Getting Started with Leadership from Coursera

In this course, you will discover the importance of understanding context and its impact on the individual as a leader. You’ll consider how you define leadership and explore how organisations work through an exploration of the “what” and “why” of your own working environment. You will also look at who stakeholders are and their important role in today's business, before discussing the differences between leadership and management, and the importance of credibility.

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. A majority of those taking this course will have a technical or professional early career, but are progressing professionally so are starting to grapple with the issues of team and organisational leadership.

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

– Describe the context in which your organisation operates.

– Identify common challenges related to leadership.

– Explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organisations are structured in order to deliver their goods or services.

– Identify the key stakeholders in your leadership constellation.

– Work effectively with your key stakeholders.

– Explain the difference between leadership and management.

Many topics covered in the course are also explored in the instructors book How to Lead Smart People (Mike Mister and Arun Singh, Profile Books 2019).

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Leadership

Welcome to Coursera and Queen Mary University of London, we are excited to have you studying with us. We are going to help you prepare for your studies by ensuring you know exactly what is expected of you throughout your course and how to most effectively engage with the platform. We will look at how the platform works as well as how you will interact with your peers. You will be introduced to the university you are studying with and we will share some top tips on how to succeed with Coursera. This week we shall start by getting to know Coursera as you will be introduced to the platform and explore how to use the various functions which will support your learning journey. You will see how you can make the most of your learning experience which will enable you to succeed on this course. This week we are going to start by exploring the context of leadership as we think about what it is and how we might define it. Many topics covered in the course are also explored in the instructors book How to Lead Smart People (Mike Mister and Arun Singh, Profile Books 2019).

Making Sense of Organisations

This week you are going to explore your organisational context, and consider why it's important to understand how your organisation operates to be an effective leader. We will look at the different types of power as well as the sources and roles of power within your organisational context. We are also going to explore how organisations can change and think about how you can be a successful leader in a changing context.

Making Sense of Stakeholders

This week you are going to discover new ways to deepen your understanding of who your stakeholders are and will look at ways of how you can manage them. You will also explore why stakeholders are important to you as a leader to implement your agenda, as you learn new techniques for assessing stakeholder relationships and needs.

Making Sense of Leadership and Management

This week we shall be focussing on what it means to manage, lead and deliver effectively and how we can achieve this. We shall explore the importance of moving beyond having a sole focus on a task as well as the value of developing your credibility as a leader. We will also discuss the time bind and consider how important it is as a leader to make the best use of your time.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores leadership context, aligning with the target audience's need to understand their organizational environment

Taught by recognized instructors in the fields of leadership and management

Covers stakeholders, leadership, and management, developing core skills for leaders and managers

Targets leaders and managers with experience, addressing the specific challenges they face

Builds on the instructors' book, offering a deeper exploration of leadership concepts

Requires prerequisites, which may limit accessibility for some learners

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 Getting Started with Leadership with these activities:

Review Organizational Theory

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Strengthen your foundation by reviewing key concepts and theories in organizational theory.

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Review notes or resources from previous courses or textbooks on organizational theory.
Take practice quizzes or mock exams to test your understanding.
Identify areas where you need additional clarification or reinforcement.

Review 'How to Lead Smart People'

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Gain insights into the challenges and best practices of leading smart people by reviewing this book, which is recommended in the course.

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the introduction and first three chapters, focusing on the key concepts of context, stakeholder management, and the difference between leadership and management.
Summarize the main ideas and examples in each chapter in your own words.

Practice Identifying Stakeholders

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Develop your ability to identify and analyze stakeholders, a crucial skill for effective leadership.

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Create a list of stakeholders for a hypothetical organization or project.
Classify each stakeholder based on their power, interest, and influence.
Develop strategies for managing each stakeholder group.

Three other activities

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Engage in Peer Discussions on Leadership Challenges

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Connect with peers to share experiences, discuss challenges, and support each other's leadership journey.

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Join or start a peer discussion group specifically for leaders.
Participate actively in discussions, sharing your perspectives and listening to others.
Seek feedback and advice from peers on your leadership goals and challenges.

Develop a Leadership Vision Statement

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Articulate your own leadership vision and values by creating a concise and compelling statement.

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Reflect on your strengths, values, and aspirations as a leader.
Identify the key elements of a leadership vision statement.
Draft your vision statement, ensuring it is clear, concise, and inspiring.

Attend Leadership Skills Development Workshop

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Enhance your leadership skills through practical exercises and interactive sessions in a structured workshop environment.

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Research and identify workshops that align with your leadership development goals.
Register and attend the workshop, actively participating in exercises and discussions.
Apply the techniques and strategies learned in the workshop to your own leadership practice.

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with Leadership will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Team Leader

Team Leaders are responsible for the day-to-day activities of their work group or team. They may assign work to team members, provide guidance and support, and evaluate performance. The Getting Started with Leadership course can help Team Leaders develop the skills they need to be successful, such as understanding the importance of context, identifying common challenges related to leadership, and explaining how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured. The course can help Team Leaders build a foundation for success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

Department Manager

Department Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a department within a business or organization. They may oversee a team of employees, and they may be responsible for managing budgets and resources. The Getting Started with Leadership course can help Department Managers develop the skills they need to be successful, such as understanding the importance of context, identifying common challenges related to leadership, and explaining how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured. The course can help Department Managers build a foundation for success in their role.

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General Manager

General Managers are responsible for the overall operations of a business or organization. They may oversee a team of employees, and they may be responsible for managing budgets and resources. The Getting Started with Leadership course can help General Managers develop the skills they need to be successful, such as understanding the importance of context, identifying common challenges related to leadership, and explaining how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured. The course can help General Managers build a foundation for success in their role.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. They may work with a team of people to complete a project, and they may need to manage resources and budgets. The Getting Started with Leadership course can help Project Managers develop the skills they need to be successful, such as understanding the importance of context, identifying common challenges related to leadership, and explaining how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured. The course can help Project Managers build a foundation for success in their role.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business or organization. They may oversee a team of employees, and they may be responsible for managing budgets and resources. The Getting Started with Leadership course can help Operations Managers develop the skills they need to be successful, such as understanding the importance of context, identifying common challenges related to leadership, and explaining how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured. The course can help Operations Managers build a foundation for success in their role.

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Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers are responsible for the overall operations of a business or organization. They may work with a team of people to develop and implement business strategies. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Chief Executive Officers, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business or organization. They may work with a team of people to develop and implement operational strategies. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Chief Operating Officers, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officers are responsible for the financial management of a business or organization. They may work with a team of people to develop and implement financial strategies. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Chief Financial Officers, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Leadership Development Professional

Leadership Development Professionals are responsible for developing and implementing leadership development programs for organizations. They may work with a team of people to design and deliver leadership development programs. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Leadership Development Professionals, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources department of a business or organization. They may work with a team of people to develop and implement human resources policies and procedures. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Human Resources Managers, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Organizational Development Professional

Organizational Development Professionals are responsible for developing and implementing organizational development programs for organizations. They may work with a team of people to design and deliver organizational development programs. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Organizational Development Professionals, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants are responsible for providing advice to businesses and organizations on how to improve their operations. They may work with clients to identify problems and develop solutions. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Management Consultants, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. They may work with a team of people to develop and implement marketing strategies. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Marketing Managers, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating a sales team. They may work with a team of people to develop and implement sales strategies. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Sales Managers, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing and improving business processes. They may work with stakeholders to identify problems and develop solutions. The Getting Started with Leadership course may be useful for Business Analysts, as it can help them develop the skills they need to understand the importance of context, identify common challenges related to leadership, and explain how leadership is impacted by the nature of how organizations are structured.

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