Great technical managers don’t automatically become great strategic leaders. Moving from managing day-to-day tasks to leading entire business functions is a big shift that requires new skills, fresh perspectives, and consistent support.
Managers today are expected to deliver results, keep teams motivated, and think strategically, often at the same time. Without focused development, even talented professionals can feel stretched, unsure, and reactive. Giving managers the right tools and support before they reach that point helps them make better decisions, stay confident under pressure, and create lasting value for the organisation.
Why your first steps as a leader can feel overwhelming
When someone is promoted without proper training, they often feel like they should have all the answers on day one. Instead of feeling proud of their new role, they may feel overwhelmed and start second-guessing their decisions. This can lead to hesitation at the exact moment their team is looking for clarity and direction.
Another common issue is over-reliance on the skills that made them a great technical expert. A high-performing engineer, for example, might keep jumping in to solve problems themselves instead of coaching their team to handle them. Their intentions are good, they want to deliver results, but it can leave their team feeling sidelined and disengaged.
And sometimes the pressure to “prove themselves” means new managers take on too much at once. Picture a recently promoted manager who pushes through a major process change without consulting stakeholders. The change fails, not because it was a bad idea, but because they didn’t have the tools to bring people with them. With the right preparation, these moments can turn into opportunities for growth instead of setbacks.
If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Here are some of the most common challenges professionals face when stepping into people management:
- Shifting from doing to enabling: Learning to create the conditions for others to succeed rather than being the one who delivers the work
- Balancing competing expectations: Managing expectations from senior leadership, peers, and their team simultaneously
- Developing emotional resilience: Managing stress and staying composed when faced with conflict, setbacks, or under performance
- Learning to influence without authority: Recognising that leadership is not just about giving instructions but inspiring commitment across teams
- Seeing the bigger picture: Building the habit of thinking about long-term outcomes instead of only immediate tasks
- Making time for reflection: Moving beyond firefighting and carving out time to step back, plan, and think strategically
How can COMET’s Elevate programme help your organisation during this transition?
Elevate is designed to be applied immediately. Participants work through a structured programme that covers:
• Business and money: Understanding the internal structure, capabilities, and external business environment.
• Managing self and others: Learn how to manage, motivate & develop your team to drive successful outcomes.
• Projects and change: Managing the business, strategic and change management aspects of projects.
• Value and markets: Understanding the markets you engage with and the value they demand.
Each cohort completes a “Challenge day” that puts theory into practice, using real data and scenarios from your own business.
Designed around your business
Every organisation is unique. Elevate is tailored to reflect your structure, culture, and priorities so that the learning is directly relevant. Whether delivered virtually or in person, the programme brings leaders together across functions and regions, building stronger relationships and improving collaboration.
By the end of the programme, delegates walk away with:
- A personal action plan ready to implement immediately.
- A cross-functional network that strengthens collaboration long after training ends.
- Increased confidence to make informed decisions and manage change effectively.
- A clear understanding of how their leadership directly impacts business growth.
What participants and clients are saying
The value of Elevate is best reflected in the feedback from those who have experienced it first-hand.
Participant feedback:
“Great course, good examples and working structure.”
“The course was engaging and informative.”
“Very interactive and a good mix of listen and exercises to carry out.”
“I found the course beneficial, particularly the strategy session.”
Client perspective:
“The programme covers the critical aspects of the cohorts’ jobs. The challenge day worked really well.”
“We have had training providers who turn up, do the course, then off they go however I feel COMET genuinely cares about the outcomes for our business and our people.”
Questions for organisations to consider
- Do we have a clear plan for developing managers as they move into leadership roles?
- Are we giving managers the tools they need before challenges arise, not after?
- How well are we breaking down silos between departments and regions?
- Do we know which skills our managers struggle with most and have a way to address them?
- Are we measuring the impact of leadership development on performance and culture?
Questions for newly promoted managers to reflect on
- Do I feel confident making decisions that affect more than my own team?
- Am I spending more time doing tasks myself than coaching my team to do them?
- Do I understand how my department fits into the bigger picture of the business?
- Am I getting input from the right stakeholders before pushing changes forward?
- Do I have access to mentors, peers, or training to help me grow into this role?
When organisations and managers both stop to ask these questions, they open the door to honest, practical communication about what support is needed. This shared understanding reduces stress, prevents costly mistakes, and builds a culture where managers feel equipped and trusted to lead. Development is most effective when it is a partnership between the individual and the organisation.
Take the next step
If you are ready to build a stronger leadership pipeline and prepare your managers for the future, COMET’s Elevate Management Academy is ready to help.
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