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People are often promoted into leadership roles based on their technical expertise or functional skills — strengths that make them successful in their field, but don’t always equip them for the demands of effective leadership. 

Like many organisations, this was the case at leading engineering consultancy firm .  

Noticing a gap in the leadership and communication capabilities among technical team leads, many of whom had recently transitioned into leadership positions, ATSYS engaged Professional and Continuing Education to develop and deliver a customised Leadership and Management Essentials program.  

“Many of the team members we enrolled in this program were engineers without prior experience in management or leadership. Our goal was to equip them with the tools and support needed to succeed in their leadership roles,” Caila Hancl, Senior Employee Experience Partner at ATSYS said.  

As such, ATSYS identified three core areas for development:  

1. Enhancing staff confidence in handling difficult conversations 
2. Building emotional intelligence (EQ) and mentoring capabilities; and  
3. Strengthening interpersonal communication to better read social cues and design effective conversations. 

As part of the program, 14 team leaders participated in a structured series of four half-day workshops delivered between May and August 2024, on the following topics:  

• Leadership and Self-Management 
• Leading High-Performing Teams 
• Having Effective Leadership Conversations 
• Performance Management Fundamentals 

Participants engaged in practical exercises, reflective activities, and interactive discussions designed to embed learning and encourage real-world application. A particular highlight for participants was the personality profiling component of the program.  

“The personality profiling component really resonated with the team, providing valuable insights into different personality types, how they interact, and their communication styles,” Caila said.  

The Leadership and Management Essentials program has delivered both immediate and lasting results for ATSYS.  

According to post-program surveys: 

• 100% of participants have applied the skills learned through the program in their roles 
• 93% of participants now possess strategies for managing difficult conversations, motivating teams, and navigating change. 
• 93% feel confident applying their learning to ATSYS’ strategy and goals; and  
• 86% reported improvements in the results they are responsible for at work.  

A follow-up workplace impact survey conducted three months after the program had concluded confirmed that the skills were still being used, and crucially, all line managers reported noticeable improvements in the leadership effectiveness of their direct reports. 

“Following on from the program, our team returned to the office energised by what they’ve learned and have actively applied their new skills in their day-to-day work.” Caila said.  

After one of the sessions, we held a team lunch, and the energy around the table was incredible — everyone was buzzing about what they had learned that day. Caila

“This program has also given the leaders more confidence in their roles they now feel better equipped with the tools and knowledge to support their teams, and they feel more confident in themselves as leaders.” 

Following the success of the program, ATSYS is exploring opportunities to roll out the program to other areas of the business, further embedding leadership development into the fabric of its organisation.