esade

Communication & Leadership (2225.YR.009534.1)

General information

Type:

OPT

Curs:

3,4

Period:

S semester

ECTS Credits:

4 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group Teacher Department Language
Year 3 Joan Noguera Ustrell Dirección de Personas y Organización ENG

Group Teacher Department Language
Year 4 Joan Noguera Ustrell Dirección de Personas y Organización ENG

Workload distribution

In-class activities: 25 hours
Out-class activities: 25 hours

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

Communication and leadership are intimately intertwined. On an individual basis, communication skills are the cornerstone of leadership. On a group level, communication is the means by which teams and whole organizations can be led. Communication proficiency is, therefore, one of the conditions for the successful practice of leadership.

Course Learning Objectives

This course is intended to:

- Explore the relationships between communication and leadership.

- Allow students to examine their communication style and improve those aspects of the latter in need of further development.

- Help students explore their leadership potential and craft a personal development plan related to the actualization of such potential.

CONTENT

1. Communication dynamics

1. The interpersonal level: the dynamics of interpersonal communication.

- Communication style: dimensions and characteristics. Verbal and nonverbal components. The impact of one's communication style on others.
- Listening. Types of listening. Active listening.
- Communicating assertively. Types and components of assertiveness. Developing an appropriately assertive communication.
- Communication dynamics and its contribution to creating a climate of trust and cooperation. Defensive versus supportive communication climates. How to strengthen the supportive characteristics in one's communication.
- Emotions and communication. Dealing with emotionally difficult situations.

2. The group and organizational level: group dynamics and communication. Communication processes in different contexts: work groups, teams, committees, task forces, meetings...

2. The manager qua leader

The nature of the managerial work.
Managerial competence as a career anchor.
Leadership. Traditional approaches to leadership: the leader-centric view. Alternative approaches to leadership.
Discourses of leadership.

Methodology

The course will be based on the students' active participation and will make an extensive use of the following methodologies:

- Group dynamics: simulations of executive committees, panel of experts, group discussions
- Role-plays
- Students' presentations
- Brief lectures on selected topics

Although English will be the main language in the course, occasionally Spanish will also be used. Students will be encouraged to develop some specific in-class activities in Spanish.

ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN

Description %
Midterm Paper 30
Final Paper 30
Group presentation on the topic assigned 20
Participation in class activities and completion of in-class assignments 20

Assessment criteria


There will be four components to be assessed in the course:

- Midterm paper: analysis of the student's communication style, its strengths and aspects in need of betterment, and steps to be taken in order to improve the latter (30%)
- Final paper: crafting a personal development plan focused on the student's leadership potential (30%)
- Group presentation on the topic assigned (20%)
- Attendance and participation in class activities activities (20%)

Bibliography

Hargie, O., Saunders, C., Dickson, D. Social Skills in Interpersonal Communication. London: Routledge.

Miller, K. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes. Wadsworth International Ed.

Northouse, P.G. Leadership. Theory and Practice. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

Timetable and sections

Group Teacher Department
Year 3 Joan Noguera Ustrell Dirección de Personas y Organización

Timetable Year 3

From 2022/9/7 to 2022/10/5:
Each Wednesday from 17:30 to 20:00.

From 2022/11/2 to 2022/11/30:
Each Wednesday from 17:30 to 20:00.

Group Teacher Department
Year 4 Joan Noguera Ustrell Dirección de Personas y Organización

Timetable Year 4

From 2022/9/7 to 2022/10/5:
Each Wednesday from 17:30 to 20:00.

From 2022/11/2 to 2022/11/30:
Each Wednesday from 17:30 to 20:00.