Every workplace has one: the manager who learned leadership through a highly sophisticated process known as “being promoted and hoping for the best.”
While that approach can produce some entertaining results, research suggests there is a better way.
A major meta-analysis published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that leadership training significantly improves learning, behavior, and workplace results, demonstrating that effective leadership skills can be developed rather than left to chance. In other words, managers are not born knowing how to coach employees, navigate conflicts, deliver feedback, or decipher emails that simply say, “Can we talk?”
Training gives managers practical tools and greater confidence. When supervisors feel prepared, they are more likely to communicate clearly, address problems appropriately, and provide meaningful support to their teams. Research also shows that positive leadership is strongly associated with higher employee engagement, a key ingredient in productivity and retention.
Employees benefit, too. A trained manager is better equipped to set expectations, provide guidance, recognize accomplishments, and respond to concerns before they become workplace legends (typically not the good kind). Studies have also found that manager training can improve leaders’ ability to support employee well-being and mental health.
The organizational payoff is substantial. Research indicates that management and leadership development programs are associated with improvements in performance, productivity, and overall business outcomes.
So, if your company is debating whether to invest in management training, consider the alternative: a supervisor trying to lead a team based solely on a podcast they half-listened to during their commute. Training may not create perfect managers, but it does create better ones, and everyone wins when that happens.
SDEA’s Transforming Leadership certificate program starts September 15, 2026. The 10-week series was developed for both new managers, and those interested in expanding their leadership capabilities. Classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 – 10:30. Now is the time to register your supervisory team and glean the benefits for the entire organization.