Training tomorrow's leaders

Can you tell us about your career as a management trainer and what motivated you to specialise in this field?

I started managing multidisciplinary teams over 25 years ago, without really being prepared for it. I quickly decided to get some training so that I could better master the challenges of management and become more effective.

This experience then motivated me to become a trainer, so that I could share my experience and raise awareness of the importance of developing not only technical skills but also the interpersonal skills that are essential for thriving in a managerial role.

What are your preferred andragogical methods for teaching management?

I favour a hybrid approach combining theory and real-life case studies, role-playing and simulations. The aim is to make theoretical concepts concrete by anchoring them in practical, everyday situations.

I also encourage collaborative learning, promoting collective reflection and the sharing of experiences among participants.

How do you adapt your management training courses to the different levels of experience and sectors of activity of your learners?

For an audience of junior managers, I focus on more operational aspects (e.g. some basic team management techniques) and I also emphasise soft skills such as communication, listening, delegation, etc.

For a more experienced audience, I will delve deeper into leadership and change management training.

In all cases, I adapt the scenarios to the relevant sectors of activity in order to ensure maximum relevance for learners.

What management skills do you consider essential today to succeed in a constantly changing professional environment?

That's a big question!

At a strategic level, I believe that the ability to define and share a vision that gives meaning to action is paramount. In a rapidly and continuously changing environment, setting a course is essential to maintaining team engagement.

On a more operational level, it seems to me that assertiveness, curiosity, innovation and adaptability are essential skills.

How do you incorporate new leadership approaches and current management trends into your training programmes?

The content of the training programme is constantly evolving to incorporate emerging management approaches.

However, I also take care not to give in to passing trends and to remain consistent with practices that have already been implemented and proven effective in different contexts (business sectors, organisation size, etc.).

Have you encountered any specific challenges as a management trainer? How did you overcome them?

One of the most common challenges is resistance to change among certain learners (often those who are already experienced).

My approach, based on kindness, listening, empathy and non-judgement, allows me to create an atmosphere conducive to reflection and self-questioning.

For learners, the training period is a kind of interlude that should help them take a step back from their practices.

What advice would you give to a manager who wishes to improve their leadership and team management skills?

First of all, I would suggest that they adopt a continuous learning approach. You never stop discovering the richness of interpersonal skills!

Next, I would advise him to cultivate his listening skills, work on his feedback, and also develop the autonomy of his employees. He must not be afraid of losing his «power» by allowing his teams to take initiative.

Finally, I will remind him that setting an example is one of the most powerful ways to motivate and engage employees.

Can you share a memorable experience with a group or individual who transformed their management style after attending one of your training courses?

I remember a project manager I worked with. His directive management style was clearly hindering his team's commitment and, more broadly, the success of the project.

After the training, he gradually adopted a more collaborative management style that encouraged everyone to take responsibility.

He later confirmed to me that this transformation had had a decisive impact on the dynamics of the project.

How do you ensure that you stay up to date with best practices and developments in management in order to enhance your training courses?

I keep myself constantly up to date using various channels: conferences, webinars, publications, discussions with peers, MOOCs, etc., and not just on the subject of management (for example, philosopher André Comte-Sponville's reflections on pleasure at work are very inspiring).

My curiosity allows me to maintain an open mind, which I can then pass on to learners.