Leading the Life You Want from Coursera

Pursue a meaningful life and improve your performance as a leader. Taught by acclaimed Wharton professor, best-selling author, and former Ford Motor Company executive and head of its Leadership Development Center, Stew Friedman, Leading the Life You Want provides you with the skills you need to lead in all four domains of your life: at work, at home, in the community, and in your private self (mind, body, and spirit). You'll explore the core principles of leadership and learn the skills you need to bring them to life. You learn how to find a greater sense of purpose, see how to convey values with stories, learn how to manage attention, feel less stressed, lead through serving others, and more. You'll see these skills illustrated in the inspiring yet imperfect lives of six remarkable leaders: Tom Tierney (former CEO of Bain), Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook), Michelle Obama (former First Lady), Eric Greitens (Republican Governor of Missouri), Julie Foudy (world champion soccer star and three-time Olympic medalist), and Bruce Springsteen (world-famous rock musician). You'll have the opportunity to assess your own leadership skills, and learn simple, proven exercises to practice them. By the end of this course, you'll have the tools you need to develop your skills so you can grow as a leader in all areas of your life and create greater harmony among them.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the need for alignment between various aspects of life to enhance overall well-being and leadership effectiveness

Emphasizes the importance of finding purpose, managing attention, and reducing stress

Provides practical exercises to build leadership skills in different domains, including work, home, and personal life

Taught by a Wharton professor and former Ford Motor Company executive with extensive experience in leadership development

Examines real-world examples from the lives of notable leaders

Reviews summary

Self-discovery and leadership

In Leading the Life You Want, students explore how to balance four domains of their lives: work, home, community, and personal well-being. According to reviews, this course provides tools and practical advice for developing leadership skills in all four of these areas. The course also examines real-life examples from the lives of successful leaders and provides exercises for practicing the skills covered.

Clear and engaging

"Excellent - clear, relevant, great framework"

Motivating and inspiring

"Great coursera indeed, put so much impact on my learning "

"This course helped me to do a lot of very productive self reflection."

Engaging real-world examples

"Amzing examples of actual leaders in real life."

Down-to-earth and practical

"Very practical suggestions and advice given."

Opportunities for self-reflection

"I really liked the structure of the course of how it analyzed case studies and then provided exercises to achieve the stand out traits."

Too much content to cover

"The approach and skills covered in the course is very extensive and informative. But what is challenging to me, is there are too many skills to cover and make things harder to focus on."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Leading the Life You Want with these activities:

Review Principles of Leadership

Show steps

Understand the basic building blocks of effective leadership.

Browse courses on Leadership Principles

Show steps

Read the course syllabus and skim the required readings.
Review your notes or materials from previous leadership courses or experiences.

Seek Mentorship

Show steps

Connect with experienced leaders to gain invaluable guidance and support.

Show steps

Identify potential mentors within your network or through professional organizations.
Reach out to your chosen mentors and express your interest in mentorship.
Establish clear expectations and goals for the mentorship relationship.

Read Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In'

Show steps

Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities women face in leadership.

Show steps

Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting key passages.
Reflect on the book's content and how it relates to your own leadership journey.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Role-Playing Exercises

Show steps

Improve communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.

Show steps

Find a partner or group of classmates to practice with.
Select a leadership scenario and develop a role-playing plan.
Engage in the role-playing exercise, taking turns扮演 different roles.
Reflect on the experience and identify areas for improvement.

Attend Leadership Webinars

Show steps

Stay updated on current leadership trends and best practices.

Show steps

Search for upcoming leadership webinars or online workshops.
Register and attend the webinars that align with your interests.
Take notes and engage in Q&A sessions during the webinars.

Peer Leadership Discussions

Show steps

Engage in discussions with peers to share insights and experiences.

Show steps

Form a peer group and schedule regular discussions.
Identify a topic or theme related to the course content.
Facilitate the discussions, ensuring active participation and respectful dialogue.
Document key takeaways and insights from the discussions.

Contribute to Open Leadership Projects

Show steps

Gain practical experience and connect with a global community of leaders.

Show steps

Identify open-source projects related to leadership development or organizational improvement.
Choose a project that aligns with your interests and skills.
Contribute to the project by writing code, documenting features, or participating in discussions.

Leadership Development Plan

Show steps

Create a personalized plan to enhance leadership skills and capabilities.

Show steps

Reflect on your leadership strengths and weaknesses.
Identify specific areas where you want to develop.
Develop a plan that outlines specific actions, resources, and timelines.
Present your plan to a mentor or trusted colleague for feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Leading the Life You Want will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Leadership Development Specialist

Leadership Development Specialists design, manage, and facilitate learning programs that help people develop their leadership skills. This course is highly relevant to this field, as it teaches the core principles of leadership and provides skills for bringing them to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Leadership Development Specialist

Social Worker

Social Workers help people overcome challenges and improve their well-being. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers as Social Workers as it teaches leadership through service and provides skills for managing attention, finding greater purpose, and leading in all four domains of a person's life. These skills are core to a Social Worker's role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Organizational Psychologist

Organizational Psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to improve the effectiveness of organizations and the well-being of employees. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers as Organizational Psychologists as it provides a foundation in the core principles of leadership. The focus on leadership through service and finding greater purpose may also be beneficial in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Psychologist

Life Coach

Life coaches empower and equip individuals to clarify their goals, overcome challenges, and make lasting, positive change in their lives. This course may help build a foundation for understanding the principles of leadership, which may be applied to the role of leading clients to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Life Coach

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are self-motivated, passionate individuals who are responsible for steering the course of their ventures, often in a rapidly-changing business landscape. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers as entrepreneurs as it teaches leadership in all four domains of a person's life. Entrepreneurs are expected to have a vision for their company and be able to lead through inspiration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for leading and managing nonprofits that provide vital services to communities. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers in nonprofit management as it teaches leadership through service and provides skills for finding a greater sense of purpose. These skills are critical for leaders in the nonprofit sector.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers develop and implement HR policies and procedures, oversee employee relations, and manage talent acquisition and development. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers in HR as it teaches leadership in all four domains of a person's life, which is important for managers who oversee employee development. The focus on managing attention and reducing stress may also be beneficial.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers plan, develop, and implement training programs for employees. This course may help build a foundation for this role as it teaches core principles of leadership and provides skills for managing attention, finding greater purpose, and leading through service, which can all contribute to the design and delivery of impactful training programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager

Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers work with leaders to build effective teams and organizations. This course may help build a foundation for this role by teaching core principles of leadership, as well as the skills needed to manage attention, lead through service, and find greater purpose, which can all positively impact an organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Manager

Management Analyst

Management Analysts conduct studies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations. This course may be helpful for those seeking careers as Management Analysts, as it provides skills for managing attention, finding greater purpose, and leading through service. These skills can be applied to a variety of consulting and advisory roles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects. This course may help build a foundation for this role as it teaches core principles of leadership and provides skills for managing attention, leading through service, and finding greater purpose, which can all contribute to the success of a project.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Teacher

Teachers provide instruction and support to students in a variety of settings. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers as teachers as it teaches leadership in all four domains of a person's life, which is core to the role of teaching. The focus on leading through service and finding greater purpose may also be beneficial.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Diversity and Inclusion Managers create and implement strategies to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers in diversity and inclusion as it teaches leadership in all four domains of a person's life, which can be valuable when working with people from a variety of backgrounds.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Talent Acquisition Manager

Talent Acquisition Managers oversee the recruitment and hiring process. This course may be helpful to those seeking careers in talent acquisition as it teaches leadership in all four domains of a person's life, which can positively impact a team's ability to find and hire top talent.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Acquisition Manager

Business Consultant

Business Consultants lead organizations through change, create bespoke solutions to problems, and play a pivotal role in making data-driven decisions. This course may help build a foundation for working with leaders at all levels, from business executives to members of a project management team. The focus on leadership through service may be particularly beneficial for those seeking careers in consulting, as social responsibility is a core value for many consulting firms.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant