Free CPD: essential skills for people managers

Paul Guess, a mental wellbeing expert at caba, the occupational charity supporting ICAEW accountants, believes that one of the most important contributors to a person’s wellbeing at work is the relationship they have with their line manager. 

In a recent ICAEW article, Preventing and navigating burnout: a manager’s guide, Guess says, “Use one-to-one opportunities to start exploring what might be driving any difficulty. If your conversations with individuals are purely task focused, you’re missing out on an opportunity to support your direct reports and ensure that they feel heard and listened to.”

As well as top notch communication skills, knowing how to deal with difficult situations, create cohesive teams and manage workloads are other key skills managers need to have a good grasp of, according to executive coach Chris Paterson in Six essential skills for new and aspiring managers.

Even experienced managers will often face situations that are new to them, so it makes sense to read up on different scenarios ahead of time. For example, this article looks at how managers can be allies to neurodiverse team members. Another looks at how to manage mental wellbeing when your team is working entirely remotely.

You can explore a full range of free CPD resources, many of which can be counted towards your verifiable hours, in our section on managing teams. As well as articles, you’ll find eBooks, webinars, reports, guides and factsheets relating to people management.

Our sections on communication and presentation skills and managing meetings may also be useful.

Want to feel more comfortable dealing with business change or handling conflict? Below you’ll find some additional ICAEW content that can be counted towards your verifiable CPD hours:

• Building relationships, networking and dealing with negative feedback well are just three of the key skills Joanna Gaudoin recommends managers should harness in The non-technical skills you need to get ahead.
• Handling organisational change for the first time? Read How to train your brain for change for tips on embracing curiosity and overcoming fear. You may also be interested in our online training (free for members) taking place in June: The change management foundations.
• With change sometimes comes conflict, so getting comfortable with it will mean you’re ready for whatever comes your way. Dealing with conflict contains insights from wargaming that can help you tackle office-based challenges.
• Would you like to help others see things from your point of view or find a middle ground that works for you both? These negotiation tips and tactics will give you a helping hand.
• Want to see how not to do it so you can learn from others’ mistakes? This article explores the seven failings of really useless leaders.