Practical management development for real-world people challenges
Many managers are promoted because they are good at the job. Then they are expected to ensure people perform, give feedback whilst motivating them, and handle pressure, but they're not told exactly what to do or how to do it.
The Confident Manager Academy is a practical 12-month development journey for managers who want to feel clearer, calmer and more capable in the everyday realities of managing people.
It gives managers simple tools, regular learning, workplace challenges and peer support, so they can build confidence one practical step at a time.
We are trusted by 250+ Managers & Leaders
For people who care, but aren't sure what good management looks like
Managing people can feel harder than it needs to.
A manager might be technically strong, experienced and trusted, but still find themselves asking:
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What am I supposed to be doing as a manager?
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When the role feels unclear and they are not sure where their responsibility starts and ends.
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Why won’t people just do what I need them to do?
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When expectations seem obvious to them, but their team's performance, behaviour or ownership still falls short.
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What do I do when someone isn’t performing?
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When they know something needs to change, but they are unsure how to address it.
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How do I motivate different people in different roles?
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When one person responds well to challenge, another needs reassurance, and another seems hard to read.
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How do I develop people without micromanaging them?
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When they want to delegate and build confidence, but worry the work will come back wrong or unfinished.
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How do I give difficult feedback without making things worse?
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When they need to be honest, but do not want to damage trust, confidence or the relationship.
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How do I help my team navigate change and stress?
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When pressure is high, emotions are close to the surface, and people need both clarity and support.
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These are normal management headaches. They are also preventable when managers have the right tools, language and support.
What is The Confident Manager Academy?
The Confident Manager Academy is a structured 12-month programme that helps managers develop practical confidence in the people situations they face every week.
It is built around the themes in Susannah Brade-Waring’s book, The Confident Manager, and turns them into a practical development journey for the workplace.
The focus is simple: small, useful changes that managers can apply in real conversations, with real people, under real pressure.
This is not passive learning. Each month includes a clear theme, practical tools and a workplace challenge, helping managers turn ideas into action.
Who is it for?
The Academy is designed for managers and team leaders who are responsible for people and want to manage with more confidence and consistency.
New managers
Operational managers
Middle managers
Aspiring and future managers
First-line managers
Experienced managers with little formal development training
Team leaders
Supervisors
Technically strong managers who want more confidence
It will also be useful for organisations that want a practical, scalable way to support managers without relying on one-off training days.
The 12-month journey
The Academy follows a clear monthly rhythm, so managers can keep learning manageable alongside their day-to-day role. Each month focuses on a real management question.
1
Introduction to the Academy
Clarifies expectations, builds shared language, and helps managers identify practical improvements they can apply immediately.
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Motivation and Engagement
Shows managers how to understand different motivators, adapt their approach and improve engagement, retention and performance.
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Change, Stress and Resilience
Helps managers support teams through pressure and change while balancing challenge, wellbeing and realistic capacity.
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Managing Upwards
Strengthens alignment with senior leaders by clarifying expectations, priorities, responsibilities and unresolved challenges.
2
Self-Awareness & Self-Management
Builds self-awareness, emotional control and confidence, reducing reactive behaviour and improving day-to-day leadership decisions.
5
Delegation and Development
Develops confident delegation, ownership and growth, helping managers stretch people without losing control or micromanaging.
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Difficult Conversations
Encourages managers to address avoided issues, speak up constructively and increase their visibility and influence.
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Personal Development
Helps managers take ownership of their growth and use coaching questions to support others’ development.
3
Managing Performance
Helps managers diagnose underperformance, create clarity and hold earlier conversations before issues become entrenched.
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Feedback
Builds confidence to give timely, useful feedback, reducing avoidance and improving trust, clarity and performance.
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When Things Go Wrong
Builds awareness of risk areas including conflict, grievances, bullying and persistent underperformance, with practical mitigation planning.
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Graduation and Reflection
Consolidates learning, captures behaviour change and gives participants a clear way to evidence progress and impact.
The Academy includes:
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monthly learning resources
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practical tools, templates and worksheets
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workplace-based challenges
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peer learning and reflection
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a practical resource library
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bi-monthly masterclasses
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progress tracking
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completion recognition
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a digital certificate
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LinkedIn recognition assets
Register your interest
Leave your details and we’ll contact you when The Confident Manager Academy is released.