Adapt your leadership style from Coursera

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Syllabus

The Leadership Challenge

Welcome to your first week in the Adapt your leadership style course. This week you will take a look at the material that will be covered in this course, what you can expect to learn, and the questions that you explore. This week presents you with a number of models and tools to help you develop a helicopter view of the challenges of contemporary leadership and become confident in your ability to critically analyze the wide range of ideas and theories you will encounter. This week you will examine the concept of leadership as something possessed by an individual, looking at personality traits, profiles, attitudes and behaviors associated with the practice of leadership.

The Practices of Individual Leadership

Welcome to the second week in the Adapt your Leadership Style course. This week you will deepen your understanding of leadership as a set of behaviours or traits possessed or displayed by an individual. In doing so, you will see how the relatively self-enclosed leadership concepts presented in the first week have increased in sophistication and complexity via notions of leadership styles and decision-making variables. The models examining this range from the academically pure, but perhaps unrealistic in practice, contingency models of leadership, to the highly pragmatic interpretations of leadership action and style found in the politics and power struggles of organisational life.

Leading Teams

Welcome to the third week in the Adapt your Leadership Style course. This week you will leave the ideas of individual leadership traits, behaviors, and styles behind and focus on the theories and practices of team leadership. Building from the baseline skills of communication, coaching and conflict resolution, you will then examine the complex interrelationships in teams through concepts of in-group and out-group behavior, and leader-follower roles and interactions. Finally, you will examine how teamwork itself is becoming complex and varied, with many people charged with leading virtual teams or displaying informal leadership qualities in self-managed teams.

Leading the Organisation

Welcome to the fourth week in the Adapt your Leadership Style course. Having covered individual leadership theories and the demands of leading teams, it is now time for the big league – how to lead an organization. Starting with an examination of the shift from transactional to transformational leadership, this week illustrates why the challenge of leading a contemporary organisation can be so mystifying. Ranging from the way in which leaders must generate emotional responses in their followers through charisma, vision and culture, to the complex challenge of leading diverse groups of people, this week concludes with the concept of authentic leadership – which questions the very validity of all the theories that precede it.

Leadership and Ambiguity

Welcome to the fifth week in the Adapt your Leadership Style course. This week you will examine two established, but somewhat alternative, concepts of leadership that examine how leaders have to learn to deal with ambiguity in order to lead effectively. You will first explore the idea that leaders go through developmental stages, which are formed through progressively more sophisticated and multi-level perspectives and practices. Following that, you will examine how leadership is never easy but risky and necessarily adaptive, injecting discomforting ambiguity into seemingly obvious situations at its highest level. Finally, you will look at how contemporary ideas about organisational conditions might be pushing such perspectives on leadership increasingly into the mainstream spotlight.

Critical, Pragmatic, and Popular Perspectives on Leadership

Welcome to the final week in the Adapt your Leadership Style course. This week you will leave mainstream theory behind and examine some radical and pragmatic perspectives on leadership. The radical perspective will examine how leadership and followership are contested perspectives that have a darker side that can be used to “legitimize” some unenlightened behaviours. Taking these claims seriously, you will see how some pragmatic ideas on leadership have revealed the degree to which “bad” or “toxic” leadership has proliferated, how leadership development seems to struggle to solve this challenge, and the behaviors and misbehaviors associated with this problem. Finally, you will examine some ideas proposed by populist leadership gurus and look at the ways in which leadership might be conceptualized in the future.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops critical leadership perspectives, which are vital to leading in ultra-competitive marketplaces

Explores a wide range of leadership styles, decision-making variables, and team leadership models

Examines how the digital revolution and a focus on projects and teamwork have shaped leadership perceptions

Taught by a recognized expert in leadership and organizational behavior, Dr. Richard Claydon

Covers contemporary leadership practices that are essential for maintaining agility in today's ultra-competitive marketplace

Offers a comprehensive understanding of leadership theories, from individual to organizational levels

Reviews summary

Well-received leadership course

Learners say this course is largely positive. It receives consistent high ratings and positive remarks from students. Students describe course content as engaging and informative. Students found valuable takeaways relating to various topics on leadership including leadership style, management, and critical thinking.

Offers a variety of perspectives on leadership from experts and practitioners in the field.

"The leadership is analyzed from a different perspectives and points of view"

"The selection of external resources is exemplary"

Provides opportunities to apply your learning through discussions, assignments, and a final project.

"Very good insights got from this course"

"adapt suitable leadership style according to different situations"

Features a well-structured format with clear and engaging content delivered through videos, readings, and quizzes.

"Very good setup and online modules"

"A very well structured and complete course"

Led by Dr. Richard Claydon, an experienced leadership expert who provides valuable insights and practical advice.

"Dr Claydon, in his unassuming style, builds, and then breaks, the various moulds of leadership"

"I enjoyed every topics of the course and subsequent excises"

Develops your ability to critically analyze leadership situations and make informed decisions.

"The training is extremely helpful to know what kind of leaders we are or around us"

"helped me to reflect on leadership from different perspectives"

Covers various leadership theories and their practical applications in the workplace.

"covers a diverse range of leading management theories"

Focuses on adapting your leadership style to meet the needs of your organization and the people you lead.

"Adapt your leadership style, Todos deberían conocer"

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 Adapt your leadership style with these activities:

Review the different leadership styles discussed in module 2

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Reviewing leadership styles from an earlier module can prepare you for more advanced concepts covered later in the course.

Browse courses on Leadership Styles

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Go back to module 2
Reread the sections on leadership styles
Summarize the key points of each leadership style

Review: Emotional Intelligence

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Refreshing your knowledge of emotional intelligence can help you understand the course materials more effectively.

View Emotional Intelligence on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: Introduction
Take notes on the key concepts of emotional intelligence
Reflect on how these concepts apply to your own life

Attend a webinar on the role of emotional intelligence in leadership

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Watching a webinar on the role of emotional intelligence in leadership can provide you with insights and practical strategies for developing your emotional intelligence in the workplace.

Browse courses on Emotional Intelligence

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Find a webinar on the role of emotional intelligence in leadership
Register for the webinar
Attend the webinar and take notes on key takeaways
Reflect on how you can apply the insights gained from the webinar to your own leadership style

Six other activities

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Participate in a peer discussion on the challenges of leading in a digital environment

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Engaging in peer discussions can offer you diverse perspectives on the challenges associated with leadership in a digital context.

Browse courses on Digital Leadership

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Join a peer discussion group or forum
Introduce a topic for discussion on the challenges of leading in a digital environment
Facilitate the discussion, ensuring all participants have a chance to share their perspectives

Practice Active Listening

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Practicing active listening can help you improve your communication skills, a valuable asset for contemporary workplace settings.

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Find a partner and take turns speaking for 2 minutes each
While the other person is speaking, practice active listening techniques such as maintaining eye contact, nodding, and asking clarifying questions
Provide feedback to your partner on their active listening skills

Develop a plan for implementing transformational leadership in your workplace

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Starting a project that involves creating an implementation plan for a particular leadership strategy can help you explore and apply course concepts more deeply.

Browse courses on Transformational Leadership

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Identify the key principles of transformational leadership
Assess the current leadership style in your workplace
Develop a plan for implementing transformational leadership strategies
Present your plan to your supervisor or a mentor for feedback

Attend a workshop on managing conflict in the workplace

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Attending a specialized workshop can help you develop practical conflict management skills and deepen your understanding of this crucial topic.

Browse courses on Conflict Resolution

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Identify and register for a reputable workshop on conflict management
Attend the workshop and actively engage in the activities and discussions
Apply the strategies and techniques learned from the workshop in your own workplace

Create a video about the importance of authenticity in leadership

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Creating an explanatory video about the concept of authenticity in leadership can reinforce your understanding of this key leadership attribute.

Browse courses on Authentic Leadership

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Research the concept of authentic leadership
Identify key examples of authentic leaders
Develop a storyboard for your video
Create a video using a video editing software

Create a personal leadership portfolio

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Creating a leadership portfolio can help you synthesize and showcase your learning from this course.

Browse courses on Leadership Development

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Gather materials such as assignments, projects, and presentations you have completed throughout this course
Organize and curate these materials into a portfolio
Reflect on your growth and development as a leader through the completion of this portfolio

Career center

Learners who complete Adapt your leadership style will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Learning Officer

Chief Learning Officers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of learning and development for their organizations. They work with leaders at all levels to develop and implement learning and development strategies, and to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. This course may be useful for Chief Learning Officers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Chief Learning Officers to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their learning and development teams.

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Program Director

Program Directors are responsible for planning, developing, and evaluating academic programs. They work with faculty, staff, and students to ensure that programs are meeting the needs of students and the community. This course may be useful for Program Directors because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Program Directors to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their programs.

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Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers are responsible for planning, developing, and implementing organizational development programs for their organizations. They work with leaders at all levels to help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to be effective leaders. This course may be useful for Organizational Development Managers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Organizational Development Managers to develop the skills they need to effectively design and deliver organizational development programs.

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Principal

Principals are responsible for the overall leadership and management of schools. They work with teachers, staff, students, and parents to create a positive and productive learning environment. This course may be useful for Principals because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Principals to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their schools.

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Superintendent

Superintendents are responsible for the overall leadership and management of school districts. They work with principals, teachers, staff, students, and parents to create a positive and productive learning environment for all students. This course may be useful for Superintendents because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Superintendents to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their school districts.

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Higher Education Administrator

Higher Education Administrators are responsible for the overall leadership and management of colleges and universities. They work with faculty, staff, students, and parents to create a positive and productive learning environment. This course may be useful for Higher Education Administrators because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Higher Education Administrators to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their institutions.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers are responsible for the overall leadership and management of nonprofit organizations. They work with staff, volunteers, donors, and clients to create a positive and productive work environment. This course may be useful for Nonprofit Managers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Nonprofit Managers to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their organizations.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations on a variety of topics, including leadership development. They work with clients to identify and address challenges, and to develop and implement solutions. This course may be useful for Consultants because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Consultants to develop the skills they need to effectively advise their clients on leadership development.

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Leadership Development Manager

Leadership Development Managers are responsible for planning, developing, and implementing leadership development programs for their organizations. They work with leaders at all levels to help them develop the skills and knowledge they need to be effective leaders. This course may be useful for Leadership Development Managers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Leadership Development Managers to develop the skills they need to effectively design and deliver leadership development programs.

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Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources for their organizations. They work with leaders at all levels to develop and implement HR policies and procedures, and to manage employee relations. This course may be useful for Human Resources Managers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Human Resources Managers to develop the skills they need to effectively manage their HR departments.

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Executive Coach

Executive Coaches work with executives and other leaders to help them develop their leadership skills and achieve their goals. They provide one-on-one coaching, as well as group coaching and workshops. This course may be useful for Executive Coaches because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Executive Coaches to develop the skills they need to effectively coach their clients.

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Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers are responsible for planning, developing, and implementing training and development programs for their organizations. They work with leaders at all levels to identify and address training needs, and to develop and deliver training programs. This course may be useful for Training and Development Managers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Training and Development Managers to develop the skills they need to effectively design and deliver training programs.

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Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Diversity and Inclusion Managers are responsible for developing and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives for their organizations. They work with leaders at all levels to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. This course may be useful for Diversity and Inclusion Managers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Diversity and Inclusion Managers to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their diversity and inclusion initiatives.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers are responsible for planning, developing, and evaluating instructional materials and programs. They work with subject matter experts to create learning experiences that are effective and engaging. This course may be useful for Instructional Designers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Instructional Designers to develop the skills they need to effectively design and develop instructional materials.

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Teacher

Teachers are responsible for planning, delivering, and assessing instruction for students. They work with students of all ages and abilities to help them learn and grow. This course may be useful for Teachers because it provides an overview of leadership styles and how to adapt them to different situations. The course also covers topics such as team leadership, organizational leadership, and leadership and ambiguity. These topics can help Teachers to develop the skills they need to effectively lead their classrooms.

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