COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
The call for leadership is strong. A quick look at the front page of the daily newspaper confirms our collective yearning for leadership across sectors, institutions and borders to resolve the dilemmas of complexities of modern life. The assumption is that good leaders make a difference and that we are better off because of them. This course explores the fundamental question, "Who emerges as leaders and what accounts for effective leadership??
Ask people around: what is leadership? For some, leadership is synonymous with control and efficiency. For others it centers on persuasive abilities. Some equate leadership with heroic figures, while others with a very charismatic person.
Leadership is complex. All that we know confirms that. But if we don't understand at a basic level what leadership is (and is not), how we can prepare ourselves to lead well?
In this course, students of the Master of Science programs will learn the nature and practice of leadership - leading self, leading others, leading organizations and leading a responsible business in society. As future business leaders, it is important to establish a reflective understanding of the behaviors and capabilities to lead a rapidly changing organizational environment. Effective and responsible leadership requires leaders to have awareness of the context in which they lead. This involves the ability to communicate the purpose of their leadership project, knowledge of their strengths and limitations, care for the welfare of their stakeholders, as well as the challenges and dilemmas they may encounter. In addition, leaders need to know how and where to grow - and how they can help others to grow and to become leaders in their own right. Thus, the course brings together knowledge from cognate disciplines (e.g., psychology, management, sociology) to help students develop into fair, authentic, empowering, and responsible leaders.
Course Learning Objectives
- Identify the key principles of effective business leadership and apply them to practical scenarios.
- Evaluate and enhance personal self-awareness to better understand how it impacts leadership effectiveness.
- Analyze the different levels at which leadership occurs, including individual, team, and organizational levels.
- Develop practical skills to improve the ability to positively influence and impact others.
- Demonstrate and apply newly acquired leadership knowledge and skills in exercises and assignments to enhance personal leadership development.
- Engage in self-reflection and evaluation of leadership experiences to identify areas for improvement and growth.
CONTENT
1. What is leadership? Introduction to course |
2. Leadership Preferences In Session 2, we will continue reflecting on what leadership is. We will explore different leadership styles and how the leadership paradigm has been changing over the years. We will also gain insights from research about the effectiveness of different leadership styles. Finally, we will engage in a case discussion to reflect on the extent to which one should be flexible and open to adapting their personal leadership style to the requirements of others and the environment. We will analyze how leaders can balance their personal leadership style with the needs of their followers and the organization. |
3. Understanding and managing self In this session, we will review several frameworks to increase self-awareness. We will complete a personality self-assessment and will discuss the results in small groups to better understand how they impact your work relationships. |
4. Understanding and evaluating others We will explore the psychological challenges underlying people management processes in organizations. This session deals with such topics as how we perceive, understand and judge others at work. |
5. Managing others This session explores interpersonal processes related to motivating, influencing and developing others. |
6. Destructive leadership behaviors and power The relationship between power and leadership is critical to organizational dynamics, as both concepts are closely intertwined. Effective management and the achievement of organizational goals hinge on a deep understanding of this relationship. This session will cover the concept of power within organizations, including different bases of power and instances of its abuse. The focus will be on abusive supervision, its effects on both employees and the organization, and strategies to prevent it. |
7. Difficult conversations and conflict resolution Effective leaders have always recognized the importance of managing conflict and differences, but it is a challenging skill to master. This session will provide insights into conflict management and handling difficult conversations. Through analyzing the "Pak Sweet" case, we will explore various approaches to resolving conflicts. Additionally, we will engage in a role-play exercise to practice implementing different styles of dealing with interpersonal conflicts, enabling students to develop their conflict resolution expertise. |
8. Change management Leaders face frequent changes that are challenging to implement in organizations. Recognizing key factors that drive change and potential resistance is crucial for effective change management. In this session, we will have an opportunity to simulate managing an organizational change. Through this simulation, we will practice approaches to understanding and effectively managing the process of organizational change. Additionally, we will learn about strategies that leaders can use to manage resistance to change, a common challenge that arises during the change management process. |
9. Final presentations |
Methodology
The pedagogical approach will be based on active learning, self-reflection and team interaction. The appropriate teaching method will be chosen depending on the learning objectives of each class session. During class, students will be listening to mini-lectures, watching and discussing videos, participating in role-plays, and doing in-class exercises.
Bibliography
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Goffee, R., & Jones, G. (2006). Why should anyone be led by you?.
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Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership that gets results. Harvard Business Review.
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Knight, R. (2015). How to handle difficult conversations at work. Harvard Business Review.
Kotter, J. P., & Schlesinger, L. A. (2008). Choosing strategies for change. Harvard Business Review.
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Seijts, G. H., & Gandz, J. (2018). Transformational change and leader character. Business Horizons, 61(2), 239-249.
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