Leadership Development

Expectations and goals

In the Leadership Development Course at USQC, participants are expected to engage actively and apply learned concepts, aiming to enhance their leadership skills across communication, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and innovation. The goal is to empower emerging and established leaders with practical tools and insights for effective team management and personal leadership growth.

Course materials

• Course Handbook
• Slide Decks.
• Case Studies
• Interactive Discussions.
• Feedback

Modules breakdown

Module 1: Introduction to Leadership

1. Defining Leadership (30 minutes)
   • Is leadership a talent or acquired skill? [Discussion] [Examples]
   • Brief explanation of leadership concepts. [Discussion what do they think about Leadership]
   • Short activity to differentiate between leadership and management. [Peter Dracker: management is doing things right, and leader is doing the right thing]
   • In ISO:9001 2015 edition changed management to leadership clause.
2. Overview of Leadership Theories (30 minutes)
   • Quick summary of key leadership theories. [Batman]
   • A short interactive discussion or poll on these theories.
3. Importance of Leadership in Organizations (20 minutes)
   • Jack Welch example.
   • Presentation on the role and impact of leadership.
   • Real-world examples highlighting the importance.
4. Leadership and Self-Awareness (30 minutes)
   • Brief self-assessment exercise.
   • Questionnaire
   • Group sharing on personal leadership styles.
5. Ethics and Values in Leadership (30 minutes)
   • Discussion on ethics and values.
   • Case study analysis.
6. Vision and Goal Setting (30 minutes)
   • Exercise on setting realistic goals and vision.
   • Group activity to practice this skill.
7. Interactive Activities (30 minutes)
   • Role-playing or case study.
   • Group discussions.
8. Conclusion and Key Takeaways (20 minutes)
   • Summarize the session.
   • Q&A and feedback session.

Module 2: Communication and Decision-Making Skills

1. Introduction to Communication Skills (20 minutes)
   • Brief overview of the importance of communication in leadership.
   • Introduction to various forms of communication: verbal, non-verbal, and written.
2. Key Communication Strategies (30 minutes)
   • Discussing active listening, empathy, and clarity.
   • Practical exercises to enhance listening and conveying messages effectively.
3. Overcoming Communication Barriers (30 minutes)
   • Identifying common barriers to effective communication.
   • Strategies to overcome these barriers in a leadership context.
4. Decision-Making Process (30 minutes)
   • Outlining the steps in the decision-making process.
   • Understanding how information, analysis, and intuition play a role.
5. Types of Decision-Making Models (30 minutes)
   • Exploring rational, intuitive, and collaborative decision-making models.
   • Case studies illustrating different models in action.
6. Critical Thinking in Decision-Making (30 minutes)
   • Techniques for enhancing critical thinking.
   • Exercises to practice critical analysis and thought processes.
7. Interactive Session: Role-Play and Scenarios (40 minutes)
   • Participants engage in role-play scenarios to practice communication and decision-making.
   • Groups present their approach and outcomes, followed by a facilitated discussion.
8. Conclusion and Reflection (20 minutes)
   • Recap of the session’s key takeaways.
   • Reflective exercise on personal communication and decision-making styles.
   • Brief Q&A and feedback collection.

Module 3: Emotional Intelligence

1. Understanding Emotional Intelligence (EI) (20 minutes)
   • Definition and components of EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
   • The significance of EI in leadership.
2. Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation (30 minutes)
   • Exercises to assess and improve self-awareness.
   • Techniques for managing emotions and self-regulation in challenging situations.
3. Motivation and Leadership (30 minutes)
   • Exploring the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in leadership.
   • Strategies for staying motivated and inspiring team motivation.
4. Empathy in Leadership (30 minutes)
   • Understanding and developing empathy as a leadership skill.
   • Role-playing exercises to practice empathetic communication.
5. Social Skills for Leaders (30 minutes)
   • Building and managing relationships.
   • Effective networking and influencing skills.
6. Emotional Intelligence in Decision Making (30 minutes)
   • Integrating emotional insights into decision-making processes.
   • Case studies highlighting the impact of EI on leadership decisions.
7. Interactive Workshop: EI Scenarios (40 minutes)
   • Group activities based on real-life scenarios to apply EI concepts.
   • Discussion and feedback on different approaches to the scenarios.
8. Wrap-Up and Action Plan (30 minutes)
   • Key takeaways from the module.
   • Developing a personal action plan to continue developing EI skills.
   • Reflection and group sharing on learning outcomes.

Module 4: Team Management and Conflict Resolution

1. Introduction to Team Management (20 minutes)
   • Overview of effective team management in leadership.
   • Understanding team dynamics and the role of a leader in fostering a positive team environment.
2. Building High-Performing Teams (30 minutes)
   • Strategies for assembling and nurturing high-performing teams.
   • Activities to identify the characteristics of successful teams.
3. Communication in Team Settings (30 minutes)
   • Techniques for clear and effective communication within teams.
   • Role-play exercise to practice communication skills in a team context.
4. Conflict Resolution Strategies (30 minutes)
   • Identifying sources of conflict in teams.
   • Techniques for mediating and resolving conflicts effectively.
5. Role of Emotional Intelligence in Team Management (30 minutes)
   • Applying emotional intelligence to understand team members’ needs and motivations.
   • Case study analysis on the impact of EI in team settings.
6. Leadership Styles in Team Management (30 minutes)
   • Exploring different leadership styles and their impact on team management.
   • Self-assessment to identify personal leadership style in team settings.
7. Interactive Workshop: Team Scenarios (40 minutes)
   • Group activities based on real-life team management and conflict scenarios.
   • Discussion and feedback on different approaches to the scenarios.
8. Conclusion and Personal Development Plan (30 minutes)
   • Summarizing key takeaways from the module.
   • Creating a personal development plan for improving team management and conflict resolution skills.
   • Final Q&A and participant reflections.

Module 5: Leadership Styles and Adaptability

1. Understanding Leadership Styles (20 minutes)
   • Introduction to various leadership styles (e.g., authoritative, democratic, laissez-faire, transformational).
   • The importance of understanding one’s own leadership style.
2. Assessing Personal Leadership Style (30 minutes)
   • Self-assessment exercise to identify participants’ leadership styles.
   • Discussion on how personal styles impact leadership effectiveness.
3. Adaptability in Leadership (30 minutes)
   • Exploring the concept of adaptability in leadership.
   • Understanding the need to adapt leadership styles to different situations.
4. Situational Leadership (30 minutes)
   • Delving into situational leadership theory.
   • Role-play or case studies to demonstrate situational leadership in action.
5. Leadership and Team Dynamics (30 minutes)
   • How different leadership styles affect team dynamics.
   • Group activity to explore the impact of various styles on team performance.
6. Flexibility and Decision-Making (30 minutes)
   • The role of flexibility in decision-making processes.
   • Exercises to practice flexible decision-making in changing circumstances.
7. Interactive Session: Leadership Scenarios (40 minutes)
   • Participants engage in scenarios requiring different leadership styles and adaptability.
   • Group presentations and discussions on these scenarios.
8. Conclusion and Personal Action Plan (30 minutes)
   • Recap of the session’s key concepts.
   • Development of a personal action plan to enhance leadership style and adaptability.
   • Final reflections and open Q&A session.

Module 6: Developing Leadership Presence

1. Defining Leadership Presence (20 minutes)
   • Introduction to the concept of leadership presence.
   • Discussing its significance in effective leadership.
2. Components of Leadership Presence (30 minutes)
   • Exploring key elements such as confidence, authenticity, and communication skills.
   • Reflective exercise to assess current presence and areas for improvement.
3. Building Confidence and Authenticity (30 minutes)
   • Techniques for boosting self-confidence and authenticity in leadership.
   • Interactive activities to practice these skills.
4. Effective Communication and Body Language (30 minutes)
   • The role of verbal and non-verbal communication in establishing presence.
   • Practical exercises focusing on body language and public speaking.
5. Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Presence (30 minutes)
   • Understanding how emotional intelligence enhances leadership presence.
   • Case studies or role-playing exercises to illustrate this relationship.
6. Influencing and Persuasion Skills (30 minutes)
   • Developing skills in influence and persuasion as key aspects of leadership presence.
   • Group activities to practice persuasive communication.
7. Interactive Workshop: Leadership Presence Scenarios (40 minutes)
   • Participants engage in scenarios that challenge them to use their leadership presence effectively.
   • Feedback and discussion on the approaches taken in these scenarios.
8. Consolidation and Personal Development Plan (30 minutes)
   • Summary of key learnings about leadership presence.
   • Developing a personal action plan to continue cultivating leadership presence.
   • Final reflections and open discussion.

Module 7: Strategic Thinking and Change Management

1. Introduction to Strategic Thinking (20 minutes)
   • Defining strategic thinking in a leadership context.
   • The importance of strategic thinking for leaders.
2. Frameworks for Strategic Analysis (30 minutes)
   • Overview of key strategic analysis frameworks (e.g., SWOT, PESTEL).
   • Short exercise on applying a framework to a hypothetical scenario.
3. Developing a Strategic Mindset (30 minutes)
   • Techniques to cultivate a strategic mindset.
   • Group discussion on challenges and opportunities in strategic thinking.
4. Change Management Fundamentals (30 minutes)
   • Understanding the principles of effective change management.
   • Identifying the stages of change and the leader’s role in each stage.
5. Leading Change Initiatives (30 minutes)
   • Strategies for successfully leading and implementing change.
   • Case study analysis of successful and unsuccessful change initiatives.
6. Overcoming Resistance to Change (30 minutes)
   • Techniques for addressing and overcoming resistance to change.
   • Role-play or scenario-based activity to practice these techniques.
7. Interactive Session: Strategic Planning Exercise (40 minutes)
   • Participants engage in a strategic planning exercise, incorporating elements of change management.
   • Group presentations followed by feedback and discussion.
8. Conclusion and Personal Application (30 minutes)
   • Summarizing key takeaways from the module.
   • Developing a personal action plan to apply strategic thinking and change management skills.
   • Final reflections and open Q&A session.

Innovation and Creativity in Leadership

1. Understanding Innovation and Creativity in Leadership (20 minutes)
   • Defining innovation and creativity within the leadership context.
   • Discussing the importance of these traits in modern leadership.
2. Fostering a Culture of Innovation (30 minutes)
   • Strategies for creating an environment that encourages innovative thinking.
   • Case studies of organizations that have successfully fostered a culture of innovation.
3. Creative Problem-Solving Techniques (30 minutes)
   • Introduction to various creative problem-solving methods (like design thinking, brainstorming, etc.).
   • Hands-on exercise to practice a problem-solving technique.
4. Innovative Leadership Styles (30 minutes)
   • Exploring leadership styles that promote innovation and creativity.
   • Self-assessment to identify personal tendencies towards innovative leadership.
5. Encouraging Creativity in Teams (30 minutes)
   • Techniques for encouraging and harnessing creativity within teams.
   • Group activity to simulate a creative team brainstorming session.
6. Managing Risk in Innovation (30 minutes)
   • Understanding risk management in the context of innovation.
   • Discussion on balancing risk and innovation in leadership decisions.
7. Interactive Workshop: Innovation Challenge (40 minutes)
   • Participants work on an innovation challenge, applying creative thinking and leadership skills.
   • Presentation of innovative solutions followed by group feedback.
8. Consolidation and Action Planning (30 minutes)
   • Summarizing the key concepts of innovation and creativity in leadership.
   • Developing a personal action plan to implement innovative practices.
   • Final reflections and open discussion for Q&A.