New Manager Essentials: The Six Conversations That Make A Great Manager
Brian McCaffrey
Leadership & Communication Coach
Master the conversations that define your success as a first-time manager.
Most of us were promoted into management because we excelled as individual contributors, not because we were taught how to lead people.
Almost overnight, we're expected to set expectations, give feedback, manage performance, and represent our team to senior leadership. Most of us never had the chance to practise these conversations before we were expected to have them for real.
Over time, you realise something important: your team won't judge you by what you know about management. They'll judge you by the conversations you have.
Great management comes to life in conversations. The expectations you set. The feedback you give. The questions you ask. These are the moments that build trust, create clarity, and define your effectiveness as a manager.
This programme takes a different approach. Rather than learning management through theory alone, you'll analyse realistic workplace scenarios, prepare for difficult conversations, and receive practical coaching as you practise the conversations you'll soon be having in your own role.
By the end of the programme, you won't just understand these conversations. You'll have prepared for them, practised them, and be ready when they matter most.
What you’ll learn
Learn to handle the conversations that shape team performance, trust, and your success as a manager.
Learn how to establish expectations when taking over a team or onboarding new team members.
Use practical frameworks to define success, clarify priorities, and prevent future performance issues.
Practise expectation-setting conversations using realistic workplace scenarios.
Learn simple frameworks for positive, developmental, and corrective feedback.
Explore why feedback conversations succeed or fail through real examples.
Practise delivering feedback that changes behaviour
Design one-to-ones and team meetings that encourage ownership and open communication.
Learn practical habits that build psychological safety over time.
Develop communication rhythms that keep your team aligned and engaged.
Learn how to identify, develop, and retain your strongest talent.
Understand how to address underperformance before it becomes a bigger problem.
Practise difficult talent conversations in a safe learning environment.
Learn how to prepare for performance conversations that build trust and clarity.
Explore common mistakes that make reviews difficult for managers and employees.
Practise realistic performance review conversations with coaching and feedback.
Learn how to communicate progress, risks, and recommendations effectively.
Structure updates that help leaders make better decisions faster.
Develop confidence representing your team's work to senior stakeholders.
Learn directly from Brian
Brian McCaffrey
Ex-Google leader helping new managers become great managers.
Who this course is for
You've just become a manager and want confidence in the conversations that matter most.
You're leading a team but have never received practical management training or coaching.
You're applying for your first management role and want to be ready before day one.
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Brian McCaffrey in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.
Course syllabus
Week 1
Oct
7
Session 1 – The Expectation Conversation
Week 2
Oct
14
Session 2 – The Feedback Conversation
Schedule
Live sessions
1 hr / week
1 Hour Live Virtual session including Theory, Practice & Coaching.
Wed, Oct 7
3:00 PM—4:00 PM (UTC)
Wed, Oct 14
3:00 PM—4:00 PM (UTC)
Wed, Oct 21
3:00 PM—4:00 PM (UTC)
Projects
1-2 hrs / week
Weekly Assignment with Case Studies to read, understand and preactice before the next session.
Frequently asked questions
Maven for Teams
Reimbursement
Get your company to pay
Everything L&D needs: email template, receipts, and certificate of completion.
Get reimbursedTeam discount
Learn with your teammates
Save 20%+ when 2 or more teammates enroll in the same cohort.
Save 20%+ with a teamPrivate cohort
Run a cohort for your org
A dedicated cohort with a custom schedule and curriculum, tailored to your team.
Book a private cohort€1,000
EUR