If you’ve been promoted into leadership and suddenly found yourself managing people with little or no formal training, you’re not alone. Or maybe you’ve been managing people for a while, and you’re ready to take the next step in your leadership development journey.
At Epic People, we take a holistic approach to leadership development using a combination of training and coaching, psychometric testing and 360-degree reviews. When used together, these tools all help people leaders build the confidence, skills, and judgement they need to lead well in real workplace situations — not just in theory. Leadership capability can be further strengthened with social intelligence training.
We work with managers across a range of industries, supporting them to lead with confidence, clarity, and credibility.
Leadership development that actually works in the real world
Leadership development isn’t about inspirational speeches or abstract theory. It’s about helping managers:
- Lead people with confidence
- Have effective (and sometimes difficult) conversations
- Build trust, engagement, and accountability in their teams
Effective leadership development requires more than just a workshop; it’s a combination of practical skill-building and deep self-awareness. Our programmes blend targeted training—addressing real-world challenges like performance and pressure—with psychometric testing and 360-degree reviews. This integrated approach identifies specific growth areas and ensures development is tailored to the individual and the organisation.
Our approach to leadership development
Our leadership development programmes for new and mid-level managers in NZ are always tailored to the unique needs of your organisation and your people. We believe growth happens when data-driven insights meet practical application.
At Epic People, leadership development is grounded in:
Objective Insights: Using psychometric testing and 360-degree reviews to establish a baseline of self-awareness and identify specific growth opportunities.
Real workplace experience: Focusing on the actual challenges your managers face, not theory alone.
Adult learning principles: Respecting the experience your managers already bring to the table.
Practical tools: Providing frameworks managers can apply immediately to their teams.
Sustained growth: A supportive environment that builds long-term confidence and capability.
How we deliver results
Depending on your goals, we combine these elements into a cohesive programme. This may include:
Diagnostic Tools: Individual or team-wide psychometrics and 360-degree feedback to kickstart the development process.
Targeted Training: A wide range of in‑person or virtual workshops focused on high-impact leadership skills.
Modular Learning: Spaced sessions that allow for reflection and real-world practice between modules.
Blended Support: A mix of group training, individual coaching, and follow‑up support to ensure habits stick.
Social intelligence training: specific ‘people skills’ training‘ that builds strong relationships and tightens trust.
Build your leadership toolkit: three pillars of growth
Targeted training
Master the art of people-centered leadership. Our workshops turn complex theory into practical habits that managers can use the very next day to lead more effectively.
Focus: A diverse range of courses including our signature Social Intelligence training, alongside core modules for new and mid-level managers.
Benefits: Builds immediate confidence, improves team culture, and equips leaders with the “soft skills” that drive hard results.
Psychometric testing and insights
Decipher the DNA of your leadership style. We use science-backed assessments to get under the hood of personality, revealing the “why” behind how your leaders work.
Focus: Mapping leadership potential, identifying natural behavioral drivers, and understanding team fit.
Benefits: Removes the guesswork from development, highlights hidden strengths, and provides a data-driven roadmap for growth.
Measuring progress with 360-degree reviews
See yourself through the eyes of your team. Growth happens when self-perception meets reality. Our 360-degree process gathers honest, anonymous feedback from every angle.
Focus: Measuring current leadership performance and identifying the gap between intent and impact.
Benefits: Enhances self-awareness, provides a safe platform for feedback, and creates clear accountability for behavioral change.
Who benefits from leadership development
The organisation: Build a resilient culture, reduce turnover, and ensure smooth succession planning.
The individual: Gain the confidence to lead, master difficult conversations, and accelerate career growth.
The teams: Benefit from clearer communication, increased trust, and higher engagement levels.
Why leadership development matters for organisations
When managers aren’t supported to lead well, organisations often see:
- Low engagement
- Poor performance conversations
- Increased turnover
- Burnout — for managers and their teams
Effective leadership development helps organisations:
- Retain good people
- Improve performance and accountability
- Build a positive, high‑trust culture
- Create confident leaders at every level
Investing in leadership development isn’t a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a business necessity.
Why choose Epic People for your leadership development?
We are a New Zealand‑based HR and leadership development consultancy with over 30 years’ experience working alongside managers and leaders across a wide range of industries.
Our facilitators bring:
- Senior HR and leadership experience
- A practical, down‑to‑earth delivery style
- A strong understanding of New Zealand workplaces
- A focus on sustainable behaviour change, not just feel‑good training
- Accreditation to deliver SocialStyle(TM) training
- Accreditation in SHL psychometric tools
Our training is designed and delivered by us and is fully customisable. We partner with you to build leadership capability that actually sticks.
On-demand support for leaders and managers
Leadership challenges don't wait for training sessions.
Alongside our leadership development programmes, at Epic People we provide on-demand support for leaders and managers who are navigating real situations with real people.
This might include:
Preparing for difficult or high-stakes conversations
Addressing early signs of underperformance or behavioural issues
Managing conflict or tension within a team
Working through the recruitment process, from end to end
Advising and assisting in restructuring and redundancies
Sense-checking an approach before taking action
Coaching through managing poor performance, formal warnings and dismissals
Designing and delivering performance development programmes
HR strategy, culture and engagement building.
Managers often know what they want to achieve, but value experienced guidance on how to handle situations clearly, calmly, and constructively.
With over 30 years’ experience in HR and leadership roles, including senior positions in New Zealand and internationally, we act as a trusted sounding board — helping leaders think things through, communicate well, and take action with confidence.
This support complements our leadership development training and is often delivered in combination with our training.
Leadership development FAQ's
Here are some common questions about leadership development programmes and training for new and mid-level managers in NZ.
What is leadership development and why is it important?
Leadership development helps managers build the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to lead people effectively. This includes communication, feedback, coaching, decision‑making, and self‑awareness. Strong leadership drives engagement, productivity, and long-term business success.
Who is leadership development training best suited to?
Leadership development training is particularly valuable for new managers and mid‑level managers who are responsible for leading people but haven’t received formal leadership training. It’s also great for existing managers who want to continue to improve their leadership skills and lead their teams to excellent performance.
How long does leadership development training take?
Programmes can range from single workshops to multi‑month programmes, depending on the needs of your organisation and your managers.
Is this leadership development training relevant for NZ workplaces?
Yes! All training is designed specifically for New Zealand organisations and reflects local workplace realities, expectations, and challenges.
Why do so many team leaders struggle without leadership development training?
Many are promoted based on their technical abilities rather than their leadership skills. Without training, they feel overwhelmed and unsupported. Our courses close this gap.
How is Epic People different from other leadership training providers?
We focus on SMEs, deliver tailored programs, and combine global frameworks with a down-to-earth kiwi delivery style.
Can leadership development training be tailored to our organisation?
Yes! We can adapt every program to your business goals, culture, and challenges, for in-house delivery.
What is the best starting point for a leadership development programme?
There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer, but we often recommend starting with psychometric testing or a 360-degree review. These diagnostic tools provide an objective baseline of a leader’s current impact and potential. This data allows us to tailor subsequent leadership training courses to address the specific skill gaps that will move the needle most for your organisation.
How do you use psychometric testing in leadership development?
We use science-backed assessments (like SHL) to uncover a leader’s natural behavioral drivers and personality traits. In a development context, this helps managers understand why they react to pressure or conflict in certain ways. By combining these insights with practical training, leaders can build self-regulation and adapt their style to better support their teams.
Is 360-degree feedback suitable for new managers?
Absolutely. For new team leaders, a 360-degree review is an eye-opener that helps them transition from “technical expert” to “people leader.” It reveals how their peers and direct reports perceive their communication and delegation. We find that combining a 360-review with our Social Intelligence training significantly accelerates a new manager’s confidence and credibility.
Can we combine 360-degree reviews with your training courses?
Yes, and we highly recommend it. Many NZ organisations find that training “sticks” better when it is preceded by a 360-degree review. The feedback creates a “hunger for learning” because the leader has seen evidence of where they need to grow. We can then weave those specific feedback themes directly into our modular training workshops.
Who facilitates the assessments and training at Epic People?
All our programmes are led by experienced NZ-based facilitators who are accredited in SHL psychometric tools and SocialStyle™ (Social Intelligence) training. We don’t just “send a report”—we provide expert debriefs and coaching to ensure the data from our 360-degree reviews and assessments translates into real behavioral change.
Ready to build a high-performance leadership culture?
Let’s move beyond one-off workshops. We combine science-backed assessments with practical, real-world training to create lasting behavioral change in your managers. Contact us today to discuss a tailored programme for your team.
Epic workplaces have epic leaders.
Start your leadership journey with a discovery call.
