Getting Started with Leadership

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/getting-started-making-sense-of-you-and-your-world-of-work

Introduction

**Course Review: Getting Started with Leadership on Coursera** In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, effective leadership is more critical than ever. If you're looking to hone your leadership skills and understand the nuances that define a successful leader, the course "Getting Started with Leadership," offered by Queen Mary University of London on Coursera, is an excellent place to begin. This course is tailored for aspiring leaders, managers, and anyone looking to enhance their understanding of leadership dynamics within organizations. ### Course Overview "Getting Started with Leadership" is structured to help participants appreciate the contextual factors that influence leadership effectiveness. The course offers a comprehensive exploration of leadership definitions, the workings of organizations, and the pivotal role of stakeholders. Throughout the course, learners develop a clear distinction between leadership and management while emphasizing the importance of credibility in leadership roles. **Syllabus Breakdown:** 1. **Introduction to Leadership**: The course kicks off with an introduction to the Coursera platform and Queen Mary University, making sure participants are well-equipped to navigate their learning journey efficiently. You will begin by contemplating your perception of leadership. This foundation sets the stage for deeper discussions throughout the course. The inclusion of concepts from the instructors' book, "How to Lead Smart People," enriches the curriculum with established theories. 2. **Making Sense of Organisations**: This section guides you through understanding your organization's structure and dynamics. By examining different types of power and how they manifest within your workplace, you will gain critical insights into leading effectively amid organizational change. 3. **Making Sense of Stakeholders**: Understanding stakeholders is crucial for any leader, and this module focuses on identifying them and assessing their needs. It's not just about knowing who they are; it's about mastering the art of stakeholder relationship management, which is key to implementing your leadership agenda successfully. 4. **Making Sense of Leadership and Management**: The final module contrasts leadership with management, discussing their roles in delivering results. You’ll learn about the importance of building credibility and making effective use of your time—a necessary skill set for any leader striving to balance tasks and responsibilities. ### Why You Should Take This Course - **Holistic Understanding of Leadership**: The course presents a well-rounded view of what it means to be a leader in today's organizations. It prepares you to navigate challenges by addressing both theoretical and practical aspects of leadership. - **Practical Insights**: Each module is designed to encourage introspection and apply learned concepts directly to your work environment. The emphasis on real-world application ensures that you can implement strategies immediately. - **Supportive Learning Environment**: Engaging with peers through the Coursera platform fosters a collaborative learning atmosphere. You'll find opportunities to discuss ideas and techniques with fellow students, enhancing your learning experience. - **Guided by Experts**: Learning from esteemed instructors affiliated with Queen Mary University of London assures participants of high-quality education backed by academic rigor. ### Conclusion "Getting Started with Leadership" is a thoughtfully designed course that will serve as a robust introduction for both new and experienced leaders. It equips participants with the tools to understand leadership from multiple perspectives, leading to enhanced management skills and better stakeholder relationships. Investing time in this course not only opens doors to personal growth but also prepares you to inspire and lead effectively within your organization. Whether you aim to move into a leadership position or enhance your current capabilities, this course is highly recommended as a stepping stone on your leadership journey. Enroll today and take the first step toward becoming the leader you aspire to be!

Syllabus

Introduction to Leadership

Welcome to Coursera and Queen Mary University of London, we are excited to have you studying with us. We are going to help you prepare for your studies by ensuring you know exactly what is expected of you throughout your course and how to most effectively engage with the platform. We will look at how the platform works as well as how you will interact with your peers. You will be introduced to the university you are studying with and we will share some top tips on how to succeed with Coursera. This week we shall start by getting to know Coursera as you will be introduced to the platform and explore how to use the various functions which will support your learning journey. You will see how you can make the most of your learning experience which will enable you to succeed on this course. This week we are going to start by exploring the context of leadership as we think about what it is and how we might define it. Many topics covered in the course are also explored in the instructors book How to Lead Smart People (Mike Mister and Arun Singh, Profile Books 2019).

This week you are going to explore your organisational context, and consider why it's important to understand how your organisation operates to be an effective leader. We will look at the different types of power as well as the sources and roles of power within your organisational context. We are also going to explore how organisations can change and think about how you can be a successful leader in a changing context.

This week you are going to discover new ways to deepen your understanding of who your stakeholders are and will look at ways of how you can manage them. You will also explore why stakeholders are important to you as a leader to implement your agenda, as you learn new techniques for assessing stakeholder relationships and needs.

This week we shall be focussing on what it means to manage, lead and deliver effectively and how we can achieve this. We shall explore the importance of moving beyond having a sole focus on a task as well as the value of developing your credibility as a leader. We will also discuss the time bind and consider how important it is as a leader to make the best use of your time.