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 for 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 and management 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?
Leadership development is a strategic process designed to expand the capacity of individuals to perform in leadership roles within an organization. At Epic People, we define it as more than just a “management course”; it is a holistic evolution of an individual’s self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and strategic thinking. By integrating psychometric data with 360-degree feedback, leadership development identifies an individual’s natural strengths and provides the specific training and social intelligence tools needed to lead high-performing teams effectively.
Why is leadership development important?
Leadership development is critical because the quality of leadership is the single biggest predictor of employee engagement, retention, and organizational performance. Effective development programmes help:
- Bridge the “skill gap”: Moving from a technical expert to a people leader requires a completely different toolkit.
- Reduce turnover: People don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. Strong leadership fosters a culture where talent wants to stay.
- Improve decision-making: Through psychometric assessments, leaders learn to mitigate cognitive biases and handle pressure more effectively.
- Drive results: High social intelligence allows leaders to navigate complex workplace dynamics, resolving conflict before it impacts the bottom line.
What is the most effective approach to leadership development?
The most effective approach combines objective data with behavioural growth. At Epic People we use a four-pillar methodology: Psychometric assessments for baseline traits, 360-degree feedback for external perspective, leadership training for core competencies, and social intelligence training for relationship management. This integrated “Auckland-to-Christchurch” delivery model ensures training is relevant to the unique Kiwi “Number 8 wire” mindset.
How do psychometric assessments help in developing managers?
Psychometric assessments provide a scientific foundation for growth by identifying a leader’s natural strengths, derailers, and cognitive styles. Using world-class tools like SHL, we help New Zealand managers understand their “default settings.” This allows for a highly personalised development plan that focuses on real behavioural change rather than generic advice.
Why is 360-degree feedback important for leadership growth?
360-degree feedback is essential because it reveals the “blind spots” between how a leader perceives themselves and how they are actually experienced by their team and peers. By gathering anonymous, structured data from all levels of the organization, we provide leaders with a clear, honest roadmap for improving their interpersonal impact and leadership presence.
What is social intelligence training and why do leaders need it?
Social intelligence is the ability to understand others’ emotions and adapt your leadership style to suit different personalities. In a modern workplace, this is a non-negotiable skill. Our social intelligence training, delivered under our SocialStyle™ accreditation, empowers leaders to communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts faster, and build higher levels of trust within their teams.
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.
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.
Does Epic People offer leadership development across New Zealand?
Yes, Epic People provides leadership development, coaching, and workshops throughout New Zealand. Whether you are based in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or regional centres, we offer both in-person workshops and interactive virtual training. Our programmes are specifically designed to support the growth of new and mid-level managers within the NZ business landscape.
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.
