Emerging managers don’t always need a big room to grow – sometimes the most powerful development happens in a small, focused setting.

Recently I had the privilege of running our 2-day EMERGING Manager and Leader Course© with Martin and Shaun from Hyundai Mobis. We spent a full day together diving into management skills, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, resilience and active listening – and what stood out was how impactful it was with just the two of them in the room.

Here’s how Martin described the difference:

“Well, you’re forced to engage, so you’re getting that one-on-one… in a bigger group you tend to miss out on different stages of it, so you don’t get to practise or get to put your input into the topic… it’s engaging, you’re focused and you’re learning… it’s a lot better.”

Shaun shared a similar experience:

“In the bigger plenary sessions, you don’t have as much opportunity to share… sometimes you have to share the questions around a big group and you might have a good one, but you don’t get your opportunity… we both got our fair share chance of answering questions and asking questions… role playing was good to do. It was a bit more personal just with us only.”

When I asked for their final thoughts on this kind of training, Shaun summed it up simply:

“Go for it… it was really good. Take it on board and learn… you always think you know everything, but there are some little pieces that are missing. There’ll be something there, definitely.”

What I loved was that even after a full day together, the energy was still high. Because it was just the two of them, we could:

  • Go deeper into real situations they’re facing at Hyundai Mobis
  • Run role plays more than once and refine their approach with feedback
  • Keep them actively involved the whole day – not lost in the crowd

🧭 About the EMERGING Manager and Leader Course©

The EMERGING framework is designed to equip emerging managers with the practical skills and mindset to lead with confidence and clarity. We cover:

  • Essential skills – time management, problem-solving, decision-making and building trust
  • Management – strategic thinking, delegation and aligning with organisational goals
  • Engagement – lifting team morale, approachability, availability and inclusivity
  • Resilience – handling pressure and setbacks without burning out
  • Gravitas – developing calm, composed presence, especially under pressure
  • Interpersonal skills – emotional intelligence, active listening and empathy
  • Navigation – handling difficult conversations, conflict and complex dynamics
  • Growth – building a growth mindset, seeking feedback and planning ongoing development

Every topic is explored through teaching, discussion, case studies, role plays and practical application – so it’s never just “theory.”

📣 For Directors, Leaders and HR

We can run the EMERGING Manager and Leader Course© as:

  • A small, intensive experience for one or two emerging leaders (like Martin and Shaun), or
  • A larger group training for your emerging leader cohort.

If you’d like your emerging managers to step into leadership with more confidence, clarity and emotional intelligence – whether in a small, tailored setting or a full group – send me a message and we can explore what this could look like for your team.

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