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Instructors: John Thomas and Seth Murray
Suggested prior knowledge: None
Prerequisites: None
Semester(s) Offered: See course list

Course Description

‘Leadership and Professional Skills’ offers a transformative journey that equips students with the essential knowledge and skills needed for effective leadership. The curriculum prioritizes personal development and self-awareness as foundational to leading oneself, providing students with a pathway to leading other people, teams, and organizations.

Throughout the course, students critically examine and explore a wide range of leadership topics, including work behavior psychology, interpersonal relations, communication, moral maturity, stress management, leadership styles, value systems, ethics, and problem-solving techniques. The course includes the increasingly important role of diversity and cross-cultural dimensions in the modern workplace. By emphasizing a holistic perspective, the course fosters both individual and group development with vital practices like authentic communication, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness.

Besides weekly assignments and a semester project, students engage in class and group discussions, activities, and presentations. By the end of the course, students gain a better understanding of leadership and the practical skills applicable to their personal and professional lives. The course empowers students with the ability to achieve their goals and objectives and to drive purposeful change for a greater common good. The knowledge and skills gained can be applied to projects of any size, in any industry, sector or geography.

Skills and Knowledge Gained

• Learn the key variables, characteristics, and behaviors influencing effective leadership and how to create and communicate a powerful shared vision to enlist followers.
• Examine how leaders empower people to achieve their personal best and understand the importance of ethics and moral development in the workplace.
• Explore how credibility, value systems, and a common purpose help cultivate trust and leadership coherence by instilling competence and confidence in others.
• Analyze the types of skills needed at different levels of management and assess the benefits of delegating responsibility and authority in a leadership context.
• Create and communicate a leadership vision and mission that reflects the principles of inclusiveness to enlist followers and enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.

Why should you take this course?

Gain the knowledge, skills, and practices foundational to effective leadership.

*Note: This page is periodically updated. For the most up-to-date course information for the current term, log into the Buff Portal or go to the Course Search (for those without 
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