Leading with Power Skills: Building Self-Awareness in Teams from Coursera

Great leaders are just ordinary people with the right skills at the right time. To become a great leader, however, you have to know yourself well. This means acknowledging and embracing your strengths. It also means understanding and learning to manage your weaknesses. It’s tougher than that sounds. How do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are? What are your core personality attributes? How do you make decisions? What’s your decision-making style? How do you know? How do you know accurately?

This certificate offers an extraordinary opportunity to spend some quality time with yourself to assess your current level of soft skills, clearly define your core self, and build soft skills which are essential to professional, not to mention life, success.

Knowing what you can change and what you can’t is invaluable knowledge. Stop investing in trying to change the unchangeable -- your traits -- and learn to work with them. Stop trying to change others’ traits, too. Learn to work with your strengths, build new skills and perfect existing ones. Then do the same for your team. To start, you must have self-awareness.

You’ll learn how self-awareness is the super Power Skill, the foundation of all other skills needed to be an effective leader.. They are the most sought-after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Power skills are key to becoming a great leader.

The UMD Power Lab includes a curated set of self-assessments offered at a discounted price paid separately from the edX content and certificate. These self-assessments are rigorously developed and cannot be supplemented with free versions that would mislead learners with poor-quality alternatives. The UMD Power Lab is optional but highly recommended for any verified learner in the course. It costs $89 per year and only needs to be purchased once per year for the entire suite of courses in the Re-Imagining Leadership Professional Certificate.

We've done everything we can to reduce these costs for you, and have built a free SMART Goals Mobile App to help you achieve your goals. Used together this forms a revolutionary design to coach learners at scale in leadership and power skills as a premium but low-cost experience above and beyond learning the course content and earning the edX certificate.

What's inside

Syllabus

1.0 Course Overview

2.0 Management & Leadership Skills

3.0 Self-Awareness: The Key to Making Change

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on self-awareness, which is foundational for effective leadership and is highly valued by recruiters and hiring managers across various industries

Offers an opportunity to assess soft skills and define one's core self, which are essential for professional success and personal development

Teaches how to work with one's own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of team members, which can improve team dynamics and performance

Explores the concept of self-awareness as a 'super Power Skill,' which is a unique perspective that may add color to other leadership topics and subjects

Belongs to a series of courses in the Re-Imagining Leadership Professional Certificate, which may indicate comprehensiveness and detail in the subject matter

Recommends a set of self-assessments offered at a discounted price, which may present a barrier to some students who cannot afford the additional expense

Reviews summary

Building self-awareness for leadership

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in understanding self-awareness as a critical "power skill" for leadership and personal growth. Students find the core concepts valuable and insightful, often highlighting the clarity of the lectures and the instructor's ability to explain complex ideas. Many appreciate the focus on practical application, stating they gained actionable insights they could immediately apply. While the core course content is well-received, the optional UMD Power Lab assessments, a separate paid component, are mentioned as a significant factor for deeper self-exploration, though some note the additional cost. The course structure is generally found to be well-paced, offering a clear path to understanding cognitive styles and approaches to change.

Pacing generally good, sometimes brief

"The course pacing felt just right, covering the key topics efficiently."

"Some topics were covered somewhat briefly; I would have liked a bit more depth on certain areas."

"Found the modules were bite-sized and easy to digest."

"The course covers a broad introduction without diving too deep into any single concept."

Paid add-on for deeper insight

"The UMD Power Lab assessments offer valuable additional insights, but require a separate payment."

"While optional, the paid assessments seem highly recommended for getting the most out of the self-reflection."

"Note that the course content is free, but the deeper self-assessments incur an additional cost."

"The value of the course is enhanced by the optional assessments, but the cost is a factor to consider."

Instructor explains well

"The instructor did an excellent job of explaining complex psychological concepts simply."

"Lectures were clear, engaging, and easy to follow."

"Appreciated the instructor's expertise and passion for the topic."

"The teaching style made the material very accessible and interesting."

Provides applicable tools and knowledge

"I gained many actionable insights that I could apply immediately in my professional life."

"The course provides practical tools and strategies I can use to understand myself and others better."

"The concepts weren't just theoretical; they offered real-world applicability."

"Learned valuable practical tips for understanding cognitive styles and managing change."

Self-awareness is key leadership skill

"Learning self-awareness as the foundational power skill for leadership was really valuable."

"This course reinforced the idea that knowing yourself is the starting point for leading others effectively."

"I gained a much deeper understanding of why self-awareness is so critical in a team setting."

"The concept of self-awareness as the fundamental skill for leadership is well articulated."

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 with Power Skills: Building Self-Awareness in Teams with these activities:

Review 'Emotional Intelligence 2.0'

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Provides a foundation for understanding emotional intelligence, a critical aspect of self-awareness.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the book and complete the self-assessments.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses in emotional intelligence.
Reflect on how these impact your leadership style.

Journaling for Self-Reflection

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Encourages regular self-reflection to identify patterns in behavior and thought processes.

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Set aside time each day for journaling.
Reflect on your experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
Identify patterns and insights from your entries.

Create a Personal SWOT Analysis

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Helps you to identify your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats to improve self-awareness.

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Identify your key strengths and skills.
Acknowledge your weaknesses and areas for improvement.
Explore potential opportunities for growth.
Recognize potential threats to your career or goals.

Four other activities

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Participate in a Feedback Exchange

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Provides an opportunity to receive constructive feedback from peers to enhance self-awareness.

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Find a trusted peer or colleague.
Share your strengths and weaknesses with them.
Ask for honest and constructive feedback.
Reflect on the feedback and identify areas for growth.

Develop a Personal Development Plan

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Helps you create a structured plan to address weaknesses and build on strengths.

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Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
Identify resources and support needed to achieve your goals.
Create a timeline for achieving your goals.
Track your progress and make adjustments as needed.

Review 'Dare to Lead' by Brené Brown

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Expands on the course by exploring the role of vulnerability and courage in leadership.

View Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations.... on Amazon

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Read the book and reflect on its key concepts.
Identify ways to incorporate vulnerability and courage into your leadership style.
Practice having tough conversations with empathy and respect.

Mentor a Junior Colleague

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Solidifies your understanding of leadership principles by teaching them to others.

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Offer guidance and support to a junior colleague.
Share your experiences and insights on leadership.
Provide constructive feedback and encouragement.

Career center

Learners who complete Leading with Power Skills: Building Self-Awareness in Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Team Lead

A team lead guides a group of individuals to achieve common goals. This role requires a deep understanding of team dynamics and individual strengths and weaknesses. This course, with its focus on self-awareness and understanding one's own core self, helps a team lead be more effective in managing and supporting their team members. It teaches how recognizing one's own leadership style and decision-making processes can benefit the larger team. The course particularly helps in learning how to use self-awareness to improve team performance and communication. It also teaches how identifying one's own strengths can allow you to leverage the strengths of others in a team environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Lead

Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This role demands a strong understanding of leadership and the ability to manage various personalities. This course, which focuses on self-awareness and understanding how one's core self impacts leadership, helps a project manager become more attuned to team dynamics and individual needs. By understanding your own decision-making style, you can anticipate how it might influence project outcomes and adapt accordingly. The emphasis on identifying personal strengths and weaknesses allows a project manager to address their own areas of growth. The course can also help a project manager better understand their team's strengths and weaknesses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Human Resources Manager

A human resources manager oversees various aspects of employee relations, recruitment, and training. This role requires a strong sense of empathy and an understanding of different personality types. This course helps a human resources manager by enhancing self-awareness, which is essential for understanding how one's own biases can affect interactions with employees. The course's focus on recognizing and managing personal traits also helps a human resources manager better navigate interpersonal challenges. The skills developed, like understanding one's cognitive style, can be particularly useful in crafting effective training programs. This understanding can help them make fair and effective decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Training and Development Specialist

A training and development specialist designs and delivers programs to enhance employee skills and knowledge. They need to understand how individuals learn and work best. This course helps improve their ability to craft effective training solutions. By understanding their own core self, cognitive style, and orientation toward change, a training and development specialist can create more impactful learning experiences. This course, in particular, assists them in understanding how to leverage strengths and address weaknesses in both themselves and the learners they support. It emphasizes self-awareness which assists in designing training sessions that are more effective and engaging to a wider range of personality types.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Specialist

Consultant

A consultant provides expert advice to organizations on a variety of issues. This role requires a strong understanding of both individual and group dynamics. This course enhances a consultant's self-awareness, enabling them to better understand their own biases and how these may impact their recommendations. The course will be particularly helpful for a consultant, teaching how to use self-assessments to gain insights into their own decision-making processes. The skills covered in the course, such as understanding how different personality types approach change, will be beneficial for a consultant when interacting with clients and developing strategies tailored to their specific needs. The consultant role requires the ability to collaborate with a wide range of people.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Coach

A coach helps individuals identify their goals and develop strategies to achieve them. This role benefits greatly from self-awareness. This course, with its emphasis on understanding one's own strengths, weaknesses, and decision-making style, equips a coach with the necessary insights to better guide and support their clients. The focus on self-assessments helps a coach become more attuned to their own biases and how these might impact their coaching approach. By developing strong self-awareness, a coach can create more effective strategies for their clients. The course may be particularly helpful to a coach by teaching them to guide clients in recognizing their own traits and creating actionable steps toward change.

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Nonprofit Manager

A nonprofit manager leads a team of people working to achieve a charitable cause. This role requires a unique blend of leadership, empathy, and strategic thinking. This course helps a nonprofit manager by fostering the self-awareness necessary to lead effectively in this unique setting. The course's focus on understanding one's core self and decision-making style helps a nonprofit manager to leverage their personal strengths and manage their weaknesses. The course also teaches strategies on how to guide team members effectively. The course may be particularly useful to a nonprofit manager when they work to build a team of diverse personalities.

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Operations Manager

An operations manager oversees the day-to-day activities of an organization, ensuring efficiency and productivity. This role requires strong leadership and an understanding of team dynamics. This course may be useful for an operations manager by building the self-awareness needed to understand their leadership style. By understanding the effect of one’s own approach on team members, and how to leverage their strengths, an operations manager may improve their operational effectiveness. A focus on core self-evaluation and cognitive style, will help a manager make decisions that are beneficial for both the team and the organization. The emphasis on orientation towards change can help a manager better adapt to a changing business environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Sales Manager

A sales manager leads a team of sales professionals to meet sales targets. This role requires a deep understanding of individual motivations and the ability to build strong relationships. This course may be helpful to a sales manager by teaching them how to use self-awareness to better understand their own interactions with their team. The course's focus on understanding one's cognitive style will help a sales manager adapt to the various types of people they encounter. The course's exploration of personal strengths and weaknesses, and understanding how one’s decision-making style impacts others, can help a sales manager mentor and guide those within their team.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Recruiter

A recruiter identifies, attracts, and interviews candidates for job openings. This role requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to assess candidate fit. This course may help a recruiter to be more aware of how their personal characteristics and biases affect the selection process. Self-evaluation concepts in this course will improve their ability to evaluate candidates while being aware of their own judgment style. This course’s focus on identifying individual strengths and weaknesses can help a recruiter make more informed decisions about candidate suitability. The skills from this course may help a recruiter build better relationships with candidates.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Marketing Manager

A marketing manager develops and executes marketing strategies to promote products or services. This role demands a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership. This course may be useful to a marketing manager by allowing them to learn how self-awareness can increase team productivity by having individuals aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. The emphasis on understanding one's own core self will help a marketing manager to lead with authenticity. The orientation toward change discussion can be used to adapt to the quickly evolving marketing landscape. The course may improve the marketing manager's ability to collaborate with their team.

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Account Manager

An account manager serves as the primary point of contact for client relationships. This role requires strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. This course may assist an account manager by building self-awareness. It is beneficial to understand how one’s own personality and biases affect interactions. The course may help an account manager become more attuned to the needs of their clients. Understanding your own decision-making style may assist an account manager in better predicting their reactions and behaviors. A focus on traits and orientation toward change can help the account manager adapt to different client needs and situations.

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Customer Service Manager

A customer service manager oversees a team of customer service representatives. This role requires strong leadership, empathy, and problem-solving skills. This course may be useful to a customer service manager because it helps create more effective team leaders. The self-awareness emphasized in this course will allow a customer service manager to better understand their leadership style. Recognizing their strengths and weaknesses can allow them to improve their team's performance. An understanding of core self, cognitive style and the orientation toward change can assist a customer service manager in navigating complex situations and developing effective strategies for their team.

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Business Analyst

A business analyst analyzes data and processes to identify opportunities for improvement. This role requires strong analytical and communication skills. This course may be helpful to a business analyst by offering the chance to examine their own cognitive style, decision-making process, and preferred method for addressing challenges. The course's emphasis on self awareness and understanding your core self can help a business analyst approach their work with objectivity. The course explores orientation toward change, which may improve a business analyst's ability to adapt to new situations and different types of analysis. This course may provide a business analyst with a different perspective on their own work.

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Technical Writer

A technical writer creates documentation for technical products and services. This role requires strong communication, analytical, and attention to detail skills. This course may be helpful to a technical writer by allowing them to explore their own cognitive style and decision-making processes. By understanding what their strengths and weaknesses are, they can approach their work in a way that leverages their strengths. This course may give a technical writer ideas about how to present complex topics in a clear and concise manner by identifying their own preferred learning method. It can also help them recognize that others might process information differently.

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Reading list

We've selected two 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 with Power Skills: Building Self-Awareness in Teams.

Dare to Lead

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Explores the importance of vulnerability, courage, and empathy in leadership. It provides practical guidance on how to cultivate these qualities in yourself and your team. Reading this book after the course can help you apply the concepts of self-awareness to create a more authentic and effective leadership style. It popular book for leaders looking to improve their soft skills.

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations....

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Leading with Power Skills

Building Self-Awareness in Teams

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Building self-awareness for leadership

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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