The Leadership Institute at Columbus State University and Middle Georgia State University have teamed up to host “How Deep is Your Bench? Leadership Excellence Certification for Rookie Leaders,” a series of programs for front-line managers and emerging leaders in Middle Georgia.

Beginning in January, sessions will be held on Middle Georgia State University's Macon Campus, from 8 a.m. to noon, on the second Wednesday of each month.

In a 2014 survey by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, 77 percent of respondents said front-line managers are important in helping their organization reach business goals, yet only 12 percent said their organization currently invests sufficiently in the development of front-line managers. A lack of leadership development for front-line managers negatively impacts employee engagement productivity, quality, customer service and turnover, the report said. Because they are great workers, many front-line employees are promoted but many lack people-management skills and discover that achieving results through others is a challenge.

With interactive and entertaining sessions titled "Not Right or Wrong, Just Different," "Working With You is Killing Me" and "Change is Good, You Go First," attendees will learn relevant skills they can use in their professional and personal lives.

Participants can choose from individual sessions or attend them all. Individual sessions start at $159 each. The full program and Leadership Excellence Certification is $1,250, a savings of $418 versus purchasing individual sessions.

View the full program, including session descriptions and dates, and enroll your employees today at www.HowDeepisYourBench.com.