The Neuroscience of Leading High-Performance Teams from Coursera

In a demanding business world, team performance matters. At a time in history when teams are less engaged and more unmotivated than ever before, this course we will help give you the competitive edge you are looking for.

What if your teams were more motivated and engaged? What if we found a way to harness the primal power of storytelling to influence and collaborate with others? What if we created an environment of psychological safety and trust for the teams we lead?

This course is part of the "Neuroscience of Leadership" specialization, which examines leadership techniques through the lens of social cognitive neuroscience and psychology. Utilizing the latest research, we develop a leadership practice based on the foundation of neuroscience.

The focus of this course is leading and coaching high performance teams. You'll come away with new knowledge and techniques to enhance motivation, set better goals, build trust with your team, tell a compelling story, think well on your feet and coach your team effectively.

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

Motivation and Goal Setting

To achieve our goals, motivation toward goals is vitally important. In this module, you will gain insight on how the brain's reward network works for and against us. When we create clear goals and strategic plans, we are better able to stay motivated.

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Develops motivation and goal setting, which are core leadership qualities for work environments of all kinds

Examines psychological safety, which is especially salient for managers who wish to create more effective teams

Develops influence and collaboration, which are key skills for leaders who wish to kindle a community among their teams

Emphasizes storytelling and improvisation, which are critical tools for engaging audiences and fostering a positive work atmosphere

Focuses on coaching and behavior change, which are important qualities for managers who wish to inspire and develop their employees

Taught by Ron Duren Jr., who is recognized for their work in the neuroscience of leadership

Reviews summary

Neuroscience-backed leadership for high-performance teams

According to students, this course offers highly practical and immediately applicable insights for leaders, particularly in fostering psychological safety and enhancing team motivation and engagement. Learners frequently commend the instructor's engaging delivery and the course's unique integration of neuroscience principles into leadership strategies, providing a new lens for understanding team dynamics. While some found the content too basic for advanced leaders or desired deeper scientific dives, the consensus is that it provides a solid foundation, especially in areas like storytelling and effective coaching.

Psychological safety, storytelling, and motivation modules are frequently praised.

"The content on psychological safety was incredibly practical..."

"I particularly benefited from understanding the SCARF framework and how to apply it to foster trust."

"The storytelling module was surprisingly powerful."

"A very insightful course, especially the modules on motivation and storytelling."

Instructor effectively explains complex neuroscience concepts.

"The instructor's delivery was engaging..."

"Fantastic course! The instructor is brilliant and makes complex topics accessible."

"The instructor's passion was evident."

Offers a unique, science-backed approach to leadership.

"The scientific backing for leadership techniques was eye-opening."

"This course gave me a new lens through which to view team dynamics."

"I loved how they integrated neuroscience into real-world leadership challenges."

Provides immediately applicable strategies for team leadership.

"The content on psychological safety was incredibly practical and directly applicable to my team."

"The practical tips on goal setting and improving team engagement were immediately implementable."

"I learned how to create an environment where my team feels safe to contribute and innovate."

"I gained new knowledge and techniques to enhance motivation, set better goals, and build trust."

Suggestions for more in-depth case studies and updated research.

"I felt some parts, like the coaching module, could have been more in-depth with more case studies."

"My main suggestion would be to update some of the older research examples, as the field is constantly evolving."

"Sometimes, the theoretical explanations were a bit dense..."

Suitable for general leadership, but potentially basic for advanced learners.

"The course felt a bit basic for someone with prior leadership experience."

"I was hoping for more actionable strategies rather than just theoretical explanations. ... felt a bit general for advanced leaders."

"Decent course, but not as 'neuroscience-heavy' as I expected. It felt more like a standard leadership course with neuroscience sprinkled in."

"I was looking for more advanced techniques or deeper dives into specific neurological processes."

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 Neuroscience of Leading High-Performance Teams with these activities:

Read 'Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us'

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Explore the neuroscience of motivation and learn how to set effective goals for yourself and your team.

View Drive on Amazon

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Read the book and summarize the key points.
Identify your own motivations and goals.
Develop a plan to achieve your goals.

Watch videos on storytelling techniques.

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Develop your storytelling skills to effectively communicate your ideas and inspire your team.

Browse courses on Storytelling

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Find and watch videos on storytelling techniques.
Practice telling stories to your team.

Read 'The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team'

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Examine the common dysfunctions that can hinder team performance and learn strategies to overcome them.

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Read the book and take notes.
Reflect on your own team experience.
Identify areas where the team can improve.

Five other activities

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Join a study group to discuss course material.

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Engage with peers to reinforce your understanding of the course material and gain diverse perspectives.

Browse courses on Team Performance

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Find a study group or create your own.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
Share insights and ask questions.

Create a presentation on psychological safety.

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Enhance your understanding of psychological safety and its impact on team performance.

Browse courses on Psychological Safety

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Research the topic and gather relevant information.
Develop a presentation outline.
Create slides and prepare your presentation.
Present your findings to your team.

Practice running effective meetings.

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Gain practical experience in leading and facilitating productive team meetings.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Identify the purpose and goals of the meeting.
Create an agenda and distribute it to participants.
Facilitate the meeting, ensuring that everyone has a chance to contribute.
Summarize the key points and action items.

Develop a coaching plan for a team member.

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Apply your knowledge of coaching techniques to develop a personalized plan for supporting a team member's growth.

Browse courses on Coaching

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Identify the team member's goals and challenges.
Develop a coaching plan that outlines the specific actions and support you will provide.
Implement the coaching plan and provide regular feedback.

Volunteer as a mentor for a youth organization.

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Gain practical experience in coaching and mentoring others while making a positive impact on your community.

Browse courses on Leadership Skills

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Find a youth organization that you are passionate about.
Apply to become a mentor.
Provide guidance and support to the youth you mentor.

Career center

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

Team Leader

As a Team Leader, it is critically important to keep your team motivated, engaged, and working towards common goals. This course in neuroscience will give you the tools to create the right environment for your team to thrive. You will learn how to create psychological safety for your team, foster collaboration, and build trust. This knowledge will help you in your day-to-day work to coach effectively and become an exceptional Team Leader.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

Leadership Development Consultant

Many corporations look to improve their employee's performance by hiring external consultants to work with their teams. As a Leadership Development Consultant, you will be responsible for designing and delivering training programs, conducting assessments, and coaching leaders. Your expertise will be on adult learning styles and understanding leadership development techniques based on neuroscience. With the knowledge you will gain in this course, you will be ahead of other candidates, as you will understand the research behind the most effective methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Leadership Development Consultant

Human Resources Business Partner

Human Resources Business Partners help businesses achieve their strategic goals by aligning people initiatives with the overall business strategy. To be most effective, you must understand the behaviors of people and their motivators. If you are interested in a career as an HRBP, take this course to help you to become more skilled at influencing others, which will serve you well in your day-to-day interactions with employees.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Business Partner

Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development (OD) Managers work to improve an organization's overall effectiveness. If you are a highly motivated and results-oriented individual with a passion for developing others and a strong understanding of organizational behavior and development, then this is a great career path for you. The course will help you build a foundation in neuroscience, which will help you develop training and development programs, consulting services, and many other people-oriented programs for a company.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Manager

Talent Acquisition Manager

In this role, you will be responsible for developing and implementing talent acquisition strategies to attract and hire top talent. You can use the knowledge gained in this course to better understand the motivations of the candidates you are trying to attract, how to put them into high-performing teams, and how to retain them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Acquisition Manager

Chief Executive Officer

CEOs are responsible for the overall success of their organization. In this role, it is important to have a deep understanding of how to motivate and lead your team, which will be helpful in getting the most out of your employees. The neuroscience-based principles taught in this course will help you understand how the brain works, and how to apply that knowledge to be a more effective leader.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer

Chief Technology Officer

CTOs lead the technology vision for a company, leading a department of engineers and developers. To be an effective CTO, you must be able to motivate and lead your team, which are skills that are covered in depth in this course. You will also learn how to create a psychologically safe environment, which will encourage your teams to innovate and do their best work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Technology Officer

Chief Operating Officer

COOs are responsible for the day-to-day operations of an organization, which includes overseeing the production, development, and overall processes. This course will give you the skills you need to motivate and lead your team, which is essential for any COO. You will also learn how to create psychological safety and trust, which will in turn help your teams to collaborate more effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Operating Officer

Chief Financial Officer

CFOs are responsible for the financial health of an organization and are an essential part of any leadership team. This course will teach you how to influence and persuade others, which will be essential to your success as a CFO. You will also learn how to tell a compelling story, which is an important skill for building trust and buy-in from stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Financial Officer

Marketing Manager

If you are looking to work in marketing, this course will help you build a strong foundation in the neuroscience of marketing. You will learn how to create compelling marketing campaigns that are based on an understanding of how the brain works. This knowledge will give you an edge over other candidates and help you to succeed in your career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating a team of sales professionals. To be successful in this role, it is important to have a strong understanding of how to influence and persuade others. This course will give you the skills you need to build trust with your team and create a high-performing sales team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Project Manager

As a project manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and completion of projects. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to motivate and lead your team, which will be essential for the success of your projects. You will also learn how to set clear goals and communicate effectively, two skills that are critical for any project manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement. To be successful in this role, it is essential to have a strong understanding of how organizations work and how to influence and persuade others. The neuroscience-based principles taught in this course can give you the edge you need to succeed in this competitive field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

As a consultant, you will be helping businesses to improve their performance. To be successful in this role, it is important to have a strong understanding of how organizations work and how to influence and persuade others. This course will arm you with the neuroscience-based principles you need to succeed in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Leadership Coach

Leadership Coaches help leaders to develop their skills and achieve their goals. To be successful in this role, it is important to have a strong understanding of how the brain works and how to influence and persuade others. This course will help you build a foundation in neuroscience, which will give you the edge you need to succeed as a Leadership Coach.

See salaries and explore the career path for Leadership Coach