Managing Amazing People [MAP] – Virtual

A Training Course for Software Managers

This course is for you if:

• You find yourself working unsustainable hours trying to balance your people management responsibilities with technical delivery
• You’re stuck in a tug-of-war for resources, time, and attention with your peers and stakeholders
• You struggle to get the support you need from senior leadership
• You feel caught in a cycle of “firefighting,” unable to shift to a more proactive management approach

What you’ll get out of this course:

• More productive 1:1 conversations. Stay clear, curious, and connected to get work done while improving your ability to work together in the future. You’ll leave the class with a tool for planning important conversations with your directs, peers, or boss.
• Better tools for managing up. Be proactive in communicating with your boss so you can influence decisions and gain support for your proposals. You’ll leave with strategies for framing your ideas in ways that resonate with senior leadership.
• Greater confidence as a manager. Give specific, actionable feedback to improve performance without being too micromanaging or too bureaucratic. You’ll leave with awareness of what makes certain conversations challenging for you – and how to keep your cool.
• More time for strategic work. Filter and address complaints so you can address problems early and drive improvements. You’ll leave with a framework to categorize issues and techniques for taking action.
• Realistic approaches to organizational change. Support your people – and yourself – through the inevitable change initiatives that come your way. You’ll leave with techniques to help your directs adapt and perform in evolving environments.

This course includes:

• 4 half-day interactive live sessions via Zoom and Miro
• Two-hour follow-up session thirty days after completion
• Printed course workbook
• Digital download of the course materials after the class

This course runs Monday-Thursday. Find your time zone below to see the course hours each day.

• Eastern Daylight Time: 12:30 AM – 5 PM
• Central Daylight Time: 11:30 AM – 4 PM
• Mountain Daylight Time: 10:30 AM – 3 PM
• Pacific Daylight Time: 9:30 AM – 2 PM

Course Facilitators

Managing Amazing People is co-trained by Allison Pollard and Paul Tevis from Helping Improve.

Allison Pollard

Allison Pollard is a coach, consultant, and trainer who brings the power of relationship systems intelligence to go beyond tasks, roles, and frameworks to create energy for change. Allison focuses on creating alignment and connection for people to solve business problems together. Her experience includes working with teams and leaders in energy, retail, financial, real estate, and transportation industries to help improve their project/product delivery and culture. Allison earned her bachelor’s degrees in computer science, mathematics, and English from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), a foodie, and proud glasses wearer. Allison is a prolific speaker at professional groups and international conferences, including Scrum Gatherings and the Agile Alliance Agile20xx conferences.

Paul Tevis

Paul Tevis is an executive coach and trainer who helps software professionals work as effectively with people as they do with technology. He has been a software engineer, an engineering manager, an Agile coach, and a Learning & Development professional, with experience in SaaS-based startups, small privately-held firms, and large public corporations. Paul is an Organization & Relationship Systems Certified Coach (ORSCC), a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and the holder of numerous Lean/Agile certifications. He is also an experienced improviser and a member of the Applied Improvisation Network, a worldwide organization devoted to bringing the collaborative tenets of theatrical improvisation from the performance stage to the larger world. He frequently presents at local and international conferences, including QCon and the Agile Alliance’s Agile20xx conferences.

Cancellations and Transfers

Please email us to request a transfer or to cancel. Refunds will be provided with 30 days’ notice of cancellation. One-time transfer to a future class will be provided with 14 days’ notice for free. Transfer requests with less than 14 days of notice or additional transfers (after the first transfer) will incur a $250 fee.