Influencing the Organisation from Coursera

In this course, you will look at how you can effectively manage stakeholders and industry/organisational politics, whilst successfully mobilising people. You will:

– Consider how to build momentum and how to work across organisational, sectoral and country cultures.

– Explore how you can align your mission with the organisation’s purpose and manage the politics to influence the organisation.

– Look at how to lead in a matrix/complex structure as well as how to make your changes real.

This course is aimed at leaders and managers who have five to six years experience and who are beginning to manage teams, customers and clients more regularly or more directly. Learners will likely have a technical or professional early career but as they are progressing in their careers, they are having to start grappling with the issues of team and organisational leadership.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

– Work across organisational boundaries and engage with a wider group of stakeholders.

– Navigate the realpolitik of their wider organisation and understand the importance of engaging with the political dynamic.

– Extend and leverage your networks to be better positioned for the next phase of your career.

– Identify levers for change and how best to utilise these in order to increase the possibility that your initiatives and programmes will be adopted.

What's inside

Syllabus

Leading at an Organisational Level

This week we are going to explore how you can expand your perspective to think about leading at an organisational level. We shall consider some of the major obstacles that are faced when leading more broadly and we will help you identify areas into which you might want to expand. We will look at organisational politics and the opportunities and benefits they present, and how to successfully navigate organisational dynamics. You will consider the strengths you bring to the organisation and look at how you can maximise and extend your network.

Aligning Your Mission with the Organisation’s Strategy

This week we are going to look at how you can effectively align your mission with the organisation’s strategy, and explore how you can build your personal brand and reputation across the organisation. We will consider how to create a compelling, “purpose-led” story to tell as you develop your broader leadership role, as well as how to respond to and overcome resistance.

Making Your Changes Real

This week we will take you through how to make your changes happen, and explore the reality of change management. We will look at what gets in the way, the dynamics, tools and levers at your disposal, and how to create your own change plan. We will explore the phases of change and highlight key areas for attention during change initiatives.

Managing Your Transition

This week we are going to look forward to your planned or possible transitions in the future. We will ask you to think about your current career and your aspirations, as we share our advice on successful career development. We will provide you with some helpful tools to enable you to effectively manage your transition, ensuring that you end your old role and transition to the new effectively.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Helps students understand how to get involved in company politics and culture to better themselves and their teams

Taught by Dr Nigel Spencer, Mike Mister, and Arun Singh, all of whom have extensive experience in leadership and management

Provides learners with the tools and skills to navigate complex organizational structures and make meaningful changes

This course is a solid choice for early to mid-career professionals looking to enhance their leadership abilities

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 Influencing the Organisation with these activities:

Brush up on project management basics

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Ensure a strong foundation in project management

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Review project management methodologies and tools
Create a project plan or work breakdown structure

Volunteer with a non-profit organization

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Practice leadership skills in a real-world setting

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Research and identify a non-profit organization to support
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend training and orientation
Volunteer regularly and participate in activities

Read 'The Leadership Challenge'

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Gain insights into effective leadership styles

View The Leadership Challenge Workshop Card: The Ten... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of 'The Leadership Challenge'
Read the book and take notes
Identify key concepts and principles
Reflect on how these principles apply to your own leadership

Four other activities

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Develop a stakeholder engagement plan

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Apply course concepts to create a plan for engaging stakeholders

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Identify key stakeholders
Assess their interests and power
Develop strategies for engaging each stakeholder
Create a plan outlining the engagement activities

Practice negotiation skills

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Develop and refine negotiation skills

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Identify a negotiation scenario
Research negotiation techniques
Practice negotiating with a trusted friend or family member
Seek feedback and improve your approach

Join a study group

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Practice applying the concepts from the course with peers

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Find a study group or start a new one
Meet regularly to discuss course materials and work on assignments
Present your insights and ideas to the group
Seek feedback and constructive criticism

Write a white paper on organizational change management

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Synthesize and demonstrate understanding of change management

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Research organizational change management theories and models
Develop a thesis statement
Write the white paper, including an introduction, body, and conclusion
Share your white paper with others for feedback

Career center

Learners who complete Influencing the Organisation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Management Analyst

A Management Analyst helps companies improve their efficiency and productivity. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Management Analyst by exploring how to align your mission with the organization's strategy, leading at an organizational level, and making your changes real.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Analyst

Organizational Development Consultant

An Organizational Development Consultant helps companies improve their organizational structure and processes. This course can be useful in this career by providing insights into leading at an organizational level, aligning your mission with the organization's strategy, and making your changes real.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Consultant

Business Strategy Consultant

A Business Strategy Consultant helps companies develop and implement business strategies. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Business Strategy Consultant by exploring how to align your mission with the organization's strategy and lead at an organizational level.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Strategy Consultant

Change Management Consultant

A Change Management Consultant helps companies implement and manage change initiatives. This course may be useful in this career by providing insights into making your changes real, leading at an organizational level, and aligning your mission with the organization's strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Change Management Consultant

Human Resources Manager

A Human Resources Manager is responsible for managing the human resources of an organization. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Human Resources Manager by exploring how to lead at an organizational level and align your mission with the organization's strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing out projects. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Project Manager by exploring how to lead at an organizational level, make your changes real, and align your mission with the organization's strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of an organization. This course may be useful in this career by providing insights into making your changes real, leading at an organizational level, and aligning your mission with the organization's strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Marketing Manager by exploring how to lead at an organizational level and align your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Financial Manager

A Financial Manager is responsible for managing the financial resources of an organization. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Financial Manager by exploring how to lead at an organizational level and align your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Sales Manager

A Sales Manager is responsible for managing a sales team and achieving sales targets. This course may be useful in this career by providing insights into leading at an organizational level and aligning your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Information Technology Manager

An Information Technology Manager is responsible for managing the information technology resources of an organization. This course may be useful in this career by providing insights into making your changes real, leading at an organizational level, and aligning your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Quality Manager

A Quality Manager is responsible for managing the quality of products and services. This course may be useful in this career by providing insights into making your changes real, leading at an organizational level, and aligning your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Program Manager

A Program Manager is responsible for managing programs and achieving program goals. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Program Manager by exploring how to lead at an organizational level, make your changes real, and align your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Risk Manager

A Risk Manager is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. This course may be useful in this career by providing insights into making your changes real, leading at an organizational level, and aligning your mission with the organization's strategy.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for developing and managing products. This course may help build a foundation for a career as a Product Manager by exploring how to lead at an organizational level and align your mission with the organization's strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager