Leading High-Performing Teams from edX

This course will blend business theory and real-world insights to teach you the skills you need to better lead people and teams within your organization. Key topics will include motivation, communication, conflict management, team dynamics, and development of a healthy organizational culture.

These “people skills” rank among the most challenging competencies for both novice and experienced leaders. This course will challenge you to understand your followers on a deeper level, as well as help you to reflect and improve on your own leadership practice.

The course will draw on knowledge from psychology, human resource management, and organizational behavior, as well as the expertise of the management faculty and The University of Queensland. Through a series of engaging videos, interviews, written reflections, peer feedback, self-insight activities, and simulations, we unpack the ingredients that are critical for developing more effective people and higher performing teams.

What you'll learn

How to better motivate, engage, and develop followers.
Improve your skill in recognising, diagnosing, and transforming dysfunctional teams.
Develop more effective strategies for dealing with and resolving workplace conflicts.
Establish a work culture that brings out the best in others.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to better motivate, engage, and develop followers.
Improve your skill in recognising, diagnosing, and transforming dysfunctional teams.

Develop more effective strategies for dealing with and resolving workplace conflicts.
Establish a work culture that brings out the best in others.

How to better motivate, engage, and develop followers.
Improve your skill in recognising, diagnosing, and transforming dysfunctional teams.
Develop more effective strategies for dealing with and resolving workplace conflicts.
Establish a work culture that brings out the best in others.

Syllabus

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO TEAMS Focuses on recognizing the distinction between groups and teams; developing an understanding of your own group/team loyalties and priorities and considering the building blocks for high-performing teams.

MODULE 2: MOTIVATING AND ENGAGING PEOPLE Examines what motivates and engages people at work, developing strategies for improving motivation and engagement in your employees, and what motivates and drives your own behavior.

MODULE 3: MANAGING WORK RELATIONSHIPS Considers the nature of your work relationships, how to develop strategies for strengthening employee trust and attachment to the group, how to manage those particularly difficult people at work, and recognizing the importance of external stakeholder relationships.

MODULE 4: LEADING TEAMS FOR EXECUTION Considers how to recognize the ingredients for team execution, how to identify challenges in team communication and coordination, and how to develop strategies to enhance team communication/coordination.

MODULE 5: LEADING TEAMS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS Focuses on recognizing the value of openness and inclusion for problem solving and creative teams, how to develop better problem solving in your teams - both in execution and in team culture.

MODULE 6: WHEN GOOD TEAMS FAIL (PART 1): TOO MUCH CONFLICT! Examines the causes and consequences of serious and escalating conflict, developing strategies for preventing serious/escalating conflict, and developing competencies for resolving serious conflict.

MODULE 7: WHEN GOOD TEAMS FAIL (PART 2): TOO MUCH COHESION! Enables you to recognize the warning signs that your team is too cohesive and develop strategies for promoting productive conflict in teams.

MODULE 8: BRINGING DIVIDED GROUPS TOGETHER Enables you to recognize patterns and implications of intergroup behavior in your organization, develop strategies for bridging organizational silos and identify the steps for building an inclusive organizational identity.

MODULE 9: ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE Enables you to identify the impact of organizational culture and its (non) alignment to a broader organizational strategy, and recognize points of potential influence when trying to change organizational culture.

MODULE 10: BRINGING IT TOGETHER: ANALYZING AND DEVELOPING YOUR TEAM Develops skills in recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of your team, critically analyzing the processes affecting team effectiveness, and considering ways to further develop your team for high-performance.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches ways to better motivate and engage followers

Develops strategies for transforming dysfunctional teams and improving team execution

Covers the importance of building an inclusive organizational culture that promotes problem-solving and creativity

Examines strategies for managing difficult people and resolving conflicts in a constructive manner

Led by Tyler G. Okimoto, an instructor with expertise in organizational behavior and human resource management

Reviews summary

Excellent guide to high-performing teams

According to students, Leading High-Performing Teams is an excellent guide to improving team performance within the workplace and offers a great course to learn how to motivate and engage individuals to build high-performing teams.

Students learn highly effective techniques to lead high-performing teams.

"This course gave me knowledge on how to lead high performing teams."

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 High-Performing Teams with these activities:

Review basic organizational behavior concepts

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Prepare for this course by reviewing basic organizational behavior concepts to strengthen your foundation and improve your understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Motivation

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Read the introduction to your organizational behavior textbook
Research the history and evolution of organizational behavior
Identify the key concepts and theories in organizational behavior

Follow tutorials on effective communication for leaders

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Enhance your communication skills by following online tutorials that provide practical tips and techniques for effective communication in leadership roles.

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Search for tutorials on effective communication for leaders
Follow the steps and apply the techniques presented in the tutorials
Reflect on how these techniques can improve your communication as a leader

Join a study group

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Reinforce your understanding of course material by discussing concepts with peers and working together on assignments and projects.

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Find a study partner or group through online forums or social media
Set regular meeting times and stick to them
Prepare for each meeting by reviewing the material and identifying areas for discussion

Five other activities

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Read 'Leading Teams: A Practical Guide'

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Expand your understanding of team leadership by reading and analyzing a book that provides practical insights and evidence-based strategies for leading high-performing teams.

View Senior Leadership Teams: What It Takes to Make... on Amazon

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Read each chapter thoroughly
Summarize the key takeaways from each chapter
Reflect on how the concepts presented in the book apply to your own leadership practice

Attend workshops on leadership and team building

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Deepen your knowledge and skills in leadership and team building by attending workshops led by experts and practitioners in these fields.

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Search for workshops on leadership and team building
Attend the workshops and actively participate in exercises and discussions
Reflect on the insights gained from the workshops and apply them to your own leadership practice

Develop a team-building plan

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Apply your knowledge of team dynamics and leadership to create a comprehensive plan for building and managing effective teams.

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Identify the key principles of team building
Develop a plan that outlines specific strategies and activities for building team cohesion, communication, and collaboration
Describe how you would measure the success of your plan

Practice conflict resolution scenarios

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Enhance your conflict resolution skills by engaging in role-playing exercises and simulations to develop practical strategies for managing and resolving conflicts within teams.

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Identify common conflict scenarios that may arise in the workplace
Develop a range of conflict resolution strategies
Practice using these strategies in role-playing exercises
Evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies and make adjustments as needed

Contribute to open-source projects related to team management

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Apply your knowledge of team management and leadership by contributing to open-source projects that focus on improving team collaboration and productivity.

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Identify open-source projects related to team management
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute
Make a pull request with your proposed changes

Career center

Learners who complete Leading High-Performing Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Team Leader

Team Leaders are responsible for leading and managing their teams to achieve organizational goals. This course can help Team Leaders build their skills in motivating, engaging, and developing their teams, as well as in managing conflict and creating a positive team culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

Manager of Training and Development

Managers of Training and Development are responsible for developing and delivering training programs within organizations. This course may be useful for Managers of Training and Development as it provides valuable insights into leadership, team management, and conflict resolution.

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

Leadership Development Specialist

Leadership Development Specialists are responsible for developing and delivering leadership training programs within organizations. This course may be useful for Leadership Development Specialists as it provides valuable insights into leadership, team management, and conflict resolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Leadership Development Specialist

Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers are responsible for improving an organization's overall performance and effectiveness. This course can be helpful for Organizational Development Managers as it provides valuable insights into team dynamics, culture, and conflict management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Manager

Executive Coach

Executive Coaches work with senior leaders to help them develop their leadership skills and achieve their goals. This course may be useful for Executive Coaches as it provides valuable insights into leadership, team management, and conflict resolution.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and deliver projects, and they are responsible for managing project teams and ensuring project success. This course covers several topics that are relevant to Project Managers, including team dynamics, conflict management, and communication strategies.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers oversee an organization's human capital management, which includes hiring, employee development, and performance management. This course can be helpful for Human Resources Managers as it provides valuable insights into motivating, engaging, and developing employees.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Organizational Psychologist

Organizational Psychologists study the behavior of individuals and groups within organizations. This course may be useful for Organizational Psychologists as it provides valuable insights into team dynamics, conflict management, and organizational culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Psychologist

Consultant

Consultants provide expert advice and support to organizations on a wide range of issues, including leadership, team management, and organizational culture. This course can be useful for Consultants as it provides valuable insights into these areas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Talent Management Specialist

Talent Management Specialists are responsible for recruiting, developing, and retaining talent within organizations. This course may be useful for Talent Management Specialists as it provides valuable insights into motivating, engaging, and developing employees.

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Supervisor

Supervisors oversee the work of a team or department and are responsible for ensuring that their teams meet their goals. This course may be useful for Supervisors as it provides valuable insights into leadership, team management, and conflict resolution.

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Director of Human Resources

Directors of Human Resources oversee an organization's human capital management, which includes hiring, employee development, and performance management. This course may be helpful for Directors of Human Resources, as it provides valuable insights into motivating, engaging, and developing employees.

See salaries and explore the career path for Director of Human Resources

Industrial and Organizational Psychologist

Industrial and Organizational Psychologists apply psychological principles to the workplace to improve employee productivity and satisfaction. This course may be useful for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists as it provides valuable insights into team dynamics, conflict management, and organizational culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial and Organizational Psychologist

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers lead and oversee their organization's overall operations, including resource allocation, strategic planning, and team management. Since it covers the important aspects of team management and organizational culture, this course may be useful for Chief Executive Officers.

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Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officers oversee an organization's operational aspects and ensure its smooth and efficient functioning. This course may be useful for Chief Operating Officers since it covers team management and communication strategies.

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