Learn how to transition from ‘buddy to boss’

A specialized course designed to support Supervisors, Team Leads and New Managers in the manufacturing sector.

This Future Ready Leadership (FRL) Essentials program consists of five introductory leadership training courses, which will be delivered in person at Hitachi Energy in Stoney Creek.

Why Manufacturing?

Making the shift from team member to team leader is one of the most challenging transitions in a career in manufacturing. This specialized leadership course is designed for frontline supervisors, team leads, and new managers in the manufacturing sector who are stepping into leadership roles for the first time.

Participants will learn how to successfully transition from peer to leader — building trust, setting expectations, and driving performance — all while maintaining credibility on the floor.

Through practical tools, real-world scenarios, and hands-on exercises, this course equips new leaders with the skills to:

  • Navigate the emotional and cultural shift from ‘buddy to boss’
  • Build authority without losing approachability
  • Communicate clearly, delegate effectively, and lead by example
  • Manage former peers with confidence and respect
  • Balance production goals with people priorities


Whether you’re newly promoted or preparing high-potential talent for leadership roles, this course sets the foundation for strong, respected front-line leadership in manufacturing environments.

Core Competencies

This course has been designed for new leaders to learn and develop different leadership competencies over the entire program

  • Team Leadership

  • Personal Leadership

  • Presentation Skills

  • Communication

  • Diversity

  • Developing Others

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Managing Performance

  • Coaching

  • Emotional Intelligence

  • Continuous Learning

Course Content

Throughout the program, we will clearly demonstrate the connection between each day and each topic, ensuring participants feel connected and engaged with content, other participants, guest speakers, and the facilitator

  • Management Preparation Toolkit

    As part of the participants’ learning journey, it’s important for their leaders to support and reinforce the training. MCE will provide a brief, pre-recorded ‘Making Training Stick’ video with a course outline and tips for participant success for these leaders prior to the rollout of this program.

  • Day 1: Apr. 8, 2026 | Stepping into Leadership

    Participants will learn the skills, tools, opportunities, and challenges associated with being an effective leader, one who is able to develop their own personal leadership as well as lead a team.

  • Day 2: Apr. 22, 2026 | Communicating Effectively

    Participants will learn a basic communication model and the types of communication. They will learn when to use open-ended and closed-ended questions for a more effective conversation. The barriers to communications and solutions to overcome them will be covered.

  • Day 3: May 6, 2026 | Developing Engaged Employees

    Participants will learn how a team moves through various stages of development to become a high-performing team. They will learn the difference between motivation and inspiration and the importance of different levels of delegation and empowerment and when to use each.

  • Day 4: May 20, 2026 | Dealing with Difficult Behaviours

    Participants will learn how to effectively deal with difficult behaviours by understanding the actions of others. Also, they will learn how to identify personal ‘hot buttons’ and develop strategies to encourage positive behaviour.

  • Day 5: June 3, 2026 | Applying Essential Skills

    In this final day of the program, participants will utilize the knowledge and skills learned in the previous four days to assess progress on their competency development. They will create personal goals and develop a plan to implement them as a part of their leadership journey.

Facilitator

MCE Facilitator Terry Milford

Terry’s got HR savvy and classroom energy. With 20+ years under her belt across healthcare, manufacturing, insurance, and beyond, Terry has mastered the art of developing leaders and unlocking potential at every level. Terry brings creativity, tech-smarts, and real-world insight to every session.

Why I took FRL Essentials

Richard Lang

Operations Supervisor, Milton Hydro

“FRL Essentials is ideal for the employee who is making the transition into a leadership role. The facilitator was very good and kept the group engaged throughout the course. There was a good balance between the course material and interactive activities. Thanks for a great experience.”

Ojembe Friday

Supervisor Torch Operator and Metal Processing at AIM

"So far, all I have learned has helped me manage my team at work more efficiently and productively."

Pricing

Save Your Seat for this Open Seat Cohort!

This cohort is open to new leaders across many different manufacturers.

$2,800.00 +HST

Training will take place at Hitachi Energy:

198 Constellation Drive

Stoney Creek, ON

From 9am to 4pm with 2 scheduled breaks and an hour lunch

Training Leaders Since 2010

  • This is a good opportunity to learn new skills and methods used in different manufacturing environments.
  • Experiential, in-person learning & expert facilitation.
  • Takeaway workbook for better engagement.