LEADERS 481: Foundations of Leadership
Instructor Name: Beth Michaels Primer
Course Description: Leadership is a critical ingredient for success. The purpose of this course is to identify the fundamental leadership behaviors that enable people -- including you -- to excel in their careers, and to help you apply these behaviors for your personal and professional success. While many people think of leaders solely as the people at the top of the organizational hierarchy (e.g. Presidents, CEOs, Mayors, Executive Directors, Owners, Parents etc.), leadership exists at all levels of the organization. How people conduct themselves in the presence of others is the most basic element of leadership, and we will build from there with the knowledge that leadership is learned. This course will look at the theory and practice of leadership at the individual and organizational level, and will ask you to bring your knowledge and experience to add value to the class. The course will explore definitions of leadership, the impact of leadership, leadership styles, the role of vision, values and integrity, the importance of giving and receiving feedback, how to lead change and solve problems, effective teamwork, and communication strategies. The culmination of this course will be your personal leadership development plan.
Learning Objectives:
Have a point of view about leadership
Understand the distinctions between management and leadership
Understand his/her leadership strengths
Have a personal plan for leadership development
Understand why leadership and leadership development is worthwhile
List the beneficiaries of his/her effective leadership
Apply a process for creating change and solving problems
Apply tools and techniques for being a more effective leader
Understand the definition of organizational culture and how culture impacts an organization's effectiveness and ability to change
Desired Course Outcomes
Understand why humans change or don't change and how to apply these dynamics in planning and marketing of organizational change
Gain insights into organization alignment as a strategy execution method and change management method
Identify your personal influence and style and how best to use and expand on this for influence in your organization
Artifacts
Obama_paper.doc
OrgVision.doc
Interview.doc
Buildemotionalintelligenceofgroups1.pdf
Thinking Profile.doc
While appropriate use of critical assessment in the work place is crucial.doc
The Obama_paper.doc is an analysis of Obama’s Lincoln Park acceptance speech for leadership qualities. The OrgVision.doc examines the organizational vision of a franchise I belonged to and examines my personal purpose, vision and values. The Bufford_Interview.doc is my interview with Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford the President of the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Boufford is also Professor of Public Service, Health Policy and Management at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine. The interview gives a good picture of the difference between management and leadership. The "Build Emotional Intelligence of Groups" is an excellent Harvard Business Review article on Emotional Intelligence and groups. This article and the Thinking Profile.doc provide the tools for effective leadership in relationships and bottom-line results. While appropriate use of critical assessment in the work place is crucial.doc was very helpful with improving my critical management style. The course was helpful in sharpening my people skills
Main Take-Away
Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. The importance of Emotional Intelligence and the understanding of yourself and the group dynamics is critical in achieving results.
"A great manager discovers the uniqueness of each member of the team and capitalizes on that and learns how to best integrate the uniqueness on the team. A great leader discovers what is universal and capitalizes on that by tapping into the fears and needs we all share" Peter Tomes The Power of Purpose.
Areas of Strength
I am an experienced, mature, leader with good intellectual and emotional intelligence. I have been self-employed, successfully managing scores of employees.
Areas for Development
I still have to work on being less critical and be more openly appreciative of the efforts of others.