Mobilize people to tackle tough problems and build the capacity to thrive through the dangers of change

The crises of our time generate enormous adaptive challenges for our families, organizations, communities, and societies. The need for leadership that can mobilize people to meet these challenges and improve life is critical.

In this introductory course, you will explore strategies for leading in a changing world where adaptive pressures will continue to challenge all of us. You will discover new ways to approach complex organizational systems and take thoughtful action on the work we all face ahead. Most importantly, you will reflect on how to move forward on the leadership challenges you care about most.

The total learning hours for this Module amount to 50. These are distributed across the following categories:

• Total Contact Hours: 20
• Self-Study Hours: 5
• Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: 0
• Assessment Hours: 25

This Module carries a value of 2 ECTS.

 

• Institution: HarvardX
• Subject: Business & Management
• Prerequisites:None.
• Language: English
• Video Transcript: English

 

Module-Specific Learner Skills:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will be able to

Integrate theory, research findings and practice for real-world problem solving.

• How to identify and unbundle complex challenges
• How to understand the role of formal and informal authority
• How to identify the key perspectives of stakeholders
• How to build and renew trust relationships
• How to approach conflict through different manners
• How to implement personal strategies for surviving and thriving amidst change

 

Competences:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:

Manages people and projects and demonstrates the ability to respond to the fast-changing business environment.

• Manage people efficiently, lead in a changing world, improve team morale, and achieve overall success
• Promote a culture of service by leading by example.
• Adapt management practices to evolving team needs and organisational changes.

Demonstrates autonomy in the direction of learning and a high level of understanding of learning processes.

• Demonstrate accountability for critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Exhibit autonomy in making ethical leadership decisions.

Has the learning skills to allow continuation to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed or autonomous.

• Act responsibly in effective communication and influence.

 

Knowledge:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have been exposed to the following:

Integrate forward-thinking concepts, standards, and managerial decision-making tools in the functional areas of management.

• Evaluate core principles of leadership.
• Unbundle and categorize complex challenges.
• Examine the key perspectives of stakeholders to understand their influence on decision-making processes.
• Evaluate the diagnostic indicators of various types of work.
• Examine common reasons for the misidentification (misdiagnosis) of types of work.
• Evaluate the functions and components of authority relationships.
• Realise the value of thinking politically.
• Analyze key system roles, such as stakeholders, constituents, and factions, and evaluate how these roles impact adaptive work.
• List the key components of trust.
• Examine common forms of dependence in trust relationships.
• Define and propose specific strategies to renew or build trust within teams and organizations.
• Analyze the role of conflict in mobilizing others around the work to be done.
• Examine strategies for orchestrating conflict.
• Analyze patterns associated with different types of work.
• Examine strategies for regulating disequilibrium.

Articulate strategies and resources for holding steady.

 

Skills:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills:

• Employ effective communication strategies to mobilize people in times of crisis, understand the needs and concerns of teams, and communicate clearly and listen actively.
• Foster a collaborative environment where team members feel empowered to contribute ideas and work together(collective problem solving).
• Manage and resolve conflicts in ways that strengthen relationships and maintain focus on shared goals.
• Influence and persuade diverse stakeholders to align behind a common goal.
• Persuade ,inspire and use influence to drive collective action and create momentum for change.

 

Introduction

 Get on the Balcony

• The importance of learning from your own Leadership experiences.
• How to apply a diagnostic-and-action method for analyzing Leadership cases.
• Definitions of Leadership and the implications of one rooted in the work to be done.
• Identify a personal Leadership case and write a brief narrative about it.

 

Module 1

Identify the Work to Be Done

• Identifying Technical Problems.
• Identifying Adaptive Challenges.
• Unbundling Technical and Adaptive Work.
• Use Yourself as a Case: Distinguish the Types of Work.

 

Module 2

Lead With, Beyond, and Without Authority

• The Roots and Structure of Authority.
• Forms of Authority and how they relate to the practice of Leadership.
• Use Yourself as a Case: Understand Your Authority.

 

Module 3

3.1 Take Action: Think Politically

• The value of thinking politically.
• Key system roles (such as stakeholders, constituents, and factions) and how those roles impact adaptive work.

• Think politically about your own Leadership challenge using a stakeholder map. 

3.2 Take Action: Build Trust

• The Components of Trust.
• Common forms of dependence in trust relationships.
• Specific strategies to renew or build trust.
• Evaluate the role of trust in your Leadership challenge and identify strategies for renewing trust.

 

3.3 Take Action: Orchestrate Conflict

• The role conflict plays in mobilizing others around the work to be done.
• Strategies for Orchestrating Conflict.
• Patterns for different types of work.
• Strategies for regulating disequilibrium.
• Analyze the role of conflict in your personal Leadership challenge.

 

Module 4

Anchor Yourself

• Anchor Yourself.
• Strategies and resources for holding steady.
• Use Yourself as a Case: Key Takeaways.

 

Courses are generally made up of weekly modules with pre-recorded videos that you can watch on a schedule or at your own pace. There are supplemental readings and student discussion forums, as well as homework assignments and quizzes..

 

Assessment Type	Weight
Reflection and Concept Check- Short-form free response and true/false questions	40%
Long-form free response	50%
Survey and short-form free response question	10%
Total	100%

Passing grade                                                                                                                                                                      60%

 

Ronald Heifetz
Founder, Center for Public Leadership; King Hussein Bin Talal Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School