The Discipline of Leadership from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Leader Emergence and Effectiveness

This module will cover key concepts related to personality, leadership traits, and character that can help develop your capacity as an ethical leader as we begin to develop your knowledge of leadership (the K in KSAOs—Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Other). Through lectures, readings, and self-assessments, you will learn about predictors of leader emergence and leader effectiveness. These concepts include the “Big 5” (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), affect, and mindset. Finally, you will learn that, although your personality, traits, and character might be one way right now, these are also changeable.

KSAOs: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Other

While Module 1 started to build your knowledge (the K in KSAOs), Module 2 goes in more depth to add to your knowledge while also covering key skills and abilities (the SAs in KSAOs) that impact leadership. Specifically, we will cover key leadership behaviors, including consideration, initiating structure, and transformational leadership. This week’s lessons also go over the importance of trust, and how to increase the likelihood that you behave in ways that show others you are worthy of their trust. In the second lesson, we will put the content that you have learned thus far together to help guide you through critical thinking about the discipline of leadership. Specifically, you will get to respond to a challenging leadership situation. Together, these elements contribute to your development as an ethical leader.

Common Situations in Which Leaders Find Themselves

Week 3 covers common leadership situations and includes learning fundamental negotiation basics and change management principles (including effective influence tactics). We will also review essential insights to help you respond effectively to emotionally charged conversations. Learners should leave this week understanding that leaders need a broad array of knowledge to identify and effectively implement optimal strategies for the situations leaders face at work. This insight is key to developing as an ethical leader.

Putting it All Together

The final week in this course addresses the other factors that can impact the extent to which you are able to execute the leadership lessons we’ve covered so far (the O in KSAOs). Although situational factors are discussed less frequently in the context of leadership, they nonetheless play an important role in leadership effectiveness. Ethical leaders are able to effectively address these situational factors to deliver optimal results.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for learners who want to enhance their leadership effectiveness and increase leadership opportunities

Great course for those looking to develop a better understanding of leader emergence and effectiveness

Covers essential leadership skills, including consideration, initiating structure, and transformational leadership

Provides guidance on handling common leadership situations, such as negotiation basics and change management principles

Emphasizes the importance of trust and ethical decision-making in leadership

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 The Discipline of Leadership with these activities:

Self-Assessment: Leadership Traits and Skills

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Engage in self-assessments to identify your strengths and areas for improvement as a leader, allowing you to focus on targeted development.

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Take online self-assessments or utilize tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
Seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors.
Regularly reflect on your leadership behaviors and identify areas for growth.

Read 'Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box'

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Review this book to build a foundational understanding of leadership and self-awareness, which are critical to success in leadership roles.

View Leadership and Self-Deception on Amazon

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Purchase and read the book.
Take notes on key concepts and ideas.
Reflect on how the concepts relate to your own leadership style.

Read and review additional books on leadership

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Reviewing additional books and materials on leadership can provide you with a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

View Leadership in Organizations, Global Edition on Amazon

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Identify several books on leadership that align with your interests and learning goals.
Read and take notes on the books, highlighting key concepts and insights.
Summarize the main ideas and takeaways from each book.
Reflect on how the insights from the books can be applied to your own leadership development.

Five other activities

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Engage in peer-to-peer discussions and feedback sessions.

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Engaging with your peers can provide you with valuable insights and perspectives on leadership.

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Identify a group of peers who are also interested in leadership development and willing to engage in discussions.
Meet regularly to discuss leadership concepts, share experiences, and provide feedback to each other.

Develop a personal leadership development plan.

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Creating a personal leadership development plan will help you apply the concepts you learn in the course to your own professional growth.

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Identify your current strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth as a leader.
Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for your leadership development.
Develop a plan outlining the actions you will take to achieve your goals.
Regularly monitor your progress and make adjustments to your plan as needed.

Attend Industry Conferences and Workshops

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Attend industry events to connect with peers, learn from experts, and explore new leadership perspectives and best practices.

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Identify relevant industry conferences and workshops.
Register and plan your attendance.
Actively participate in sessions and discussions.
Connect with other attendees and exchange ideas.
Follow up with new contacts after the event.

Lead a project or initiative that challenges you to apply leadership skills and knowledge.

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Leading a project will provide you with hands-on experience in applying leadership concepts.

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Identify a project or initiative that you are passionate about and that will allow you to develop your leadership skills.
Develop a plan for the project, including your goals, objectives, and timeline.
Recruit a team of people to work on the project with you.
Lead the team through the project, providing guidance, support, and motivation.

Mentor Aspiring Leaders

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Engage in mentoring relationships to share your knowledge and experience, fostering the development of emerging leaders while reinforcing your own leadership skills.

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Identify opportunities to mentor through organizations or programs.
Establish clear goals and expectations with your mentees.
Provide guidance, support, and feedback to your mentees on their leadership journey.
Reflect on your own leadership practices and approaches through the mentoring experience.

Career center

Learners who complete The Discipline of Leadership will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns to promote a company's products or services. This includes conducting market research, developing marketing strategies, and managing marketing budgets. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a strong brand identity.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. This includes setting project goals, developing project plans, and managing project teams. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a successful project team.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics, including leadership, management, and strategy. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to build strong client relationships.

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Doctor

Doctors are responsible for diagnosing and treating patients. This requires not only a strong understanding of medicine, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a positive and productive patient care environment.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are individuals who start and run their own businesses. This requires not only a strong business sense, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a successful business.

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Teacher

Teachers are responsible for educating students in a variety of subjects. This requires not only a strong understanding of the subject matter, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a positive and productive learning environment.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for leading and managing nonprofit organizations. This includes developing and implementing strategic plans, as well as overseeing fundraising and other operations. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a strong and effective nonprofit organization.

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Lawyer

Lawyers are responsible for advising clients on legal matters and representing them in court. This requires not only a strong understanding of the law, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to build strong relationships with clients.

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Politician

Politicians are elected officials who represent the interests of their constituents. This requires not only a strong understanding of public policy, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a positive and productive political environment.

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Engineer

Engineers are responsible for designing and building products and structures. This requires not only a strong understanding of engineering principles, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a successful engineering team.

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Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers, or CEOs, oversee the entire business. This includes not only creating and maintaining ethical policies, but also building their company's brand by making strategic decisions. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as common situations in which leaders find themselves.

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Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officers, or COOs, are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business. This includes creating and implementing plans to achieve company objectives. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how different leadership approaches can impact a company's performance.

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Vice President of Human Resources

Vice Presidents of Human Resources are responsible for managing all aspects of a company's human resources department. This includes developing and implementing policies and procedures, as well as overseeing employee relations. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a positive and productive work environment.

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Scientist

Scientists are responsible for conducting research and developing new knowledge. This requires not only a strong understanding of science, but also strong leadership skills. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a successful research team.

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Director of Sales

Directors of Sales are responsible for leading and managing a company's sales team. This includes developing and implementing sales strategies, as well as motivating and supporting the sales team to achieve their goals. The Discipline of Leadership may be useful to someone in this role as it covers topics such as leader emergence and effectiveness, as well as how to create a high-performing sales team.

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