Performance management training for managers
Learn how to manage performance, run effective 1-2-1s and support employee development in your team
Course overview
Performance management often gets a bad rap - but done well, it's one of the most powerful ways to build trust, improve employee performance and support your team's professional development.
This performance management course is built to help line managers tackle real-life challenges - from awkward feedback and inconsistent 1-2-1s to a lack of time for career development. You'll learn how small changes can help employees grow, build confidence and gain new skills.
Whether you're new to managing or looking to improve how you support your team, this course will give you practical tools to rethink performance for good - in under 30 minutes.
What's inside this course:
Led by Managing Director, Donna Obstfeld from HR consultancy, D O H R, this course includes three short modules:
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Giving and receiving feedback - Discover how to build a culture of supportive feedback in your team that's clear, constructive and honest.
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Leading effective 1-2-1s and performance reviews - Learn to lead focused check-ins that support employee development, performance goals and open communication.
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Supporting your team's learning and development - Find simple ways to support career development, close skills gaps, and build personal development plans - without a big budget.
The course is designed to be short and practical, so you can take the modules in any order, revisit when needed and use the included resources to put your learning into action.
What you'll walk away with:
By the end of this performance management course, you'll have the essential tools to support your team’s professional development - from giving constructive feedback to encouraging everyday career development. You'll feel confident helping your team take actionable steps that support their individual objectives and align with wider business goals.
Giving and receiving feedback
How to give and receive constructive feedback
Feedback doesn't need to be formal, uncomfortable or avoided. In this module, Donna shares how to use feedback to strengthen working relationships, encourage self reflection and support employee development.
You'll learn how to give feedback that's specific, fair and kind - and how to receive it well, even when it's tough to hear. You'll also explore how and why regular feedback and self-awareness play a central role in effective performance management.
And in the resources section, you'll find a simple 360-degree feedback exercise you can run with your team, plus a handy infographic to help you respond to difficult feedback in the moment.
Useful resources:
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Leading effective 1-2-1s and performance reviews
How to structure performance appraisals and set clear performance goals
1-2-1s are a chance to connect - not just catch up. In this module, Donna shows you how to run structured, meaningful performance management conversations, so that you can support continuous improvement across your team and help them shape their individual performance goals.
You'll learn how to prepare, what to ask, how to document key points and why regular conversations beat one-off check-ins and annual reviews every time.
Then, in the resources section, you'll find a 1-2-1 document template that you can use to structure and record check-ins and performance reviews, as well as an appraisal checklist, a performance progress checklist and a guide on how to have smarter performance conversations.
Useful resources:
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Supporting your team's learning and development
How to support your team's development goals and provide them with a clear career development plan
Learning and development doesn't need to be costly - it needs to be consistent. In this module, Donna shares how you can support your team's growth and development goals through curiosity, conversation and everyday opportunities.
You'll learn how to start professional and personal development discussions and create meaningful career development plans that reflect individual aspirations.
And in the resources section, you'll find a toolkit full of easy ways you can support employee development - from shadowing and stretch tasks to peer learning and informal mentoring - plus a simple career development template to use with your team.
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Congratulations, you've completed Breathe's performance management course for line managers
Great job on completing the course. You've just taken a big step towards becoming the kind of manager who makes performance management meaningful - someone who lifts their team up, supports professional development opportunities, and knows how to turn everyday conversations into real professional growth.
Now you've got the confidence and tools to make feedback feel normal and helpful, run 1-2-1s that people look forward to and support your team's development, daily.
And this is just one of the expert-led courses in our Line Manager Essentials Training. The Breathe Growth Academy has even more courses and resources to help you grow as a line manager - from communicating to boundary setting. Keep exploring to build your skills and confidence.
