People Management for Emerging Leaders

More than half of U.S. managers receive no training before assuming their role, according to new research. As a result of this competency gap, nearly 30 percent of individuals assuming positions to manage others become dissatisfied enough to leave within six months. Based on the numbers alone, any leaders who are managing direct reports can and should gain the critical preparation they need through the comprehensive People Management for Emerging Leaders.

Led by the director of the Wharton Center for Human Resources , Peter Cappelli, this program offers you a practical, guided approach to both the timeless and timely basics and more challenging aspects of assuming a management position. Explore motivating your team, succeeding through others’ success, managing difficult team contributors, legal and ethical issues, handling interpersonal conflicts, project management, hiring and retention, and difficult decisions including layoffs, among others. Boost your confidence as you acquire proven management techniques and learn to avoid costly trial-and-error pitfalls.

This program’s blended format of live online and self-paced online sessions is designed to produce maximum, immediate impact for the busy manager. Participants will join live online sessions for three hours once a week over six weeks. Sessions are led by award-winning faculty who are pioneering the academic research and leading the dialogue on what it means to be a manager today.

Broadcasted and facilitated live from Wharton’s Wave Classroom , the program prioritizes live engagement and employs a host of instructional modalities to enhance the learning experience: in-class discussions, case study method, scenario analysis, role play, scenario discussion, small-group breakout sessions, simulation and many opportunities for network building. In addition, participants will work through self-paced online content at their convenience in between live online sessions.

Professional Development Credits – Wharton Online is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification activities. This program is eligible for 29 PDCs for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP.

Thriving as a manager involves a paradigm shift. You must continuously be achieving success through your team’s contributions. Fueled by the research of Wharton People Analytics , People Management for Emerging Leaders guides you through every aspect of that transformation — practical, interpersonal, psychological, legal, and ethical — so you are fully prepared to master your management role.

The program begins by introducing you to the imperatives of management: achieving self-awareness; hiring, retaining, and developing your talent; and delegation, motivation, and job satisfaction. From there, sessions shed light on the critical importance of successful project management, offering practical strategies and methods.

Content will then transition to an examination of how your actions impact your organization’s legal standing and reputation and how to assure you set the right legal boundaries. You will learn to handle potential issues such as discrimination, sexual harassment, and misconduct. Wharton management faculty will lead you through an exploration of challenging conversational opportunities with your direct reports. Additional sessions will delve into incentive systems and rewards, special considerations for managing remote teams, and across cultures, the role of AI in coaching and managing, and utilizing effective communication and persuasion techniques.

Filled with live online and interactive experiences to personalize your learning, this program will truly help you understand each facet of what it means to assume authority and responsibility for others.

Session topics include:

People Management for Emerging Leaders is designed for current and transitioning managers globally, including:

Fluency in English, written and spoken, is required for participation in Wharton Executive Education programs unless otherwise indicated.

To further leverage the value and impact of this program, we encourage companies to send cross-functional teams of executives to Wharton. We offer group-enrollment benefits to companies sending four or more participants.