Foundations and Perspectives of Leadership

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

14 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

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Explore the foundational theories, social dynamics, and evolving perspectives that shape leadership in contemporary organizations. This course examines leadership as a multifaceted phenomenon, emphasizing pluralism, practice, relationships, and identity. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the diverse theoretical frameworks and social constructs that underpin leadership. Learners will investigate plural leadership, practice-based approaches, leader-member relationships, social identity, and the evolving roles of leaders and followers. By examining both classic and emerging perspectives, participants will develop a nuanced understanding of how leadership is enacted and perceived in various contexts. The course blends theoretical exploration with critical analysis, encouraging learners to engage with multiple perspectives and reflect on the complexities of leadership. Through readings, videos, and quizzes, participants will deepen their understanding of leadership dynamics and their implications for organizations. This course is part one of a three-course Specialization designed to build a complete and cohesive understanding of the subject. While it offers valuable skills on its own, you'll gain the most benefit by progressing through all three courses as a structured learning journey. This course is based on The SAGE Handbook of Leadership, by Doris Schedlitzki, Magnus Larsson, Brigid Carroll, Michelle C. Bligh and Olga Epitropaki. Copyright ©2023 by Sage Publications Limited. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial technologies or similar technologies. Published by Sage Publications Limited, London. Used by arrangement with Sage Publications Limited.

Syllabus

Pluralism in studies on plural leadership: Analysis and perspectives
- This module explores the theoretical and empirical foundations of plural leadership, examining how leadership roles can be distributed across individuals or interactions. It covers historical perspectives, key debates, and emerging research on collective and decentralized leadership models. Learners will develop a critical understanding of how leadership operates in diverse organizational contexts.
Leadership and practice theories: Reconstructing leadership as a phenomenon
- This module explores leadership through the lens of practice theories, examining how leadership is understood as a dynamic, distributed, and relational process. Learners will gain insight into the evolution of leadership studies and the role of practice theories in reshaping traditional views. The module emphasizes the complexity of leadership as a phenomenon and how it can be reimagined in modern organizational contexts.
Leadership in interaction
- This module explores how leadership emerges through everyday interactions, focusing on observational research methods, identity construction, and the material aspects of leadership. Learners will gain an understanding of how leadership is shaped by social practices, roles, and the physical environment. The module emphasizes the importance of interaction in organizational contexts.
The quality of relationships: An exploration of current leader–member exchange (LMX) research and future possibilities
- This module explores the dynamics of leader-member exchange (LMX) relationships, including their development stages, influencing factors, theoretical foundations, and the impact on employee and organizational outcomes. Learners will analyze how LMX quality varies at individual and group levels and examine critiques of its theoretical clarity and measurement challenges.
Embodying who we are: Social identity and leadership
- This module explores the role of social identity in leadership, examining how leader group prototypicality affects leadership effectiveness and the implications of follower-centric theories. It also investigates how group prototypes influence perception and behavior within social groups, providing insights into leadership dynamics in various contexts.
Romance of leadership
- This module explores the concept of the 'romance of leadership,' examining its origins, implications, and real-world applications. It delves into how leadership is perceived and evaluated in different contexts, including sports and politics. Learners will gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical and practical dimensions of leadership narratives.
What is ‘functional' about distributed leadership in teams?
- This module explores the concept of distributed leadership in teams, focusing on how leadership responsibilities are shared among team members over time. It covers the functional aspects of leadership distribution, including the roles, people, and temporal dynamics that influence team effectiveness. Learners will gain insights into how leadership can be more collaborative and adaptive in modern organizational settings.
Followership
- This module explores the dynamic relationship between leadership and followership, examining how followers influence leaders and shape group outcomes. It covers theoretical frameworks, the role of followers in maintaining ethical and effective leadership, and the challenges in measuring followership. Learners will gain insight into the importance of balanced power structures in organizations.
Leadership as contextualised personality traits
- This module explores the integration of leadership models through the HEXACO personality framework, examining how leadership traits can be understood as extensions of personality. It covers the structure of leadership traits, their validity, and the implications of self-other agreement in leadership assessments. Learners will gain insights into how personality and leadership are interconnected and how to evaluate these relationships effectively.
Implicit leadership and followership theories: From the leader/follower within and between to leaders/followers in plural and in flux
- This module explores the development and evolution of implicit leadership and followership theories, focusing on how individuals form mental models of leaders and followers. It covers key research themes, misconceptions, and modern approaches that consider dynamic and plural leadership contexts. Learners will gain insights into how these theories influence real-world leadership practices and team dynamics.
Leadership, emotion regulation and sense-making
- This module explores the role of emotions in leadership, focusing on how leaders regulate emotions at individual and interpersonal levels. It covers key concepts like emotional intelligence, emotional contagion, and emotion regulation models, providing insights into how these elements shape effective leadership practices.
Authentic leadership or authenticity in leadership? Finding a better home for our leadership aspirations
- This module explores the concept of authentic leadership, examining its theoretical roots, critiques, and practical implications. Learners will analyze the evolution of the AL construct and evaluate its relevance in modern leadership practices. The module also considers alternative perspectives on leadership authenticity.
Redefining followership: Towards an expansive construct of the ‘followers' of charismatic leaders in entrepreneurial organisations
- This module explores the expanded concept of followership in charismatic leadership, focusing on the roles of external stakeholders like investors, media, and business partners. It examines how these groups influence leaders and contribute to organisational success through resource and career commitments. Learners will gain insights into the broader dynamics of leadership and the diverse motivations of external followers.
Leadership development: Past, present and future
- This module explores the evolution of leadership development, examining evidence-based strategies, theoretical perspectives, and practical challenges. It highlights the importance of sense-making and sense-breaking in enhancing leadership effectiveness and covers both individual and collective development approaches. Learners will gain insights into current research and the gap between theory and practice.