Foundation for Effective Leadership from edX

NOTE: This is a live classroom held via Zoom. You can choose from any of these date and time options:

January 27, 2025 from 4-8pm EDTor
July 17, 2025 from 5-9pm EDT

_ Attendees must be present for the entire 4 hours of their course

Foundation for Effective Leadership helps participants identify their strengths by focusing on the behaviors that “come naturally” to them. When leaders operate from their strengths and are aware of their weaknesses, they can more effectively coach, delegate, and correct performance problems.

Individual differences are key to the success of any organization. Yet these vital differences can also lead to common workplace issues—stress, conflict, low productivity, and resistance to change. So how do you solve common problems among unique individuals? You begin with self-awareness. Self-awareness is a key component of effective management helps participants identify their strengths by focusing on the behaviors that “come naturally” to them. When leaders operate from their strengths and are aware of their weaknesses, they can more effectively coach, delegate, and correct performance problems.

This course is part of the Technical Leadership Certificate program.

What's inside

Learning objectives

At the end of this workshop, the learner will be able to:
Describe their personal behavioral style
Explain the four disc dimensions of behavior—dominance, influence, steadiness, conscientiousness

Flex their behavioral style to communicate more effectively with others
Promote appreciation of individual differences
Enhance individual and team performance by communicating more effectively

At the end of this workshop, the learner will be able to:
Describe their personal behavioral style
Explain the four disc dimensions of behavior—dominance, influence, steadiness, conscientiousness
Flex their behavioral style to communicate more effectively with others
Promote appreciation of individual differences
Enhance individual and team performance by communicating more effectively

Syllabus

Introduction: Why interpersonal communication skills are important for technical professionals

Everything DiSC® Workplace self-assessment report (participants will be asked to complete the assessment prior to class)

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on self-awareness and understanding individual differences, which are crucial for effective coaching and delegation

Examines interpersonal communication skills, which are essential for technical professionals to excel in collaborative environments

Teaches learners how to flex their behavioral style, which can improve communication and relationships in various settings

Promotes appreciation of individual differences, which can lead to enhanced team performance and a more inclusive work environment

Belongs to a Technical Leadership Certificate program, suggesting a structured path for professional development in leadership

Requires participants to complete the Everything DiSC® Workplace self-assessment, which may require additional time and effort

Reviews summary

Foundation for effective leadership

According to learners, this short workshop provides a positive foundation for leadership. Students particularly highlight the value of the pre-course DiSC assessment, which helps them gain self-awareness about their own behavioral style. The course focuses on developing practical communication skills and includes action planning to apply the learning on the job.

Compact, focused live session.

"The 4-hour live session was efficient and well-structured."

"Liked the concentrated format of the workshop."

"Found the live Zoom delivery effective."

Emphasizes applying skills directly to work situations.

"Appreciated the focus on how to apply the concepts on the job."

"The action planning section was very beneficial."

"Walked away with concrete ideas for using what I learned."

Offers strategies to communicate more effectively with others.

"Learned practical strategies to adapt my communication style."

"The techniques for communicating with different styles are immediately useful."

"Now feel more equipped to handle workplace communication challenges."

Helps participants understand their strengths and weaknesses.

"I left with a much better understanding of my own strengths."

"Gained significant self-awareness regarding my leadership behaviors."

"Helped me see how my natural style impacts interactions."

Provides valuable insights into behavioral styles.

"The DiSC assessment provided great personal insights."

"Really understood my own and others' styles with DiSC."

"The assessment was a key part of understanding the material."

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 Foundation for Effective Leadership with these activities:

Review Communication Styles

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Reviewing different communication styles will help you better understand the DiSC model and prepare for the self-assessment.

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Research different communication models.
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of each model.
Reflect on your own communication style.

Read 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'

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Reading this book will provide a broader framework for effective leadership and interpersonal relationships.

View The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th... on Amazon

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Read the book and identify the 7 habits.
Reflect on how you can apply these habits to your life and work.

Read 'Emotional Intelligence 2.0'

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Reading this book will enhance your understanding of emotional intelligence, a key component of effective leadership and interpersonal communication.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Reflect on how you can apply these concepts to your interactions.

Four other activities

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Role-Play Communication Scenarios

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Practicing communication scenarios with peers will help you flex your behavioral style and improve your communication skills.

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Partner with a classmate or colleague.
Develop scenarios involving different DiSC styles.
Role-play the scenarios, focusing on effective communication.
Provide feedback to each other.

Create a DiSC Style Guide

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Creating a DiSC style guide will solidify your understanding of the different styles and how to interact with them effectively.

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Research each DiSC style in detail.
Develop a guide outlining the characteristics of each style.
Include tips for communicating with each style.
Share the guide with your team or colleagues.

Analyze Team Communication

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Analyzing team communication patterns will help you apply the DiSC model to real-world scenarios and improve team performance.

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Observe communication within your team.
Identify different DiSC styles among team members.
Assess the effectiveness of communication strategies.
Propose improvements based on DiSC principles.

Mentor Junior Colleagues

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Mentoring junior colleagues will allow you to practice applying your knowledge of DiSC and leadership principles.

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Volunteer to mentor junior colleagues.
Identify their DiSC styles and communication preferences.
Provide guidance and support based on their individual needs.
Offer feedback and encouragement.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundation for Effective Leadership will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Team Lead

A Team Lead guides a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. This course on leadership helps a Team Lead build a foundation in self-awareness and understanding of others, which includes discovering their personal behavioral style using DiSC. This allows leaders to flex their communication style and promote appreciation for individual differences. A Team Lead understands how to enhance team performance particularly when working with individuals who have different approaches to projects. The course focus on building effective relationships fits directly into the responsibilities of a Team Lead. This course helps a Team Lead to operate from a place of strength.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Lead

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, often needing to work with diverse teams. This course on leadership helps a Project Manager learn about individual differences and enhance team performance by understanding how to communicate more effectively with various behavioral styles, including their own. The course explores the DiSC dimensions of behavior to explain differences in communication, and helps a Project Manager flex their behavioral style to communicate more effectively with others. This course helps a Project Manager to lead the team and effectively communicate across the project team. A Project Manager also benefits from the self-awareness component of the course, as it helps with delegating.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Nonprofit Director

A Nonprofit Director leads a team, manages programs, and ensures that the organization meets its mission. This course on leadership helps a Nonprofit Director better understand and appreciate individual differences, and enhance individual and team performance by improving communication with staff and volunteers. The self-assessment components of the course improves self-awareness, and allows a director to become more effective at coaching and delegating tasks. A Nonprofit Director must build effective relationships to support the goals of their organization, which is taught in this course. Understanding the DiSC dimensions can be valuable when coordinating teams.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day activities of an organization which includes the coordination of people and processes. This course on leadership helps the Operations Manager to gain self-awareness, including understanding their personal behavior style. The Operations Manager can use this to flex their style and communicate effectively with others, and to promote appreciation for individual differences. The course content on the DiSC dimensions can improve an Operations Manager's understanding of different personnel. An Operations Manager is responsible for enhancing performance, which the course directly addresses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Sales Manager

A Sales Manager leads a team of sales professionals, setting targets and implementing sales strategies. This course on leadership can help a Sales Manager by providing tools to understand their own behavioral style and how to flex their communication to connect with the various personalities on their team. A Sales Manager can use the self-awareness components of this course to develop effective coaching strategies and to help team members correct performance problems. The course's emphasis on enhancing team performance through communication is a core skill for a Sales Manager. Training in building effective relationships is particularly relevant to a Sales Manager.

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Research and Development Manager

A Research and Development Manager leads the process of innovation and product development within a company. This course on leadership helps the Research and Development Manager understand their strengths and weaknesses, as well as how to navigate team dynamics in a research setting. The course's focus on identifying different behavioral styles, and flexing styles to communicate effectively is essential for collaboration in Research and Development. The Research and Development Manager must know how to promote appreciation of individual differences in order to build the best team possible. The course emphasizes enhancing team performance, which is directly relevant to a Research and Development Manager.

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Training Facilitator

A Training Facilitator designs and delivers training programs to enhance employee skills and knowledge. This course on leadership helps a Training Facilitator understand different behavioral styles by exploring the DiSC model, which can help them tailor their training delivery and content to better engage participants. A Training Facilitator benefits from learning how to promote appreciation of individual differences, since this promotes a positive learning environment in which all attendees can participate comfortably. The course's focus on flexing one's behavioral style to communicate more effectively is also a key skill for a Training Facilitator. An understanding of self-awareness helps to more effectively train others

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Human Resources Specialist

A Human Resources Specialist works to support employees and improve workplace dynamics. This course on leadership may be useful for a Human Resources Specialist in promoting appreciation of individual differences and in enhancing individual and team performance through effective communication. Understanding and explaining DiSC dimensions of behavior would assist a Human Resources Specialist in mediating conflicts and addressing communication challenges within a team. A Human Resources Specialist who has taken this course would have a deeper understanding of each employee's behavioral style and could use that knowledge to guide them in their work.

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Management Consultant

A Management Consultant analyzes business problems and develops solutions. This course in leadership may be useful for a Management Consultant particularly because of its self-awareness components which will help the consultant to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, including their behavioral style. This knowledge may be used to promote appreciation for individual differences. The course includes learning about the four dimensions of DiSC, which can be helpful in understanding team dynamics. Management Consultants must also communicate across various team structures. This course may help Management Consultants to be more effective at doing so.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages a company's public image, which requires managing interpersonal relationships and clear communication. A course in leadership may be useful and provides a Public Relations Specialist the opportunity to learn to flex their behavioral style to communicate more effectively in multiple circumstances. The course focuses on how to promote understanding of individual differences which can be particularly helpful when interacting with stakeholders across various backgrounds. The self-awareness taught in the course helps a Public Relations Specialist understand their strengths and weaknesses. A Public Relations Specialist must be able to build effective relationships.

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Customer Success Manager

A Customer Success Manager works to ensure clients are satisfied with a company's product or service and must build effective relationships. This course on leadership may be useful because the Customer Success Manager needs to flex their style to communicate effectively with clients, and this course can help with developing that skill. The course's focus on self awareness allows a Customer Success Manager to operate from a place of strength. Understanding of the DiSC dimensions will also benefit a Customer Success Manager when they interact with clients from various backgrounds and approaches. This course will teach the Customer Success Manager how to promote an understanding of individual differences.

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Academic Advisor

An Academic Advisor supports students in their educational journeys, and works to understand individual differences in goals and learning styles. This course on leadership, with its emphasis on self-awareness and understanding of behavioral styles, may be useful to an Academic Advisor. The Academic Advisor's primary goal is to build effective relationships with and mentor students. This course helps the Academic Advisor in that capacity. The course's focus on flexing one's behavioral style to communicate more effectively directly aligns with an Academic Advisor's daily work. An Academic Advisor can use their knowledge of DiSC to better serve students.

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Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer develops learning materials and experiences for various audiences and needs to communicate effectively with both the subject matter experts and the intended learners. This course on leadership may be useful for an Instructional Designer because it teaches about behavioral styles via the DiSC dimensions, and that knowledge can inform the design of more accessible and engaging learning materials. An Instructional Designer benefits from self-awareness in order to understand their communication style, and to flex that style when interacting with various collaborators on a project. The course also emphasizes appreciating individual differences, which is crucial when designing for diverse learners. This course helps an Instructional Designer build better courses.

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Community Organizer

A Community Organizer works to unite individuals and groups for a cause, and must build effective relationships across various demographics. This course on leadership may be useful by providing a Community Organizer with an understanding of personal behavioral styles as well as the ability to flex that style to communicate more effectively. The focus on self-awareness in this course helps the Community Organizer to work from a place of strength, and the emphasis on individual differences allows the Community Organizer to build stronger bonds within groups. The DiSC model provides insight into how to communicate more efficiently.

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Account Manager

An Account Manager serves as the main point of contact for clients, working to build and maintain positive relationships. This course on leadership may be useful because of its focus on communication and understanding different behavioral styles. An Account Manager will benefit from understanding how to flex their communication style to better connect with a wide range of clients. The emphasis on appreciating individual differences would help an Account Manager to build strong relationships, and the self-awareness components of the course allows an account manager to understand their own behaviors within the context of client interactions. Additionally, the DiSC concepts can improve client interactions.

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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 Foundation for Effective Leadership.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

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Focuses on principles of personal and interpersonal effectiveness. While not directly related to DiSC, it provides a framework for building strong relationships and achieving goals, which are essential for effective leadership. It is helpful in providing background knowledge on leadership and personal development. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and by industry professionals.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 30th...

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Foundation for Effective Leadership

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Foundation for effective leadership

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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