The training for people growing into leadership
A 2-day practical training for new managers and team leads. Theory grounded in real experience. Tools you can use from day one. Built by two active leaders who have been where you are now.
When
Autumn 2026
Where
Delft, Netherlands
Group size
Max. 16 participants
Duration
2 full days, spaced
Language
English
per person, excl. VAT · founding cohort pricing
The biggest career shift nobody prepares you for
The skills that made you successful as an individual contributor are not the same ones that make you effective as a leader. And while you're figuring that out, you're already responsible for a team.
From doing the work to ensuring work gets done
Your value used to come from your own output. Now it comes from what your team produces. That shift is harder than it sounds, especially when you can still do the work faster yourself.
From peer to authority
Yesterday you were part of the group. Today you represent the organisation. Navigating that change in every relationship, all at once, is one of the hardest parts of the transition.
“I wanted to get it right so badly that I forgot to be myself. Nobody told me it’s OK to invest in the relationship first.”Patrick, first-time people manager in tech
What you will learn
Two intensive days covering the foundations every new leader needs. We know the research and the frameworks, and we link every concept to what actually works in practice. Everything is designed so you can put it to work the next day.
The maker-to-manager shift
What actually changes when you become a manager, and why the skills that got you here won't get you there. How to let go of the work you were good at when your value is no longer measured by what you produce yourself. Plus the personal side: managing your energy, your time, and finding your own leadership style.
Leading your people
Building relationships with your direct reports and running 1-on-1s that are genuinely useful. Managing performance: setting expectations, having honest conversations about how things are going, and knowing when to push and when to support. Delegation that actually develops people instead of just offloading tasks.
Communication that counts
Giving feedback that people actually hear, and receiving it without getting defensive. Having the difficult conversations you have been putting off. Leading meetings that respect everyone's time and actually move things forward. The skills that separate managers who communicate from managers who connect.
Managing up
Your manager is your most important stakeholder, but most new leaders never think about that relationship deliberately. How to keep your manager informed without over-reporting, how to push back when you disagree, and how to build the trust that gives you room to lead.
Real situations, not role play
No throwing balls on a beach or filling in personality profiles. Every exercise is built around actual challenges from your own work. You practice with real scenarios and leave with approaches you can use straight away.
A starting point, not a finish line
The foundation training is where it begins. As you put your new skills into practice, we offer follow-up coaching and peer sessions (available separately) to help you tackle the challenges that come next.
Built by practitioners who know the theory and the reality
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Practitioners, not professors
We are active leaders who have done the reading, attended the conferences, and tested it all in practice. Everything we bring into the room is grounded in both research and real experience.
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Practice over theory
Every concept is linked to a concrete tool or approach you can apply in your daily work. You leave with skills, not just knowledge.
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Small groups, real conversations
Maximum 16 participants, two facilitators. You work on your actual challenges with people in the same position. Everyone gets personal attention.
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Development that continues
The 2-day training is the starting point. As new challenges come up, follow-up coaching (available separately) helps you put your skills into practice and keep developing.
What we work on together, depending on your role
You know the feeling: you got the promotion, but nobody handed you a manual. This training is the space where you can be honest about that. You'll work through your actual situations with people going through the same thing, not hypothetical case studies. The goal: a sharper sense of what your role actually requires, concrete approaches for the conversations and decisions you're facing right now, and a peer group that gets it.
Your new manager gets the structured support you may not always have the time or capacity to provide yourself. The programme is built around practical skills and real situations, so the development translates directly into better performance on the job. A well-supported manager creates a better environment for their team, improving both performance and retention. Follow-up coaching (available separately) means the development can continue as new challenges arise.
This training addresses one of the most critical and commonly under-invested transitions in any organisation: the move from individual contributor to first-time leader. A well-developed and supported manager creates an environment where their team performs better and where the best people choose to stay. Investing in new leaders early is one of the most practical, high-impact decisions an organisation can make. Follow-up coaching is available separately for continued development. Delivered by two practitioners who are still active in leadership roles, bringing current, real-world experience.
Two active leaders who have been where you are
We built this programme because we remember how steep that learning curve was, and how much of a difference the right support would have made.
Daniël
Daniël has spent 13 years leading teams across organisations from scale-ups to international SaaS companies to government. The consistent lesson: you can have a brilliant plan on paper, but other people have to make it work. If you don't take the time to explain the why and the how, even the best ideas die a quiet death. He brings that experience to training: not just what the research says, but what actually holds up when you try it with real teams.
Joost
Over 17 years of leadership experience across scale-ups and enterprise organisations, Joost has built, guided and scaled teams through the kind of exponential growth that exposes every gap in structure, process and culture. He knows what it takes to keep people from getting lost when an organisation moves fast. That experience is what he brings to leadership training and coaching. Next to theoretical knowledge he brings hard-won insight into what actually helps teams and leaders grow. Straightforward, people-first, and always focused on what works in practice.
Join the first cohort
We are preparing our founding cohort. As a founding participant, you get early access at a reduced rate. In return, we ask for your honest feedback and, if you're satisfied, a testimonial we can use.
Per person, excl. VAT. Invoicing available. Limited to 16 participants.
After registration, we schedule a short intake conversation to make sure the programme fits your situation.
Questions? Reach us at info@leadership-applied.com