Short courses

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Class Details

People Management Course: Essentials

Course summary

This short course in people management is designed for managers, supervisors and team leaders who are looking to successfully manage people and bring the best out of their team. It is suitable for new and experienced managers looking to improve their people management skills and team performance.

In this training course you will learn some essential strategies for managing individuals, teams, leading and enhancing team performance. Important management skills such as communication skills and negotiation skills will be covered in this people focussed management course. This will highlight the importance of knowing how to communicate more effectively with your team and how to motivate and handle difficult individuals.

A greater understanding of the importance of communication skills will also provide managers and team leaders with the negotiation skills necessary to manage change and resolve conflict within your team.

Aims

This course aims to build your awareness of the key components of people management providing frameworks for taking action and building confidence in your role as a manager. 

The aims of this course are to:

  • develop your leadership style and communication skills when managing others
  • increase your awareness of how to motivate people to achieve effective business outcomes
  • assist you in managing conflict with team members and other stakeholders by effective use of negotiation skills
  • help manage difficult people and difficult behaviours
  • equip you to facilitate effective change using best practice models
  • coach and performance manage others for achieving the best outcome at both an individual and organisational level.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  • communicate more effectively with the people you work with for achieving constructive outcomes
  • strengthen your leadership style, develop your emotional intelligence (“read” a situation involving staff) and act to bring out the best in your team members
  • motivate the people you work with to deliver stronger team outcomes
  • identify techniques for resolving conflict
  • set healthy boundaries for managing difficult people matters and behaviours
  • lead an effective change process
  • use performance management and a simple coaching approach to guide and motivate team members
  • explain the distinction between mentoring and coaching.

Content

  • Communicating effectively with team members
  • Motivating team members and other stakeholders
  • Developing emotional intelligence and knowing how to use it within your team
  • Performance management, monitoring performance and feedback
  • Managing change within your team
  • Negotiation skills for reaching agreed positions
  • Dealing with difficult people, including setting healthy boundaries when dealing with difficult behaviours, managing resistance, counselling, coaching and conflict resolution

Who this course is for

Suitable for managers and supervisors across all sectors who wish to improve their skills in managing and leading their staff.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this entry-level people management course. However, you're advised to familiarise yourself with your organisation’s human resource management policies prior to attending the course. In particular, your organisation’s policy in relation to effective people management, e.g. communication channels used, timing of performance reviews and conflict resolution procedures.

Delivery modes

  • Face-to-face, presenter-taught workshop
  • Online workshop via the platform Zoom

Delivery style

This two-day course is an interactive workshop which includes lectures, group exercises and discussion.

Materials

Course materials are shared electronically.

Recommended reading

Cole, Kris (2016) Management Theory and Practice, Cengage, 6th Edition.

Course Brochure

Sessions

Tue 03 Nov 2026
9am - 5pm (UTC+11:00)
Wed 04 Nov 2026
9am - 5pm (UTC+11:00)

Location

Face-to-face (CCE Building, Sydney)

160 Missenden Road
Newtown NSW2042

Public transport

As bus and train timetables regularly change, we suggest you visit the Transport for NSW trip planner before you set out.

The nearest train stations are Newtown Station and Macdonaldtown Station. Macdonaldtown Station is closer by distance than Newtown Station, however trains do not stop as frequently as at Newtown Station.

Other information

Parking

Nearby parking is available at Wilson Parking - RPA Medical Centre Car Park (entry via Elizabeth Street off Carillon Avenue).

A Flexi Saver Rate is available but must be booked in advance online and includes the booking fee. Bookings can be made via the Wilson website or by downloading the Wilson Parking App. Otherwise, hourly parking rates will apply, as advertised on the Wilson Parking website.

Meet the facilitators

Peter Agnew

Peter supports leaders and teams to perform at their best, drawing on extensive coaching, facilitation, and therapeutic qualifications. His work focuses on strengthening behavioural capability and building cultures where leadership and teams can thrive. A qualified therapist, executive coach, and facilitator, Peter has worked with leaders at every level, from emerging and frontline leaders to senior and executive managers. Peter has an interactive and engaging style that consistently rates highly in participant survey feedback. He has 30 years’ experience with behavioural profiling that includes DiSC, EI, Employee Engagement and 360 feedback. 

Peter also brings significant governance experience, serving as Board Chair and President of Surf Life Saving Australia, where he leads national strategy and supports strong organisational culture and performance. With over 25 years of experience, Peter has worked across most business sectors including: Banking, Retail, Building & Construction, Law, Higher Education, Local, State and Federal Government, Pharmaceutical and Health. He has three Master’s Degrees that include Counselling and Psychotherapy (M Coun), Business Administration (MBA) and Education (Adult) (MEd). He is also a graduate of the Company Directors Course (GAICD).

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