Stepping Up: Leading Others

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/stepping-up-leading-others

Introduction

**Course Review: Stepping Up: Leading Others** **Overview** "Stepping Up: Leading Others" is an insightful course offered on Coursera, ideal for those in managerial roles looking to elevate their leadership skills. Aimed specifically at individuals with five to six years of experience in leadership or management, this course dives deep into the intricacies of leading diverse teams. It explores essential themes, including team dynamics, the value of cultural diversity, the unique challenges faced by remote teams, and practical strategies for peer leadership. By the end of the course, participants will not only broaden their understanding of what it means to lead but also acquire actionable skills to foster high-performing teams. **Course Syllabus Breakdown** 1. **Team Dynamics** This module sets the foundation by defining what distinguishes a "team" from other group configurations. Understanding the stages of team development and recognizing the evolution of team dynamics is a key focus. The course addresses the practical implications of leading remote and hybrid teams, pinpointing both challenges and opportunities that arise in today's increasingly virtual workspaces. 2. **Leading Your Peers** Building a strong team culture is essential, and this section helps participants navigate the intricate process of fostering trust among team members, particularly when leading peers. By examining the significance of diversity in team roles and strategies for overcoming common hurdles, learners will gain insights into how to establish and maintain a cohesive team environment conducive to success. 3. **The Leader as Guide** In this module, you'll learn the power of setting clear, effective objectives while understanding how to provide constructive feedback. The course emphasizes the importance of delegation, steering clear of micromanagement, and embracing the concept of coaching. The exploration of popular coaching models will equip you with the techniques to nurture talent and enhance team performance. 4. **Important Conversations** Effective leadership often hinges on having timely and difficult conversations. This week addresses the pitfalls of excessive agreement within teams—a phenomenon known as "groupthink." By strategically introducing conflict and embracing dissenting opinions, leaders can foster a culture of innovation and critical thinking. The course also explores the value of mentoring and how to conduct meaningful discussions that challenge the status quo. **Recommendations** I highly recommend "Stepping Up: Leading Others" for anyone serious about enhancing their leadership abilities in a modern context. The course is structured to facilitate practical learning through engaging content, real-world examples, and interactive discussions. - **Who Should Enroll?** This course is particularly beneficial for mid-level managers, team leaders, and professionals looking to advance their leadership careers. With a focus on both theory and practice, it equips participants with skills vital for navigating the complexities of teamwork in a diverse workplace. - **What You Will Gain:** Enrollees can expect to emerge from the course with a robust toolkit for effective leadership, including the ability to create a collaborative team culture, set and achieve strategic objectives, and engage in important, candid discussions. Furthermore, the emphasis on remote and cross-cultural leadership makes it timely and relevant to current workplace trends. - **Course Format and Engagement** The course's online format allows for flexibility, making it easier for working professionals to balance their commitments while engaging with the material at their own pace. Expect rich multimedia content, including video lectures, quizzes, and forums, to foster collaborative learning experiences. In conclusion, "Stepping Up: Leading Others" is a well-crafted course that addresses the multifaceted nature of leadership in diverse work environments. Whether you're looking to hone your skills or prepare for further responsibilities, this course provides valuable insights and practical strategies that can be implemented immediately in your role. Take the leap and invest in your leadership journey today!

Syllabus

Team Dynamics

This week we are going to begin by considering what we mean by the term “team” and explore how this might different from other working groups. We shall see how depending on the nature of the group you are learning, how you lead will need to change. We shall discuss the stages of team development, looking at how teams change through time, and consider remote and hybrid teams, along with the challenges and opportunities they present.

This week we shall be focussing on building team culture, trust and leading teams of peers. We are going to start by exploring team culture and the importance of difference before considering some of the main challenges of developing and leading teams. We shall also look at how you can build and retain the trust of your team and identify some strategies to help you lead your peers.

This week you are going to explore the value of setting clear objectives, and learn what good objectives look like. We shall look at how to set effective objectives before looking at the role of feedback, and how to give feedback successfully. We are going to consider the importance of letting go as leaders, avoiding micromanaging, and how you might do this well, and we shall end the week with a consideration of coaching. You will see a popular coaching model and look at how coaching can be done well.

This week we are going to look at the important conversations you need to have as a leader. We shall explore the risks associated with too much agreement within teams, as we look at the phenomenon of “groupthink”, and ways to combat it. We are also going to consider how you can promote more challenge within your team, and give you ideas on how to have those challenging conversations. We will see ways to strategically introduce conflict and think about the role of mentoring within this context.