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SHIFT Fall Cohort Enrolling

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You promoted your best performer. Now you’re waiting to find out if they can actually lead.

SHIFT is the nine week program that closes that gap, before it costs you the team member underneath them.

Eight seats. Live, virtual, Tuesdays. Starts October 6.

Developed and led by our partners,

SHIFT is a 9-week, outcome-driven course

built for the shift from doing to leading.

Shelly Nixon

Shelly Nixon

Partner & Principal, MBA | SHRM-SCP | PMP

Wendy Fong

Wendy Fong

Partner & Principal, MBA | Master Certified Trainer

Start Date: OCT 6

Time: Tuesdays from 11 AM – 1 PM CST

Duration: Weekly for 9 weeks

Investment: $1,800 per seat

Availability: Limited to 8 seats. Registration closes September 29.

Reserve My Spot

What to Expect

i

Behavioral assessment for attendee to increase EQ.

 Weekly 2-hour sessions designed for busy professionals.

Small class size to promote engaging group discussions.

Dynamic virtual learning experience with expert-led training & exercises.

Untrained managers don’t fail quietly. They cost you in

  • turnover
  • the senior leader who keeps stepping in to cover the gaps
  • the slow erosion of trust that follows a team that stops believing their manager has things handled

Eight seats. Nine weeks. One system your managers actually use.

Program Outline

FOUNDATIONS - SHIFTING MINDSETS

Goal: Understand the shift from doing the work to enabling others to succeed.

Redefine your role

  • Explore the transition from peer to manager and new responsibilities.
  • Navigate identity shifts: Balance former colleague dynamics with emerging authority.
  • Time Management: Organize time around strategic tasks and leadership demands.

Leadership Introduction

  • Explore leadership frameworks to identify your core style.
  • Situational leadership: Learn to adapt your approach to meet the diverse needs of each team member.

Manager Basics

  • Anticipate hurdles: Learn to navigate early challenges with confidence.
  • Debunk common myths: Separate perceptions from the realities of people leadership.
  • Foster trust: Cultivate psychological safety as the cornerstone of team success.

Activities:

  • Complete Manager Competency Self-Assessment.
  • Take a Behavioral Assessment.
  • Reflect with the prompt: What kind of leader do I want to be?

CORE MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Goal: Build essential capabilities to support team performance and engagement.

Objectives and Outcomes

  • Align goals: Use SMART goals and OKRs to connect team to business outcomes.
  • Accountability: Communicate priorities clearly and confirm mutual understanding.
  • Performance management:
    • Set standards and measure performance.
    • Give continuous, real-time feedback.
    • Document and track performance.

Lead with impact

  • Recognize when to direct, coach, support, or delegate: Use active listening and powerful questions to support learning.
  • Delegate with purpose: Share responsibilities effectively while ensuring follow-through.
  • 1-on-1s: Create structured, development-focused conversations.

Activities:

  • Roleplays and practice sessions for real-time skill application.
  • Participate in peer learning groups to build networks and accountability.
  • Utilize a Manager Toolkit with practical templates for meetings and evaluations.

LEADING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Goal: Deepen people skills and self-awareness for stronger team dynamics.

Increase EQ

  • Understand emotional dynamics in yourself and your team.
  • Flex your leadership style across personality types and preferences.
  • Manage pressure and uncertainty with emotional resilience.

Conduct hard conversations

  • Gain exposure to common communication frameworks.
  • Navigate tension while maintaining composure and respect.
  • Acknowledge biases that affect how feedback and coaching are delivered.

Think strategically

  • Develop higher-level thinking beyond day-to-day tasks.
  • Embrace influence: Learn skills for cross-functional collaboration or leading peers/stakeholders without direct authority.
  • Prioritize effectively and make confident decisions under pressure.

Run purposeful meetings

  • Encourage inclusive participation and ownership.
  • Deal with disruptive or disengaged behavior with tact and grace.

Activities:

  • Complete a guided reflection: “How do I show up under pressure?”
  • Engage in scenario-based role plays that simulate high-stakes interactions.

Testimonials From Attendees

SHIFT Graduate Lindsay Kullhanek discusses the accountability conversation model and applying self regulation during the emotional loop.

SHIFT Graduate Lindsay Kullhanek learns to slow down and diagnose when to coach vs. solve was one of Lindsay’s quickest wins.

If I had known how much difference daily check-ins would make, I would have started them years ago. That was the biggest surprise of the whole program.

Rob Dahl, Associate / Data Engineer

The idea that relationships work like a bank account, deposits and withdrawals, changed how I think about the small interactions with my team. It's not one big gesture, it's the accumulation.

Nate Guers, Director – Head of PCM Analysts

The [SHIFT] Ownership Conversation gave me a structure for conversations I'd been avoiding. Instead of winging it, I finally had a blueprint.

Harry McCarthy, Sales & Business Operations Manager

Your framework has completely changed how I view my team. I'm now able to identify who my high supporters are, who's highly engaged, and tailor my approach to each person accordingly.

What really stood out was how the facilitator listened to the group and adapted the presentation in real time when conversations got meaningful and creative. The best part? We stayed on schedule without losing any value or momentum.

I'm committing to dive deeper into understanding my team's individual strengths and development areas so I can support them more effectively.

SHIFT gave me a framework to match the instincts I already had.

I came in with years of experience managing people and building operations — what I was missing was the language to teach it to others.

Three modules later I have a goal alignment map my team is actively working from, accountability conversations that land with clarity instead of tension, and a sharper picture of what kind of leader I want to build toward.

The facilitators were exceptional — they made the content practical, not theoretical, and created a space where real work got done. If you’re a seasoned manager who wants to lead more intentionally and build a team that doesn’t need you to hold everything together, this is the program.

I learned a lot about my overused strength, which is being super positive. It's an overused strength that can stop you from being productive. I realized I’m quick to jump in, to overtalk to push through the uncomfortable silence, instead of allowing others time to think.

Participating in the program brought me both self-awareness and wellness. We give others constructive criticism, but it's not often you get time to self-assess. The program forces us to deal with ourselves.

A 9-week, outcome-driven course

built for the shift from doing to leading.

Start Date: OCT 6

Time: Tuesdays from 11 AM – 1 PM CST

Duration: Weekly for 9 weeks

Investment: $1,800 per seat

Availability: Limited to 8 seats. Registration closes September 29.

Reserve My Spot

Interested but need more info?

Want to book a private class to turn your best performers into managers who can actually lead?

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