New research has revealed that nearly seven in ten HR professionals have identified a "huge need" to ensure managers have the skills to manage, inspire and lift organisations in 2010.

According to the report, carried out by the UK’s Henley Business School and featured in Personnel Today last week, HR professionals see a great need to ensure managers have the skills to manage the aftermath of the recent economic troubles – 67% mentioning this as a priority.

"Rather than axing development budgets and cutting leadership development, they have focused effort on those individuals who they expect will lead their organisations into a future yet to be created,” said the report.

“Softer skills – in leadership styles and coaching, for instance – that bring out the very best in people and facilitate team working, are also now a priority.”

According to Jenny Carter, Director of the New Managers Programme (NMP) at the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB), the findings are not unexpected and managers in South Africa will also be called on to take responsibility for lifting people and organisations here in 2010 as optimism grows and the economy recovers.

“Managers – particularly those entering management in this context – will need to be skilled for the job at hand. There are immense challenges and even existing managers need to rethink and refresh their management approach – essentially, organisations are calling for a new type of manager to give fresh impetus,” said Carter.

Carter cites the NMP as an example of the type of programme which is geared to addressing these contemporary challenges. “As well as teaching the fundamentals of management and an understanding of key functional areas such as finance, marketing and operations, the course focuses quite extensively on personal mastery and building confidence,” she said.

“There is also a big emphasis on leading the team – including how to coach, delegate, manage conflict and give constructive feedback.”

Targeted at mainly entry-level managers seeking to progress in their career or experience a new, fresh way of thinking about leadership, the programme’s transformational approach and track record of producing re-invigorated, new thinking has made it one of the country’s leading management development short courses.