Printable Version
Education Trust
MAG provided a management
training workshop for Education
Trust's mid-level managers, which
"just put us even farther ahead to become the
most effective managers we can be," according
to Ericka Miller, Education Trust's Vice
President for Operations and Strategic
Leadership. "We felt it was so important
for them to be really immersed in the workshop
that we freed them up from other
responsibilities and gave two full days and
four for our staff in California to
it."
The workshop provided the managers with a common foundation of knowledge, vocabulary, and tools regarding effective management. "By getting them all on the same page, the full management team is able to take time in management meetings to address specific topics and go more in-depth with the handouts MAG shared," says Ericka. "Additionally, it allows the senior level managers to hold the same expectations as the mid-level managers and hold them accountable for effective management."
The mid-level managers also found it to be a great bonding experience. "Having time away from the office, with just themselves in the room talking about their strengths and challenges, sharing their stories really helped create a more cohesive mid-level manager group," notes Ericka. "So much so that after the workshop, they decided to convene on a monthly basis to continue working on issues that were brought up in the training."
Education Trust really appreciated MAG's tailored approach. "You do not get the sense that MAG comes in with a pre-determined set of lessons or a cookie cutter approach. They took the time toward preparing for this and finding out what the particular concerns and needs of this group of people were." Ericka found that this preparation made a big difference and was reflected in the workshop. "The MAG consultants welcomed questions and challenges, which led to 'aha' moments and were very good at engaging with the participants, even when it meant going off the agenda to address something that needed some clarification."
"One of the reasons it was successful was that MAG made us feel very comfortable and open about what we do well and would like to do better at," shared Ericka. "We found MAG to have deep and broad experience working with organizations like ours, advocacy groups that have a high degree of passion as well as intelligence. It allowed us to really engage with MAG, be candid and honest about our needs as an organization, and get better as managers."
The workshop provided the managers with a common foundation of knowledge, vocabulary, and tools regarding effective management. "By getting them all on the same page, the full management team is able to take time in management meetings to address specific topics and go more in-depth with the handouts MAG shared," says Ericka. "Additionally, it allows the senior level managers to hold the same expectations as the mid-level managers and hold them accountable for effective management."
The mid-level managers also found it to be a great bonding experience. "Having time away from the office, with just themselves in the room talking about their strengths and challenges, sharing their stories really helped create a more cohesive mid-level manager group," notes Ericka. "So much so that after the workshop, they decided to convene on a monthly basis to continue working on issues that were brought up in the training."
Education Trust really appreciated MAG's tailored approach. "You do not get the sense that MAG comes in with a pre-determined set of lessons or a cookie cutter approach. They took the time toward preparing for this and finding out what the particular concerns and needs of this group of people were." Ericka found that this preparation made a big difference and was reflected in the workshop. "The MAG consultants welcomed questions and challenges, which led to 'aha' moments and were very good at engaging with the participants, even when it meant going off the agenda to address something that needed some clarification."
"One of the reasons it was successful was that MAG made us feel very comfortable and open about what we do well and would like to do better at," shared Ericka. "We found MAG to have deep and broad experience working with organizations like ours, advocacy groups that have a high degree of passion as well as intelligence. It allowed us to really engage with MAG, be candid and honest about our needs as an organization, and get better as managers."