Principle’s Management Development Programme: Supporting success from within
Our people make Principle a great place to work and develop a career in property management. As the team grows, we’re ensuring our managers have the tools, confidence, and skills to lead their teams effectively.
One of the ways we do this is through our Management Development Programme (MDP), which equips our managers with the skills they need to excel in leadership roles across the business. We’ve developed a bespoke programme with Next Steps Consulting which provides a comprehensive approach to management tailored specifically to our business needs.
Next Steps Consulting provides management and leadership training, coaching and psychometric assessments across a diverse range of sectors. Their core mission is to help people be the best they can be, and to help businesses achieve their goals through their people.
Gemma Carter-Morris from Next Steps Consulting has worked with us since 2021. Her background is in higher education and she holds several coaching qualifications. Gemma says, “My passion has always been developing people and helping them reach their potential. I do a lot of work with first time managers, helping them transition into management roles, which we all know can be a big step. They need the skills, tools and confidence to be able to lead and manage their teams and get the best from their people.”
Supporting our future leaders
Over the years, the MDP has evolved into a three-month programme focusing on:
Developing leadership and communication skills
Building confidence in management posititions
Understanding team dynamics
Motivating teams and driving high performance
Enhancing personal and team effectiveness
Gemma says, “In the first session, we get individuals to think about the role of a manager and the type of manager they want to be. We then explore different leadership styles, which raises self-awareness about their personal style.”
“The second session focuses on communication; what’s effective, adapting to different communication styles, active listening and delegation techniques. This equips participants with the tools to have more effective conversations leading to better one-to-ones and team meetings.”
“In the final session, we delve into performance management techniques, setting and managing objectives, giving constructive feedback and how to have difficult conversations.”
What our managers say
Our latest cohort of managers completed the programme in September. Collectively, their average confidence score went up by 1.3 points over the course of the programme. Here’s what they had to say about the MDP:
“The Management Development Programme provided much needed development and growth I have already implemented in my day-to-day interactions at work. Gemma always ensures our individualised needs of progression are at the forefront of each session, and as a new manager I’ve been able to develop a range of new skills that have already helped me evolve as Client Services Team Leader.”
“Although I’ve held a management role for many years, I had never been offered formal support or training in this area, so this opportunity was both refreshing and gratefully received. It allowed me to reflect on my current management style, identify my strengths and areas for growth, and gain valuable insights into how I lead. The experience provided practical guidance to enhance my communication and listening skills and offered strategies to better engage and empower my team. Most importantly, it gave me a deeper sense of self-awareness and has helped me grow into a more effective and confident manager.”
“It’s great to work for a company that recognises talent and invests in its people. Participating in the Management Development Programme has given me the opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills, share ideas and reflect on how we can all make a difference every day in line with our values. We are very lucky to have Gemma as our guru, she truly understands our business and is inspirational. Every session is different with a great mixture of learning techniques, well thought out material and are very engaging. I’m already looking forward to our catch up session!”
Our latest MDP graduates. L-R Gemma Carter-Morris from Next Steps Consulting, and from Principle; Lucy Roberts, Esme Williams, Ellie Ricketts, Seran Fitzpatrick, Alex Jordan, Lisa-Marie Bradnock, Tony Haskins and our founder Brett Williams.
Our commitment to ongoing development
As part of our commitment to ongoing learning and development, our property managers have a quarterly check in with Gemma where they can discuss challenges they may be facing. We’re planning a similar check in for new managers to help ensure a consistent approach to management and leadership across the business.
Brett Williams, Founder at Principle adds, “It’s important for us to invest in our managers and set them up for success. They are all great in their day-to-day roles but being an effective manager is a different skillset and so we need to equip them to get the best out of them and their teams.”
At Principle, we’re committed to ongoing development. Managers have quarterly check-ins with Gemma to discuss challenges, and we’re rolling out similar support for new managers to maintain consistent leadership across the business. If you’re looking for a place to grow your career in property management, join us on our journey: https://www.principleestate.co.uk/careers