What you will study
The course comprises eight units:
Unit 1: Leadership in context
The course begins with exploring the reasons why ‘leadership’ generates so much debate amongst so many people – researchers, academics, journalists, as well as leaders themselves – and why people have been fascinated by leadership over the millennia.
Unit 2: Making sense of leadership
There are many different theories about leadership and the approaches that will maximise the chances of success. In this unit, we examine some of these theories, reflecting on the differences and similarities between them.
Unit 3: Leadership in a digital world
We will now turn our attention to leadership in the digital world. You might reasonably assume that in a world so radically different from a few decades ago, the nature of leadership has also fundamentally changed. We explore that notion, and test assumptions about what has changed and what endures.
Unit 4: Developing the skills of leadership
This unit will see us pick up threads from the preceding units and focus on how you can develop your skills as a leader. We ask you to identify leaders you admire, to highlight their key attributes, and to start to think about what you need to do to become the leader you seek to be.
Unit 5: Leadership at different levels
We explore different kinds of leadership roles and consider how the task of leadership evolves as you take on more senior, and therefore more complex, roles.
Unit 6: The importance of feedback
The focus of this unit will be on a single activity: asking for feedback from one or more colleagues. Asking people whose opinion you trust will help you to understand your current leadership in greater detail.
Unit 7: Leading in uncertain times
In this unit, we'll explore examples of leadership in challenging circumstances, considering what is required of leaders during times of uncertainty.
Unit 8: Your plan, your leadership
In the final unit, it’s time to draw together the threads of your learning. We will focus on how you'll use what you have learned to grow your leadership skills, and to help you be an even more effective leader.
All the information you need to complete the course is provided within each unit. There are also other links to material and resources provided, to explore topics further as you wish.
You will learn
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- explain why the subject of leadership attracts so much attention
- summarise different schools of thought on leadership
- identify the characteristics of successful leadership in a digital context
- reflect on the attributes of leaders that you particularly admire
- identify key differences at increasingly senior levels of leadership
- identify strategic goals for your development
- reflect on the implications of different leadership case studies for your own leadership.
- create a plan to develop your growth as a leader.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you directly. Other support is available via the course forum, dedicated website and computing helpdesk.
Practice-based assignment
There is a practice-based assignment (PBA) which you complete at the end of the course to demonstrate how you have applied, or are intending to apply, the theories and models you have learnt. Once completed and successfully passed you will receive a digital badge and a course completion certificate which you can download as a record of your learning.