Typically, employees fulfill management roles because of their strong technical skills, but that doesn't always mean they're ready to handle the people component of management. However, a comprehensive management training program can help those employees effectively supervise their subordinates, says Sheryl Kovach, president and CEO of Kandor Group, a human resources consulting firm in Houston.

"Managing people is an entirely different ballgame than managing processes or managing the manufacturing of a product," Kovach says. "People have emotions, and people have issues. Being able to manage that and manage it effectively requires another skill set than the technical piece of the job. That's especially important for newer managers."

Kovach finds that managers particularly need help with giving constructive criticism. When an employee is having a performance problem or attendance issue, some managers have a natural tendency to ignore the problem, hoping it will go away on its own, but this is not the typical outcome. Managers have to be ready to proactively address the situation in a professional, diplomatic manner.