SME-specific further training
The Swiss Institute for SMEs and Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Gallen offers various training courses that are explicitly tailored to the needs of SMEs. One example of this is the "SME leadership skills" seminar.
The "SME Leadership Competence" seminar is based on the claim "Knowledge - Tools - Effective Behavior". The aim is to impart practical skills for implementation in day-to-day management and to encourage reflection on one's own leadership behavior. This makes the seminar suitable for all people with leadership responsibility: from young professionals in team management to experienced leaders. This program offers space to receive leadership impulses for everyday life, to share one's own knowledge and individual experiences, to refresh knowledge, to reflect on personal behaviour and to try out (new) tools.
Diverse demands on SME managers
SME managers are currently facing a variety of challenges such as digitalization, hybrid working models, attracting and retaining employees and creating a working environment that promotes motivation and commitment. In addition, managers must make quick decisions under uncertainty and continuously develop their own skills and abilities and learn new skills. The seminar addresses these challenges and provides impulses on fundamental topics of corporate, self-, employee and team management as well as communication. There is also space to discuss your own individual topics and challenges from day-to-day management and to use the group as a space for experience. The group size of a maximum of 20 people contributes to a trusting exchange. Participants find this particularly valuable.
AI is treated in a demand-oriented manner
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in the SME environment. AI, as a tool for day-to-day management, plays a role in all seminar topics and is used as required by the participants: for example, to prepare feedback and appraisal interviews, formulate emails, prepare presentations, document meetings or facilitate work processes. More important than the respective AI tools are the fundamental questions of what is to be achieved with the use of AI (time saving, pool of ideas, formulation aid) and what responsibility this entails.
Continuous further development
With its specific focus on employee management, the SME Leadership seminar is part of four public programs offered by the KMU-HSG: the two General Management programs, "Intensive Studies for SMEs (DAS)" and "St. Gallen Management Seminar for SMEs (CAS)", as well as the "SME Leadership" seminar for experienced managers at top management level. All seminars are coordinated in terms of content and complement each other. What they all have in common is a clear focus on managers in SMEs - across the entire life cycle in an entrepreneurial context. A new seminar is currently being developed as an advanced format that directly follows on from the "SME Leadership Competence" seminar and deepens and complements it with a focus on the development of leadership personality.
Author
Dr. Heike Heckelmann has been Seminar and Project Manager at the SME Institute of the University of St. Gallen since 2019. In addition to the SME Leadership Competence seminar, her area of responsibility also includes in-house programs up to CAS level, continuing education partnerships for companies and the health topic cluster. She is also a systemic business coach, personnel developer and accredited trainer for the Team Management System (TMS).
