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Ron Duren Jr.
Before we can lead others well, we must first learn to lead ourselves well. Knowing your why is an important part of this journey. In this course, you will identify your core purpose and recognize meaning in your life, explore the power of spirituality and embracing our mortality, create a lasting impact by serving a greater good, describe your character and practice personal excellence.
Read more
Before we can lead others well, we must first learn to lead ourselves well. Knowing your why is an important part of this journey. In this course, you will identify your core purpose and recognize meaning in your life, explore the power of spirituality and embracing our mortality, create a lasting impact by serving a greater good, describe your character and practice personal excellence.
Read more
Before we can lead others well, we must first learn to lead ourselves well. Knowing your why is an important part of this journey. In this course, you will identify your core purpose and recognize meaning in your life, explore the power of spirituality and embracing our mortality, create a lasting impact by serving a greater good, describe your character and practice personal excellence.
This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/5p0yfb/leading
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What's inside
Syllabus
Defining Purpose and Creating Meaning
This week we will explore the often contentious concepts of purpose and meaning. We will explore such questions as: Does my life have meaning? What is my purpose for being here? Are these important to live my best life? You will come away with an understanding of how coherence, purpose and significance play a part in meaning. Lastly, with this clarity, we will craft a plan to live our lives with focused intent.
Read more
Syllabus
Defining Purpose and Creating Meaning
This week we will explore the often contentious concepts of purpose and meaning. We will explore such questions as: Does my life have meaning? What is my purpose for being here? Are these important to live my best life? You will come away with an understanding of how coherence, purpose and significance play a part in meaning. Lastly, with this clarity, we will craft a plan to live our lives with focused intent.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Explores the concept of purpose and its role in a fulfilling life
Examines the power of spirituality and how it can enhance well-being
Emphasizes the importance of creating a lasting impact and serving a greater good
Focuses on the development of character and personal values
Provides a model for personal excellence and overcoming perfectionism
Part of a larger academic program, the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree from CU Boulder
This course is designed for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and professional experience in engineering, science, or technical fields who are looking to develop leadership and management skills
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Reviews summary
Self-leadership for purposeful living
According to learners, this course is a highly impactful journey into self-leadership, widely praised for its ability to help individuals define personal purpose and find meaning. Many found the content on character development and crafting a personal ethos particularly actionable and transformative. While some professional learners sought more concrete management strategies, the course is broadly valued for its deep self-reflection and its relevance to leading oneself before others. The instructors are consistently lauded for their engaging approach, and recent reviews indicate ongoing course improvements.
Unique modules; some found them deep, others less relevant.
"The content on mortality and spirituality was unique for a management-related course and added a lot of depth."
"Some parts on spirituality felt a bit vague for me, but overall, it's a solid course for self-reflection."
"I appreciated the inclusion of spirituality and mortality as it broadened my perspective beyond typical leadership training."
Debate on whether the course is too abstract or sufficiently practical.
"Honestly, this course felt more like a philosophy class than something for engineering management. I was looking for more concrete leadership strategies for a professional context."
"The course is okay. It reiterates common self-help ideas. Not much new, but the structured approach might help some. Expected more depth on professional application."
"As an engineer, I found the practical application of these leadership principles to my own life invaluable. It helps you build a personal ethos for action."
Recent improvements enhance content and relevance.
"The updated materials are fantastic; it shows the course creators are committed to improving."
"The recent updates to the module on character development were noticeable and very well done."
"It's reassuring to see the course continually improved based on feedback, making it even more valuable."
Instructors are highly praised for their engaging and guiding approach.
"The instructor's approach made complex topics accessible and deeply engaging. Highly recommend."
"I felt truly guided by the instructor throughout the course. They are clearly passionate and knowledgeable."
"The instructors are clearly passionate and knowledgeable. Their guidance made the self-exploration very effective."
Provides practical tools and exercises for profound personal growth.
"Crafting my personal ethos was a transformative experience. This course provides actionable steps, not just abstract ideas."
"The exercises were helpful; they really pushed me to reflect deeply on my values and how I lead my life."
"I found the practical application of these leadership principles to my own life invaluable. It helped me put theory into practice."
Helps learners identify their 'why' and live with focused intent.
"This course truly changed my perspective on life. The modules on defining purpose and creating meaning were incredibly insightful."
"I loved how this course helped me identify my 'why' and truly understand my purpose, which is crucial before leading others."
"It's not just theory; it helps you build a personal ethos and clarified what I stand for in life."
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 Oneself with Purpose and Meaning with these
activities:
Create a vision board or collage that represents your purpose and values
Show steps
Creating a visual representation of your purpose and values helps reinforce and internalize them.
Browse courses on
Personal Excellence
Show steps
-
Gather images, quotes, and other materials that represent your purpose and values
-
Arrange the materials on a board or collage
-
Reflect on the collage and identify patterns and themes
-
Display the collage in a prominent place
Practice writing personal mission statements
Show steps
Writing personal mission statements regularly helps students clarify and refine their purpose and values.
Browse courses on
Personal Excellence
Show steps
-
Reflect on your values and beliefs
-
Identify your strengths and weaknesses
-
Set long-term goals
-
Craft a personal mission statement that captures your purpose and values
Review 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl
Show steps
Frankl's book provides insights into the importance of purpose and meaning in life, especially in the face of adversity.
View
Embracing Hope
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book
-
Take notes and highlight key passages
-
Discuss the book with others
-
Apply the principles to your own life
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Join or create a peer support group for students exploring their purpose and direction
Show steps
Peer support groups provide a safe and supportive environment for students to share experiences, insights, and encouragement.
Browse courses on
Personal Excellence
Show steps
-
Identify or create a peer support group
-
Attend regular meetings
-
Share your experiences and challenges
-
Provide support and encouragement to other members
-
Reflect on your experiences in the group and their impact on your personal growth
Create a vision board or collage that represents your purpose and values
Show steps
Creating a visual representation of your purpose and values helps reinforce and internalize them.
Browse courses on
Personal Excellence
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather images, quotes, and other materials that represent your purpose and values
- Arrange the materials on a board or collage
- Reflect on the collage and identify patterns and themes
- Display the collage in a prominent place
Practice writing personal mission statements
Show steps
Writing personal mission statements regularly helps students clarify and refine their purpose and values.
Browse courses on
Personal Excellence
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Reflect on your values and beliefs
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses
- Set long-term goals
- Craft a personal mission statement that captures your purpose and values
Review 'Man's Search for Meaning' by Viktor Frankl
Show steps
Frankl's book provides insights into the importance of purpose and meaning in life, especially in the face of adversity.
View
Embracing Hope
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book
- Take notes and highlight key passages
- Discuss the book with others
- Apply the principles to your own life
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Join or create a peer support group for students exploring their purpose and direction
Show steps
Peer support groups provide a safe and supportive environment for students to share experiences, insights, and encouragement.
Browse courses on
Personal Excellence
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify or create a peer support group
- Attend regular meetings
- Share your experiences and challenges
- Provide support and encouragement to other members
- Reflect on your experiences in the group and their impact on your personal growth
Career center
Learners who complete Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Life Coach
Life Coach
Life coaches are trained to help people identify their core values, set goals, and make positive changes in their lives. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful life coach. You will learn how to help your clients define their purpose, create a meaningful life, and achieve their goals.
Minister
Minister
Ministers provide spiritual guidance and support to their congregations. They help people to connect with their faith, find meaning in their lives, and live倫理道德 lives. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective minister. You will learn how to lead people in worship, teach them about their faith, and provide counseling and support.
Philanthropist
Philanthropist
Philanthropists use their wealth and resources to make a positive impact on the world. They support causes that they care about, such as education, healthcare, and the environment. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can help you to develop a philanthropic mindset. You will learn how to identify your passions, set goals for your philanthropy, and make a lasting difference in the world.
Social Worker
Social Worker
Social workers help people to overcome challenges and improve their lives. They work with individuals, families, and communities to provide support, counseling, and resources. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective social worker. You will learn how to assess people's needs, develop plans to help them achieve their goals, and advocate for their rights.
Teacher
Teacher
Teachers help students to learn and grow. They create lesson plans, teach classes, and assess student progress. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective teacher. You will learn how to create engaging lesson plans, manage a classroom, and motivate students to learn.
Counselor
Counselor
Counselors help people to cope with mental health issues and life challenges. They provide support, guidance, and advice to help people improve their mental health and well-being. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective counselor. You will learn how to assess people's mental health needs, develop treatment plans, and provide counseling and support.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. They are responsible for developing and implementing programs, managing staff, and fundraising. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective nonprofit manager. You will learn how to set goals, create budgets, manage staff, and evaluate program outcomes.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers oversee the human resources department of an organization. They are responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training employees, as well as developing and implementing HR policies and procedures. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in human resources. You will learn how to develop and implement HR policies and procedures, manage employee relations, and create a positive work environment.
Organizational Development Consultant
Organizational Development Consultant
Organizational development consultants help organizations to improve their performance and achieve their goals. They work with organizations to identify areas for improvement, develop and implement change initiatives, and evaluate the results of change efforts. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in organizational development. You will learn how to diagnose organizational problems, develop and implement change initiatives, and evaluate the results of change efforts.
Leadership Development Consultant
Leadership Development Consultant
Leadership development consultants help leaders to develop their skills and abilities. They work with leaders to identify areas for improvement, develop and implement leadership development programs, and evaluate the results of leadership development efforts. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in leadership development. You will learn how to develop and implement leadership development programs, evaluate the results of leadership development efforts, and coach and mentor leaders.
Executive Coach
Executive Coach
Executive coaches help executives to improve their performance and achieve their goals. They work with executives to identify areas for improvement, develop and implement coaching plans, and evaluate the results of coaching efforts. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in executive coaching. You will learn how to develop and implement coaching plans, evaluate the results of coaching efforts, and coach and mentor executives.
Career Counselor
Career Counselor
Career counselors help people to find and achieve their career goals. They work with people to assess their skills and interests, develop job search strategies, and prepare for job interviews. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in career counseling. You will learn how to assess people's skills and interests, develop job search strategies, and prepare for job interviews.
Talent Acquisition Manager
Talent Acquisition Manager
Talent acquisition managers oversee the recruitment and hiring of employees for an organization. They develop and implement recruiting strategies, manage the recruiting process, and evaluate the results of recruiting efforts. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in talent acquisition. You will learn how to develop and implement recruiting strategies, manage the recruiting process, and evaluate the results of recruiting efforts.
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
Diversity and inclusion managers oversee the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives for an organization. They work to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all employees. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in diversity and inclusion. You will learn how to develop and implement diversity and inclusion initiatives, create a more inclusive and equitable workplace, and advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Employee Engagement Manager
Employee Engagement Manager
Employee engagement managers oversee the development and implementation of employee engagement initiatives for an organization. They work to create a more engaged and productive workforce. The Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career in employee engagement. You will learn how to develop and implement employee engagement initiatives, create a more engaged and productive workforce, and advocate for employee engagement.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5p0yfb/leading
Reading list
We've selected 15 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning.
Save
Viktor Frankl's book is about finding meaning in life, even in the face of adversity. It can help you to develop a sense of purpose and resilience.
Save
Gretchen Rubin's book is about finding happiness through a series of small changes, and it can help you to think about what's important to you and how to live a more meaningful life.
Save
Les Brown's book is about finding your purpose in life and using it to make a difference in the world. It can help you to identify your strengths, passions, and values.
Save
Brené Brown's book is about accepting yourself for who you are, and letting go of the need to be perfect. It can help you to build self-compassion and resilience.
Save
The Dalai Lama's book is about finding happiness through compassion, mindfulness, and meditation. It can help you to develop a more positive outlook on life and to find inner peace.
Eckhart Tolle's book is about living in the present moment and letting go of the past and future. It can help you to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Rick Warren's book is about finding your purpose in life and living it out for God. It can help you to connect with your faith and to make a difference in the world.
Save
Paulo Coelho's book is about following your dreams and finding your purpose in life. It can help you to overcome challenges and to stay motivated.
Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace's book is about how to build a creative culture. It can help you to understand the characteristics of creative cultures and to develop strategies for fostering creativity.
Stephen Covey's book is about developing habits that can help you to be more effective in all areas of your life. It can help you to set goals, manage your time, and build relationships.
Clayton M. Christensen's book is about how to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. It can help you to understand the challenges of innovation and to develop strategies for success.
Save
Jim Collins's book is about how to build a great company. It can help you to understand the characteristics of great companies and to develop strategies for achieving greatness.
Eric Ries's book is about how to start a successful startup. It can help you to validate your business idea, build a minimum viable product, and get your startup off the ground.
Peter Thiel's book is about how to build a successful technology company. It can help you to understand the challenges of building a technology company and to develop strategies for success.
Ben Horowitz's book is about the challenges of being a CEO. It can help you to understand the challenges of running a business and to develop strategies for success.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5p0yfb/leading
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Effort
5 weeks of study
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Colorado Boulder
Instructor
Ron Duren Jr.
Language
English
Transcript
tiếng Việt
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Principles of Leadership: Leading Oneself. It's comprised of three courses:
- Leading Oneself with Personal Excellence
- Leading Oneself with Purpose and Meaning (viewing)
- Leading Oneself with Self-Knowledge
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