How does one ascend the corporate ladder and acquire the skills necessary to lead at a higher level of responsibility in today’s increasingly volatile, complex, unpredictable business landscape? This foundational course in the Redefining Leadership certificate program has the answers. It explores the 16 realities, essential competencies and ultimate responsibilities of leading others. Turnover at the top has increased dramatically. Competence-based leadership is under intense scrutiny. Boards and owners are asking whether they have “the right person” for current demands. Not surprisingly, almost 70% of leaders today are “seriously considering” quitting for reasons that include the realization they’re “just not up to the task.” This exodus creates new opportunities for managers seeking avenues for advancement. If the top-dog position is either unavailable or not yet of interest, you will also learn how to lead in the middle.
The course identifies the uncomfortable truths and critical questions every manager must contemplate and then address on the way up. Do I possess the emotional and mental qualities, interpersonal skills, street-smart insights, decision-making savvy and executive presence to lead? What specific skill sets will get me recognized for my potential? What is the #1 challenge facing every leader today and how will I deal with it? Do I fully understand changing worker demographics, the talent war (recruitment and retention of knowledge workers), business and management models that reflect an integrated but disruptive global economy, escalating expectations, how culture shapes performance, data explosion, automation and knowledge obsolescence? What’s my confidence level in tackling these challenges?
This one-of-a-kind learning experience defines the real meaning of leadership. It was designed and is led by someone who has dealt with thousands of business leaders as clients, coachees and students as well as being the subjects of various government accountability audits and crisis interventions. He has owned and led medium-sized and large organizations. So, he knows exactly what makes a poor leader, a good leader and a great leader. The course is not a philosophical discussion about what leadership is – that’s provided in supplemental readings which are optional. Rather the focus is on what you need to know to lead others to greatness.
Can you handle the dynamic forces that impact every business enterprise today? Like changing stakeholder expectations, decaying business paradigms, archaic workplace practices, and weak strategies that are unable to cope with unanticipated but formidable emergent events? Is there a dark side to being a leader that most managers don’t know about? Can you deal effectively with the ethical dilemmas of leading in your profession, lead or manage those who are smarter than you, and build a healthy, adaptive, resilient enterprise? Do you have the physical and mental fitness to lead? What, for you, is the meaning of leading with purpose?
Realities:
❏ 16 uncomfortable truths about leading
❏ How to define your leadership identity
❏ Earning leadership: 10 commandments
❏ Developing the style that works best for you
❏ Reconciling the paradoxes of leadership
❏ The dark side: how leadership will change you
❏ Where leaders often come up short and why
Competencies:
❏ What it takes & what leaders actually do
❏ The most difficult part of leading others
❏ Social, emotional and strategic intelligence
❏ The job: what to do when you do get there
❏ Productivity tools: how to allocate your time
❏ Presence, self-promotion and brand building
❏ Playing the game: power, politics & advisors
❏ Finding the drive to succeed under pressure
❏ Leading those who are smarter than you are
❏ Mastering the critical, job-defining skill set
Responsibilities:
❏ Risk intelligence, tools, analysis & management
❏ Ethical leadership: choosing your filters
❏ Building the right, smart & healthy culture
❏ Liberating, optimizing and retaining talent
❏ Investing in your fitness & resilience to lead
❏ The best advice ever given to ensure success
❏ The questions you must answer to be a good one
❏ What does leading with purpose actually mean?
The course includes a 88-page pre-course workbook of self-diagnostic tasks and supplemental readings.