Management Foundation Series

Building Teams That Win – One Manager at a Time

At LSU, we know that strong teams start with strong leaders. That’s why the Management Foundation Series (MFS) is designed to equip supervisors and managers with the critical tools, strategies, and mindsets needed to build and lead winning teams.

Series Structure

The courses can be taken in any order. In order to register for the Capstone course, all classes, including the prerequisites, need to be taken.

Prerequisites:

  • Managing 101
    Start with the basics of onboarding, employee engagement, and building a foundation of trust as a manager at LSU.
  • Policy Basics
    Understand key responsibilities around leave, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), supervisor expectations, and LSU-specific policies.

Core Courses:

Each course includes a small fee to support lunch, resources, materials, and assessments. The People course includes a DiSC Management profile assessment, which accounts for a higher cost.

Managing People

Includes DiSC Assessment Fee.

Manage more effectively by learning about your management preferences and priorities using the DiSC Management profile. Learn how to motivate, delegate, and develop your employees based on their preferences and priorities, as well as how to manage your relationship with your supervisor!

Managing Conflict

Managers will learn about the five conflict management styles and learn how to use each one successfully in the workplace. Managers will also learn how to establish a work environment that reduces unproductive conflict in the workplace.

Managing Performance

Learn how to identify and respond to a performance problem, understand the Workday process, identify ways to increase motivation, provide specific feedback, and address performance issues through the positive discipline process.

Managing Teams

Managers will explore team dynamics, culture, and the team formation process to help build and lead effective teams. This course will help managers understand the importance of trust and psychological safety in the workplace.

Capstone

Wrap up the Managing Foundations Series with a capstone workshop! We will work through scenarios and build on connections across series concepts through group work on activities.

Who Should Attend?

  • Aspiring managers
  • New managers
  • Experienced leaders seeking structured development

What is DiSC?

At the heart of the Management Foundation Series is a powerful tool for understanding yourself and others: the DiSC® Management Profile.

DiSC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness — four core behavioral styles that help explain how people approach work, communication, decision-making, and leadership.

Each manager who takes part in the Managing People course receives a personalized DiSC report that:

  • Identifies their preferred management style
  • Highlights strengths and potential blind spots
  • Offers strategies to improve communication, motivation, and delegation with direct reports

Why it Matters:

Great managers don’t treat everyone the same. They treat everyone fairly by understanding their unique needs and adjusting their approach.

It is important to note that DiSC is woven throughout the series. Although the courses can be taken at any point, having a knowledge of DiSC is important for the series.

Schedule & Registration

Courses are offered throughout the year. Registration is required for all classes. Employees can register through the Training and Event Registration site.

Employees may want to receive supervisor approval prior to as there is a cost associated with the core courses. If attendees do not cancel within the cancellation period, a charge may still occur for departments.

Feedback from LSU Leaders

Business Manager, ITS

“The MFS has helped me reevaluate how to approach issues with coworkers with different work styles than my own. If I don't get along with someone or am getting too aggressive, I can take a step back and remember how to develop better working relationships with coworkers who differ in DiSC or Conflict Resolution styles. I don't always have to be right, and there are other solutions that other coworkers bring to the table that I wouldn't have considered if I were so strictly "my way or the highway"."
 

Director, Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College 

“The Management Series has been thoughtfully curated to equip individuals in leadership roles—whether new managers or seasoned administrators—with essential tools through a holistic approach. I appreciated the broad scope of the series, which went beyond managing people and teams to also include strategies for managing projects effectively. The series enhanced my self-awareness and encouraged me to be more intentional in my role. It offered practical strategies for excelling in all areas of management. I walked away with a deeper understanding of my team, along with best practices for empowering staff, organizing tasks, and navigating challenges. The entire Training & Organizational Development team has done an outstanding job in delivering such a valuable and impactful program!”
 

Manager, Risk Management 

“The Management Foundation series was excellent. It provided valuable insights into my own tendencies in managing conflict, as well as a deeper understanding of my personality profile and leadership styles. I enjoyed the content, course instructor, and the opportunity to network with other emerging leaders at LSU.”