Do Managers Need Training?

It strikes me that the answer is no, judging by the amount of management training that is actually undertaken. £38 billion was spent on training in the UK in 2007, the majority of it in technical skills areas. You need people who can drive a forklift truck; you need someone who can put a spreadsheet together; you need an individual who can write a computer program.

It seems that management ability is a natural resource that springs to the fore with a promotion. There is rank, power and responsibility. What more do you need? It's common sense!

You know what's got to be done, by when and by whom. Easy.

Management training is not valued highly enough to figure in the budget. For one thing, it's hard to measure return on investment. Most of it doesn't work and the people running the courses just get you to do group exercises, put on DVDs to watch and read somebody else's powerpoint presentation. Another big risk is that people leave if you train them.

To think in the way described above is, of course, mistaken. It is false economy to have managers who do not have sufficient skills to plan, communicate and motivate others. Poor management is linked to high staff turnover and absenteeism. It can be a factor in long-term sickness and company morale. Managers have a huge influence over an organization's reputation in the marketplace.

Let us me know your views on whether or not managers are sufficiently well trained and whether quality of management effects the bottom line.