
The IMS + Optify Success Story
“Program participants transitioning from individual contributor to management roles worked on setting boundaries, time management, building confidence, and developing their own coaching skills to effectively support their teams. Then they were able to bridge awareness from the training and apply it into action, where they saw real results.”
Challange
For over 50 years, The Institute of Management Studies (IMS) has been a leader in providing cutting-edge leadership and management training to employees of renowned global brands. Recognizing the value of 1:1 coaching as a tool to reinforce and apply learning, IMS sought to enhance its New Manager Program with personalized coaching support through Optify. Their goal was to ensure that participants could integrate classroom insights into their day-to-day roles, building critical leadership and management skills. IMS needed a partner capable of delivering high-quality coaching aligned with its existing curriculum, designed for a diverse cohort of new managers across industries.
Solution
Optify collaborated with IMS to integrate its platform and expert coaching services into a structured, 90-day New Manager Program. The program blended IMS’s existing curriculum with personalized one-on-one coaching, creating a seamless, practical learning experience for participants.
Each module of the program focused on a core aspect of management development:
- Module 1: Essential Leadership Skills for New Managers
- Module 2: Mastering Financial Acumen
- Module 3: Leading with Impact & Developing Others
Optify’s ICF-accredited coaches supported participants after each module, helping them reflect on their learning, address potential challenges, and set actionable goals. Coaches also had access to IMS’s learning content, ensuring discussions remained tightly aligned with the training.
Participants were oriented on the coaching process to maximize session productivity. Optify emphasized creating a safe, trust-based environment where managers could explore challenges and build a growth mindset.
Impact
Optify’s coaches seamlessly integrated IMS’s learning materials into the coaching process, reinforcing training concepts and ensuring alignment between sessions and program content. Participants were given a thorough coaching orientation, preparing them to engage meaningfully and maximize the benefits of their one-on-one sessions. Building a safe and trusting coaching environment was another critical element, as it encouraged open dialogue and allowed participants to explore their challenges with confidence. Finally, the coaches emphasized real-world application, helping participants translate theoretical knowledge into practical strategies that could be immediately implemented in their roles.
The partnership between Optify and IMS yielded remarkable results, transforming the leadership capabilities of new managers and empowering them to lead with confidence.
Participant outcomes included:
- 83% became more effective leaders and managers.
- 84% improved internal communication and relationships.
- 75% enhanced team productivity and strengthened relationships with internal customers.
- 80% observed higher levels of team engagement.
Participants highlighted key areas of improvement:
- Enhanced management skills: “My coach helped me become a better manager, which will, in turn, help my employees grow.”
- Greater confidence: “I feel more confident assigning tasks and providing methodical feedback.”
- Building trust: “Open communication has elevated trust levels within my team.”
- Improved leadership insight: “Coaching deepened my understanding of what it means to lead effectively.”
Through Optify’s tailored approach, IMS successfully equipped new managers with the skills and mindset to lead effectively, creating lasting value for their organizations. This partnership underscores the transformative potential of integrating personalized coaching with leadership training programs.