Leadership Practices (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

This course is about one of the core educational leadership issues: how to lead people effectively to joint goals in the framework of the given strategy. The course provides the students with practical tools and methods of contemporary leadership theories and practices, starting with one’s own self management and followed by how to motivate and lead other individuals and teams effectively and ethically.

After completing the course, the participants will be able to:

- recognize and apply some of the current leadership theories and practices in their own working environment
- identify what drives him/herself personally and how other people may differ in their motives according to the motivation theory of 16 basic desires
- improve their understanding about stress and self management in times of uncertainty to be able to support others as well
- use the coaching style when appropriate in getting the best out of people
know how to lead teams through changes

Content (course unit)

Personal Reiss Motivation Profile (RMP)
Contemporary leadership and motivation theories
Neuroscience and leadership
Stress management and managing yourself
Competence management
Leadership coaching skills and GROW process
Concept of trust
Leading teams

Location and time

The course takes place in autumn semester with weekly tasks.

Exam schedules

Group exam on intensive week 2.

Assessment methods and criteria

Group exam: 50 % of the grade
Individual written assignment: 50 % of the grade

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

This is a distance learning course with individual reading, collaborative group tasks and applied exercises.

Learning materials

Kouzes and Posner (1997 or newer). The Leadership Challenge. Josses-Bass or Wyler.
Other recommended reading will be given during the course.

Student workload

This is a 5 credit course spreading over 10 weeks. The 135 hours of work mean about 13,5 hours of study time each week.

Content scheduling

1) Who are you and what do you want? Personal Reiss Motivation Profile
2) Leadership theories and practices
3) Model the way: leading yourself and helping others
4) Enable others to act: Coaching skills
5) Enable others to act: Competence management
6) Encourage the heart: Motivation, emotions and feedback
7) Leading a team
8) Building trust
9) Inspire a shared vision
10) Challenging leadership cases

Completion alternatives

There are no alternative ways to pass this course at the moment.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The course is not passed if all the given assignments are not done and if the grade of any of the two parts is zero.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can list some leadership theories and practices and is able to mention them in the written assignment and the group exam. The student analyses the leadership cases, including the motivation factors and competence management, but the analysis stays on a superficial level. Suggestions are given for improving the leadership situations but they remain quite shallow and simple. The student has done the mandatory tasks but the reflection in the written assignment about the course material and its application at his/her own working life shows only superficial understanding of the course topics. The student participates in collaborative learning and in the group exam but does not contribute very positively to the study team's exam outcome as evaluated by the other team members. The student does not manage to transform the learned leadership skills in his/her working context as can be seen in the course learning activities.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can describe with concrete examples some leadership theories and practices and is able to apply them in the written assignment and the group exam. The student analyses the leadership cases, including the motivation factors and competence management, and the analysis is detailed and combines different elements. Logical and realistic suggestions are given for improving challenging leadership situations and they are described clearly. The student has completed the mandatory tasks and the reflection in the written assignment about the course material and its application at his/her own working life shows good understanding of the course topics. The student participates positively in collaborative learning, gives constant encouragement and feedback to the team colleagues and contributes positively to the team's exam outcome as evaluated by the other team members. The student manages to transform the learned leadership skills in his/her working context as can be seen in the written assignment and/or in other course tasks.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can describe with concrete examples some leadership theories and practices and is able to apply them in the written assignment and the group exam. The student analyses the leadership cases, including the motivation factors and competence management, and the analysis is detailed and combines different elements. Logical, realistic and creative suggestions are given for improving the challenging leadership situations and they are described clearly. The student has completed on time all the mandatory lectures and the reflection in the written assignment about the course material and its application at his/her own working life shows shows deep understanding of the course topics. The student participates in the group exam and contributes positively to the team's exam outcome as evaluated by the other team members. The student participates positively in collaborative learning, gives constant and well formulated encouragement and feedback to the team colleagues and contributes very positively to the team's exam outcome as evaluated by the other team members.resulting in positive impact in his/her own work environment as can be seen in the video assignment and/or in other course tasks. The student takes responsibility as a transformative leader and offers critical, timely suggestions for improvement of leadership and the course as well by taking immediate actions to improve collaborative learning of him/herself and the others.

Assessment criteria - pass/fail (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

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