McPhail Watmore Associates Ltd
Leadership and Management Training
Good management is a skill, not a personality trait
Our leadership and management training builds those skills, from the core toolkit every new manager needs, to coaching, motivation and inclusive leadership for those who want to lead well. Effective management is vital to your organisation's productivity, and we help you build it.
Why leadership and management training matters
Most people move into management because they were good at their previous job, not because they were trained to lead. Yet a manager's approach is the single biggest factor in whether a team succeeds or struggles. People leave managers more than they leave jobs.
Investing in your managers pays back across everything that matters, performance, retention, engagement and culture. Our courses give managers practical tools they can use straight away.
People leave managers
More than they leave jobs. The quality of your managers shapes performance, retention and culture more than almost anything else you can invest in.
Our courses
We offer a range of courses for people in management and leadership roles. Each can be booked on its own, or combined into a development programme.
For new and experienced managers
Core Management Skills
The cornerstone course. How your approach shapes team performance, harnessing motivation, coaching for success, effective communication, and the confident conversations needed when there are performance concerns. A practical toolkit for becoming a highly effective people manager.
For managers
Managing for Motivation
Whether your team is flying or flagging, motivation is the manager's lever. Understand what sustains peak performance, and what to do when a team is disengaged. People leave managers more than they leave jobs, and the manager has the key part to play.
For managers developing their people
Coaching and Constructive Conversations
Most managers are trained to solve problems. This course trains you to develop the people who solve them. Learn non directive coaching, asking the right questions so your team finds their own answers, building a capable, self sufficient team and freeing you from being the bottleneck.
For senior leaders
Inclusive Leadership
Inclusivity is led from the top. This session supports leaders to review the topic in a safe environment, assess where they are now on the Maturity Model, and identify the steps to deepen their diversity insight and make inclusivity a reality across the organisation.
Who this training is for
These courses suit new and experienced managers, team leaders, and senior leaders. Core Management Skills and Managing for Motivation are ideal for those new to management or wanting a refresher. Coaching and Constructive Conversations suits managers ready to develop their people more deliberately. Inclusive Leadership is designed for those in senior and leadership roles.
We work with organisations across the UK in the public and private sector, including higher and further education, the NHS, national and local government, finance, legal and professional services, housing and the charity sector.
What our clients say
“
I had a great day yesterday, and learnt so much!
I will be meeting with our managers all next week, and I am sure that their learning will influence how we move forward.
Thank you for your energy and commitment.
Chief Officer
Age UK Torbay
“
The training on the day both myself and HR Director, were pleased to find it engaging and practical, with clear and relatable hospitality specific examples aligned to the law.
Assistant Learning & Development Manager, People and Culture
Four Seasons
“
Experience was really good – workshop activities made me think of things that would impact me – all topics were enjoyable
Employee
Redbridge Council
Trusted by organisations across
Higher Education•
NHS•
Government•
Finance•
Legal•
Housing•
Charity
Our approach and credentials
All of our training is bespoke. We take time to understand your organisation, your sector and the challenges your managers face, then build the session around real situations they will recognise. Sessions can be delivered in person or online.
Our consultants are experienced practitioners drawn from the public and private sector. McPhail Watmore Associates was established in 2000, and our founder Fiona McPhail is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with 30 years' experience in HR and equality, diversity and inclusion. You can read more about our team on our About page.
Disability Confident
Level 3 Leader assessor
Chartered FCIPD
Founder led, 30 years' experience
Charter assessors
Investors in Diversity, Disability Confident Level 3
Seven consultants
Public and private sector practitioners
Frequently asked questions
What does the core management skills course cover?
It is a practical toolkit for new and experienced managers, covering how your management approach shapes team performance, harnessing motivation, coaching for success, effective communication, and how to hold confident conversations when there are performance concerns. Managers leave able to apply the skills straight away.
What is the difference between managing and coaching?
Managing often means directing and solving problems. Coaching means developing people so they solve problems themselves. Our Coaching and Constructive Conversations course teaches non directive coaching, asking the right questions so your team finds their own answers, building a more capable, self sufficient team over time.
Do you offer training for senior leaders as well as managers?
Yes. Alongside core management courses, our Inclusive Leadership session is designed for those in senior and leadership roles, focusing on leading inclusively and championing diversity from the top. Courses can be combined into a development programme across different levels.
Is the training delivered in person or online?
Both. Every session is tailored to your organisation and can be delivered on site or remotely. Get in touch and we will talk through what works best for you.
Talk to our team about preparing for October 2026
Whether you need a single session or a programme across your whole organisation, we will build the right approach for you.