PEOPLE MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR MANUFACTURING LEADERS

INTRODUCTION FOR PEOPLE MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR MANUFACTURING LEADERS

In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, effective people management is the cornerstone of success. This two-day course, “People First: Essential Supervisory Skills for Manufacturing Leaders,” is designed for Individual Contributors, Junior Managers/Supervisors, Operation Leaders, and team members transitioning into leadership roles.

Focused on the art of dealing with people, the program equips participants with foundational skills in communication, conflict resolution, team motivation, and handling difficult conversations. Through interactive activities, role-plays, and real-world scenarios, attendees will gain practical tools to build trust, foster collaboration, and lead with confidence. 

By the end of the course, participants will be empowered to create a positive, productive work environment that drives both team and organizational success.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Develop Effective Communication Skills: Learn and practice active listening, clear instruction delivery, and non-verbal communication techniques to improve team interactions.
2. Build Trust and Motivate Teams: Understand the importance of trust in team dynamics and apply recognition and feedback strategies to boost team morale and performance.
3. Resolve Conflicts Constructively: Master conflict resolution techniques, de-escalate tensions and address workplace disagreements effectively.
4. Handle Difficult Conversations with Confidence: Gain tools to prepare for and conduct challenging conversations (e.g., absenteeism, performance issues) with empathy and professionalism.
5. Foster Collaboration and Teamwork: Learn strategies to encourage collaboration, address team dynamics, and create an inclusive work environment that enhances productivity.

COURSE OUTLINE

Day 1: Building Foundational People Management Skills

Module 1: Icebreaker & Introduction to People Management

• Icebreaker Activity: “Bingo Games” Engage participants to connect with peers by finding those with similar challenges.

• Overview of the Art of Dealing with People
• Why people management matters in manufacturing.  
• Common challenges faced by Individual Contributors and Junior Managers/Supervisors. 

Activity: Video and Group discussion

Module 2: Communication Skills in dealing with People

• Active listening: Techniques to truly understand team members.  
• Communication Intelligence: Clear and Concise communication: Avoiding jargon and ensuring clarity.  
• Non-verbal communication: Body language, tone, and facial expressions.  

Activity:  Role-play scenarios: Practice giving clear instructions and receiving feedback.  

Module 3: Building Trust & Motivating Teams

• The importance of trust in team dynamics.  
• Recognizing and appreciating team efforts.  
• Basic motivational techniques (e.g., recognition, constructive feedback).  

Activity:  “Trust Walk”: Blindfolded team-building exercise to emphasize trust/Case study: How a Team Lead turned around a demotivated team.

Module 4: Conflict Resolution Basics 

• Common causes of conflict in manufacturing teams.  
• The LACAV technique: Listen, Acknowledge, Clarify, Answer, Verify.
• The EAR Techniques: Empathize, Address and Resolve 

Activity:  Case Study: Real case study such as equipment breakdown, quality issue, yield issues, not meeting the target output   

Day 2: Applying People Management Skills in Manufacturing Environment  

 Module 5: Effective Feedback & Coaching

• The difference between feedback and criticism.  
• The SBI Model (Situation-Behavior-Impact) for constructive feedback.  
• Basics of coaching: Asking open-ended questions and guiding team members.  

Activity:  Practice giving feedback using SBI in pairs. Coaching role-play: Help a team member solve a performance issue.

Module 6: Handling Difficult Conversations

• Preparing for difficult conversations (e.g., absenteeism, poor performance).  
• Staying calm and professional under pressure.  
• Using empathy to connect with team members.  

Activity:  Role-play: Conduct a one-on-one conversation with a challenging employee.  

Group feedback: Share best practices and lessons learned.  

 Module 7: Team Dynamics & Collaboration

• Understanding team roles and dynamics.  
• Encouraging collaboration and teamwork.  
• Addressing SILO, cliques or favouritism in teams.  

Activity:  Team-building exercise: Solve a manufacturing-related problem as a group.  

Discussion: How to foster inclusivity and collaboration.  

Module 8: Personal Action Plans & Closing 

Recap of Key Learnings:  

• Summarize Day 1 and Day 2 takeaways.  
• Personal Action Plans:  Participants draft 3 actionable steps to improve their people management skills and out into the time capsule.

Closing Activity:  “One Word Reflection”: Each participant shares one word to describe their learning experience.