Effectively Managing Technical Teams

Introduction to Managing and Leading technical teams

• Understand the role of a team leader
• Discern a leadership mindset and how to develop it in team members
• Combine the right balance between the best of traditional management techniques and the new paradigm of inverted pyramid leadership of knowledge workers

Operational Processes

• Setting meaningful goals in a dynamic and innovative environment
• Discover the power of sharing ‘the why’
• Define and evaluate measures and targets that matter
• Understand the importance of distinguishing between joint ownership and shared ownership
• Creating a team plan with meaningful objectives and measures

Establishing teams and the transition to empowerment 

• Discovering the real meaning of a team
• Dealing with virtual and remote teams
• Understand the dynamics of setting up a new team
• Dealing with changes in team composition

Motivating teams for high performance

• Understanding what drives technical people and team dynamics to get the best out of them
• Handling top performers
• Dealing with poor performers
• Staff retention

Operational Efficiency

• Getting things done
• Getting the team organized for success
• Running meetings effectively using the PPPP method
• Specifying meaningful, efficient, and necessary reporting methods
• Radical time-management demonstrated with real-world inbox exercise

How to communicate effectively with your team

• Understanding ourselves to understand the root cause of miscommunication
• Avoiding the pitfalls of poor communication using email
• Helping your team improve communication skills

Career development of a team leader

• Understanding what skills to develop as a team leader
• Career development tips

Registration Date/Time:
9/9/2026 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 9/9/2026  8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time
• 9/10/2026  8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time
• 9/11/2026  8:00am - 12:00pm Central Time

• Instructor

  Trevor Manning

  Consultant

  Trevor Manning is an accomplished author, leaderhsip consultant, and trainer with extensive international experience leading technical teams. He has held roles such as chief engineer, technical director, Chief Operating Officer, and board advisor.
  
  With a diverse background spanning various companites including a large government-owned utility, a US-headquartered manufacturer, an international London headquartered start-up, and a privately owned telecommunications operator, Trevor offers valuable insights into real-world business operations.
  
  Trevor leads three training courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on practical insights derived from his wealth of experience.
  
  Effectively Managing Technical Teams
  
  Leadership Beyond Your Team: Managing Up and Across
  
  Critical Conversations: Results-based Communication
  
  Trevor has published several technical and leadership books and lives in Brisbane, Australia.

• Program Director

  Susan Ottmann

10% discount per person for participants registered in the Technical Leadership Certificate series. Promo code needed during registration. 

20% discount per  person for QRM members. A promo code is required and membership will be verified.  

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.