Managers
Managers play a key role in leading, supporting, and engaging their teams at the University. Northwestern provides resources and practical tools for success, read more below.
Ask the Expert
Ask the Expert is a monthly column published in the Employee Matters newsletter authored by experts from across the University and focused on common workplace challenges. Please find archived columns below.
Peer Connections
Join the Manager's Corner group in MS Teams to connect with fellow managers, share practices, ideas, resources, and learn from each other
Manager Foundations Program
Empowering Managers to Lead with Confidence
Stepping into a managerial role is both exciting and challenging. At Northwestern, we recognize that effective management is key to driving success, fostering collaboration, and supporting our university’s mission. The Manager Foundations Program is designed to equip managers—whether new or experienced—with the essential skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to lead their teams successfully.
Why Manager Foundations?
Navigating team dynamics, balancing expectations, and making crucial decisions can feel overwhelming. Our structured three-level approach guides you through your leadership journey at your own pace, helping you develop the key skills needed to thrive in your role.
What You’ll Gain:
- A clear understanding of the manager's role at Northwestern and the skills needed to effectively support and guide teams.
- Insights into leadership styles, communication, and motivation to foster a high-performing team culture.
- Knowledge of Northwestern’s philosophies, practices, and policies to help you navigate managerial responsibilities with confidence.
- Opportunities to connect with peers and mentors across the university, building a valuable support network.
Program Structure
The program consists of three progressive levels, allowing managers to start with the fundamentals and gradually deepen their skills over time. Level 1: Awareness Building is primarily on-demand, enabling managers to dive into the curriculum and get started as soon as they step into their roles. The next two levels—Skill Building and Proficiency Building—offer a blended learning experience with on-demand resources, virtual sessions, and in-person components, providing flexibility to fit into busy schedules.
Level 1: Awareness Building (Launching Winter)
In this foundational level, managers will explore essential management concepts such as:
- Building trust and fostering team collaboration.
- Effective self-management and emotional intelligence.
- Understanding Northwestern’s mission and how managers contribute to it.
- Promoting well-being and creating a culture of recognition.
Future levels—Skill Building and Proficiency Building—are currently in development and will provide deeper, hands-on learning opportunities.
Who Should Participate?
The Manager Foundations program is ideal for:
- Managers who are new to their role within the past two years—whether they are experienced managers from elsewhere or newly stepping into management at Northwestern.
- Individuals looking to enhance their management skills and grow as leaders at Northwestern.
Length
This program is self-paced, but with a time commitment of 2-3 hours per week, participants can expect to complete it within 2-3 months.
Get Started
We’re excited to launch Level 1: Awareness Building: Check it out!
Program Cost
Level 1: Awareness Building is offered at no cost to individuals and is fully funded by the Talent Development team within Human Resources.
For Level 2: Skill-Building and Level 3: Proficiency-Building, a fee will apply to support a high-quality learning experience. This fee helps cover best-in-class licensed content, interactive live and in-person sessions, materials, and other valuable learning resources designed to enhance your managerial growth and success.
We’ll continue to use a co-funded model, with schools and units covering part of the cost for Levels 2 and 3. As these levels are still in development, the exact cost has not yet been determined.
For questions or registration support, please email workplace-learning@northwestern.edu.
Additional workshops include: