Starbuck Academy · Grow
Manager Skills: Managing Performance
Clear expectations, fair conversations, better work
A short, practical course on managing performance for managers and team leaders. Five video lessons take you from setting clear expectations to handling underperformance fairly and stretching your strongest people.
Why managing performance matters
Most people want to do good work, and most performance problems start small. When expectations are clear and conversations happen regularly, issues surface early and are easier to put right. Handled late or avoided, the same issues damage trust and cost everyone time. This course gives you simple habits and tools to manage performance fairly and consistently.
Who it is for
Managers and team leaders at any stage who want to set clear expectations, hold better performance conversations and handle problems fairly. It suits new managers building good habits and experienced managers who want a consistent, practical approach.
What you will be able to do
- Set clear expectations using outcomes, standards and measures
- Run regular one-to-ones that people find useful
- Give specific feedback, for praise as well as concerns
- Spot performance gaps early and explore the real causes
- Agree a fair support plan with clear goals and review dates, and know when to involve HR
- Recognise and stretch good performers without overloading them
Five lessons
It starts with clear expectations
Agree the outcome, standard and measures for important work, so people know what good looks like.
Regular performance conversations
Run one-to-ones that belong to the other person and give feedback that is specific and useful.
Spotting underperformance early
Notice early signs, separate facts from stories and explore five possible causes before you act.
Addressing underperformance fairly
Open the conversation well, agree a support plan with review dates and know when to involve HR.
Getting the best from good performers
Give recognition that means something, offer stretch without overload and keep a steady performance rhythm.
What is included
Five short video lessons you can watch on any device, workbook pages and a practical tool for every lesson, the full Manager Skills: Managing Performance workbook to download, a five-question knowledge check per lesson, a certificate of completion showing 2.5 estimated learning hours, and 12 months’ access. A one-off payment of £49 per person inc. VAT.
How your learning time adds up
Your 2.5 estimated learning hours are made up across five lessons of about 30 minutes each:
- Watching the five short lesson videos: about 15 minutes (about 3 minutes each)
- Reading the lesson notes and workbook pages: about 40 minutes (8 minutes each)
- Working through the practical tool for each lesson: about 40 minutes (8 minutes each)
- Planning each workplace task: about 30 minutes (6 minutes each)
- Completing the five-question knowledge check after each lesson: about 25 minutes (5 minutes each)
Total: 2.5 estimated learning hours. Carrying out each workplace task at work is in addition to this.
Knowledge checks: every lesson or module ends with a short multiple choice knowledge check. The pass mark is 80% and you can retake a knowledge check as many times as you need.
Who designed it
This programme was designed by ICF credentialed coaches at Starbuck & Associates, led by Paul Starbuck, our Founder and CEO and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). Every lesson draws on our coaching and leadership development work with organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world, and each programme is reviewed regularly to keep it current.
Before you start
This course is general learning and development content and is not professional advice. Always follow your own organisation’s policies, and take specialist advice on legal, medical, financial or HR matters.
