Leadership training: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What leadership training is

Leadership training teaches communication, delegation, feedback and decision making, with exercises and discussion, to prepare people to lead teams. New managers take it in their first year, experienced leaders use it to sharpen their skills, and some teens and young adults take youth leadership courses before school or work.

Signs you need it

  • You were promoted to lead a team and have no training in delegation or giving feedback.
  • Your team misses deadlines because you do not know how to hand off work clearly.
  • You avoid difficult conversations with people who report to you and feel stuck.
  • You need to make decisions with incomplete information and want a clear method for doing so.
  • Your teen has a leadership role at school or in a club and wants practical skills.

What the pro does

  • Start with a short look at your current team, your role and the leadership challenge you face most.
  • Teach a method for delegation, with a clear way to assign the task, the outcome and the check-in.
  • Practice giving feedback in role play, with a structure that is specific, kind and useful.
  • Work through a decision with a real problem from your job, using a simple decision process.
  • Assign one leadership task to try between sessions, such as a one-to-one check-in, and review it at the next lesson.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Private coaching compared with group training
  • How many sessions you book and how long each one runs
  • Whether the focus is new managers, experienced leaders or teams
  • Whether the trainer has management experience or a background in organizational development
  • Whether the lessons include a review of real work situations between sessions
  • Whether sessions happen in person or online

What a written quote should spell out

  • The leadership skills covered and the level of the group or person
  • The number of sessions, length and schedule
  • Whether team sessions or individual coaching are included
  • Whether materials or a workbook are provided
  • The cancellation and rescheduling policy

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What management experience do you have, and in what kind of organization?
  • How do you teach delegation so that managers keep ownership of results?
  • Can you work from a real situation at my job, without sharing confidential details?
  • How do you measure whether the training changed how I lead?
  • If you are booking for a young person, what is the policy on background checks, supervision and whether a parent can attend?

Red flags

  • A trainer who promises to turn anyone into a leader in a few sessions.
  • Training that is only lectures with no practice or feedback.
  • A trainer who will not describe their management experience or training background.
  • Pressure to buy a long program or extra materials before a first session.

What you can do yourself

You can read leadership books, reflect on your own team interactions and try a short feedback conversation on your own. Book a trainer when you want someone to role play hard conversations with you, review your decisions and hold you to a plan for changing how you lead.

Licenses and permits

Leadership training usually does not require a license. Ask for proof of experience instead, such as management experience, a training or coaching credential or references from past clients.

Leadership training questions

Will leadership training get me a promotion?

Training builds skills, but promotions depend on your employer and your results. A trainer can help you practice the skills that managers are expected to show.

Can a parent book leadership training for a young person?

Yes. Ask about background checks, the lesson policy, whether a parent can attend and how any personal information the young person shares is handled before you book.

How do I find a leadership trainer here?

Describe your role and the challenge you face, then pick the trainers you want by name. Only the trainers you pick see your request, and it is free for you.

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