Manager as Coach course is designed for managers at the University of Minnesota who want to become more effective coaches and better support the growth of their team members. By investing time in this course, you'll build the skills needed to help your team adapt and thrive in an ever-changing workplace.
Who should enroll: Current faculty and staff supervisors. This course builds on foundational supervisory knowledge and is best suited for those who have already completed foundational training (e.g., New Supervisor Orientation, OR the Supervisory Foundations course) or have prior experience in a supervisory or management role.
Download the Course Flyer (PDF)
Program Details
Registration and Course dates
Summer 2025
Registration deadline: June 30, 2025.
As part of an online component, the course has 6 synchronous Zoom sessions. All sessions are held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, July 15
- Tuesday, July 22
- Tuesday, July 29
- Tuesday, August 5
- Tuesday, August 12
- Tuesday, August 26
To get the most out of this cohort you should plan to join each synchronous session, and attendance is required for completion.
Program Commitment
- This course includes weekly 90-minute synchronous Zoom sessions.
- In addition to the live sessions, expect to spend an average of three hours per week on independent work. Activities include:
- Reviewing materials on Canvas (short videos, guides, and slides)
- Practicing coaching conversations through role-play simulations
- Completing coaching plan assignments
The total time commitment is approximately 4-5 hours per week. Outside of the scheduled Zoom sessions, you can complete the coursework at times that work best for you.
Technology
Due to the online nature of the course, participants will need a computer, internet, microphone, and camera.
Learn and Connect
- Independent learning: Activities include self-assessment, topic videos, readings, and reflection
- Community learning: Through the use of live online discussions, you will have a chance to connect with your peers and reflect on how the topics connect to your day to day coaching needs
Ai Digital Role Play Platform
- Targeted practice: Provides a safe environment to practice challenging coaching conversations, simulating an authentic heat experience
- Augmented replay: an opportunity to replay, analyze, and reflect on the impact of your actions during the coaching conversation
Apply in your work
As part of the course, you will prepare for and complete a coaching conversation with a direct report (can be one or a combination of the following):
- Learn about their interests/motivations
- Co-create a meaningful coaching goal
- Provide feedback and support
- Help create and follow through on an action plan
Testimonials from Past Participants
This course was an exceptional deep-dive into learning about strategies for managing as a coach. The combination of synchronous sessions, breakout rooms, self-paced material, and AI practice with coaching... allowed for a lot of growth and development to occur over just a few short weeks.
This course did a great job of putting words to concepts I already use and adding intentionality to coaching conversations!
I really liked this course because it not only gives you practical resources to use, but it also builds in an opportunity to practice! If you've taken a Supervisory Development Course before, you'll probably be familiar with a few of the quick guides in this course. The difference is that this course holds you accountable to practice those skills in the moment, instead of waiting until a particular situation arises and trying to remember the skills you learned a while ago.