CEE New Managers Training 2024: stories from Prague

As an organisation, we place the development of our people, whether personal or professional, at the heart of our every initiative. It is essential for us to ensure that our people are properly equipped with the necessary tools and information, especially when expanding their roles or transitioning into new challenges. Therefore, CEE New Managers training represents a reflection of our attitude. In the spirit of a truly international organisation, we are fostering the collaboration between countries and regions through our initiatives, and this event makes no exception.

According to our tradition, the training changes its home with each edition, being hosted this year by our lovely colleagues in the Prague office. In attendance, we could find new assistant managers and managers from all countries in the region, representing different departments and functions within the company. While the ultimate purpose of the event was to amplify their skills and knowledge, we cannot overlook the networking and community building aspects of it all. The event started with a teambuilding exercise, meant to transform the traditional introductions into something fun, building a relaxed atmosphere throughout.

Following the agenda, our participants had the opportunity to dive into training meant to develop their skills in areas such as public speaking, delegation, active listening, receiving and delivering feedback and conflict management. Working in teams, they shared their perspectives on how to approach a difficult situation, whether with the team or with a client, decoded communication profiles and understood the importance of always adapting to the style of the person you are working with. During the business development training, our colleagues learned how to introduce themselves, how to build and maintain relationships with their clients and stakeholders and how to approach negotiation at all levels.

The gala that marked the end of this year’s training brought an important moment for our entire team. Several Forvis Mazars in CEE firms received the Best Place to Work certification with an announcement from the executive director of the company, present at the event.  

The valuable lesson that our new managers took home after the event was shared unanimously among them: building connections that last and creating an environment that fosters collaboration are the key elements in succeeding in their new endeavours.

While we have shared the most important aspects of CEE New Managers Training 2024, it is important to hear directly from the people at the centre of the action. Let’s dive together into the testimonials of some of our colleagues, who participated in the event!

The participation in the CEE New Managers Training was a beneficial one, especially due to the networking opportunities me and my colleagues had during the event. We met our colleagues from all the countries in the region, with whom we interacted across all training days.

Teamwork was the central element of the event, this being highlighted through the team activities and games in which we participated throughout the three days.

The newly obtained information can for sure be implemented in our daily activity, in delegating tasks, offering and receiving feedback, or in one-to-one discussions. These will also contribute to a more effective client management, both for existing and future clients.

Alexandru Ilie, Manager, Outsourcing – Accounting

The participation at the training represented a valuable experience, with an immediate impact. Approximately 70-80% of the course was based on practical exercises, which allowed me to interact with our colleagues from the whole region. It was extremely useful to work together, sharing ideas and different methods that will help us manage the future challenges of our roles.

I’m eager to integrate the new communication and feedback techniques learned at the training into my daily activities. With their help, I will build within my team an open working environment, based on collaboration and trust. 

Andreea Văduva, Human Resources Business Partner

I’m glad I had the opportunity to participate in this training, accumulating new notions and experiences, alongside our colleagues from the region.

I considered the training to be very well structured, having included, alongside the theoretical part, case studies and practical exercises which allowed us to apply the concepts presented into daily situations.

We had the opportunity to work together with colleagues from the entire region, to share ideas and to learn from one another, discovering different perspectives and ideas. I understood, also, how valuable the diversity of perspectives can be when approaching a challenge.

The training taught me that an efficient leader must be capable to clearly communicate the objectives and expectations for the team, actively listening to the team’s feedback and creating a positive and productive work environment.

Raluca Cojocariu, Assistant Manager, Outsourcing – HR & Payroll