Need Management Training, But Have No Budget?

Have you ever asked management to kick in some money for the development of yourself or your staff in supervisory or leadership skills? Did you hear…”We can not afford the cost” or “ We do not have the time to spare”?

Well, you’re not alone. The management of many organizations will give similar answers, particularly when they are oriented more toward short-term vs. long-term goals. 

Management training and development are processes that must be nurtured on an ongoing basis in order to bear results.  If a senior manager sees little redeeming value in undertaking such efforts to build management teams or in the cohesion and effectiveness such development can yield, there is still an opportunity for you to change that mindset.

Here are some things you can do to help justify your need for training:

1. Start by conducting an informal audit and speaking with those individuals that may be receptive to development opportunities. Recognize that not everyone desires management development and that there is always resistance to change in favor of the status quo. 
2. Look at performance deficiencies to see where remedial efforts would most contribute to the value of the organization.
3. Prepare an informal action plan that responds to the gaps & deficiencies you have discovered.
4. Offer managers the opportunity to participate in the mini-sessions where they can discuss the problems and  initiate progress. Mini-sessions can be great because they target the normal focus time of individuals-30 to 45 minutes.  Holding sessions early in the morning, at lunch or after normal work hours can be a catalyst for development where no training budget or time is available.

Another alternative is to develop basic fact sheets for management on topics of interest and email these to participants, requesting replies with questions and comments.  You can then develop FAQs, which can then be shared with managers & supervisors, and, finally, host a mini-session on them.

As an HR professional or business owner, these alternatives will give you the opportunity to engage in interactive sessions, which can provide developmental opportunities and raise important issues and ideas. It may be management development on a shoestring, but it is still worthwhile and extremely effective. Who knows, some incremental improvement may lead to an improved management attitude toward other development opportunities!