communication, prioritization and feedback to change management and conducting 1:1 conversations – and to create a strong support network between managers within the company.
That's why we designed the Manager Academy, a comprehensive development process that combines 7 training modules, work on real-world cases, implementation tasks, Action Learning sessions, and a closed learning community on the Blackbird Promote platform, where users completed additional tasks and could exchange experiences with each other.
Read how we worked at each stage:
01
The foundation of the role: clarity of expectations and responsibilities
We began with a kick-off session, where participants gained a coherent understanding of what a first-line manager's role entails: responsibility for people, operational decisions, one-on-one conversations, enforcing agreements, building engagement, and leading the team through change. Together, we identified key challenges, which became the foundation for further development.
02
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Competency modules
A key part of the Academy were 7 training modules, conducted every 10–14 days, which allowed participants to test the tools between sessions and return with practical conclusions.
The modules included:
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the role of the manager in building motivation and commitment,
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communication based on DISC® and NVC,
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motivation based on SCARF and growth mindset,
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feedback as a tool for development and strengthening responsibility,
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conducting 1:1 and team meetings,
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change management (workshop with game elements),
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work in culturally diverse teams.
Action Learning: Real Decisions and Real Cases
The workshop work was complemented by three Action Learning sessions conducted onsite.
Participants worked on real organizational challenges—corrective conversations, delegation, priorities, team tensions, responsibility, and building standards of cooperation.
This is where the key transfer took place – from “I know the model” to “I can apply it to my situation.”
Managers' community
The entire process was embedded in Blackbird Promote’s Learning Journey platform, which provided:
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implementation tasks between modules,
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short materials samples and reminders,
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a closed community of new managers,
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a space for sharing reflections and solutions,
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visibility of individual and group progress.
Thanks to this, the learning process continued also between sessions and participants developed their competences continuously.
Effect?
6 editions in 6 years - the program has become a permanent element of talent development.
High participant ratings in the engagement and quality of training surveys.
Reduced number of escalations and greater predictability of team work.
Greater confidence in managers' actions - greater clarity of decisions and communication.
A strong support network between leaders that continues even after the program ends.
Participation is by nomination only – the program has gained a prestigious status.
Read the opinion of one of the participants of our program:
This program truly developed my management skills and translated into my daily work with the team. Clear tools, concrete examples, and conversations with other managers in my organization helped me respond more confidently to difficult situations. I also gained much greater self-awareness and maturity in decision-making—I know where my reactions come from and how I impact others.
- Krzysztof
Have questions?
Contact Marta Carter: marta@blackbirdskills.com