Course Description

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Leadership is a concept that most everyone generally recognizes and understands – most people can immediately recognize “good” or “bad” leadership when they see it. However, fewer people can clearly articulate what makes one person a great leader and another a poor one. The concept of leadership has evolved over time and various theories and approaches have been continually proposed and studied to answer the question, “What is the best way to lead?”

After examining what exactly leadership is and its related goals, this course will focus on four of the most current and popular approaches to leadership – transformational, authentic, servant, and adaptive leadership. Models for each will be discussed and applied to the context of each participants’ own leadership roles. Target participants will have some leadership responsibility over others but may come from any organizational level.

Course Outline

• Session 1: Overview of influence, power, and traditional leadership theories; identifying key leadership outcomes
• Session 2: Deep dive into transformational and authentic leadership, with the application to each student’s leadership context
• Session 3: Deep dive into servant and adaptive leadership, with application to each student’s leadership context
• Session 4: Key takeaways, developing your unique leadership plan moving forward

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

• Understand the basic principles of professional-looking photography, including composition, light, and color
  Work one-on-one with Professor Piland and in small groups to improve their photo techniques
  Edit professional-looking photos from the palm of your hand
  Deconstruct photos with a critical eye for light, composition, and shooting techniques
  Receive feedback on photos taken and continually iterate to advance photography skills
  Develop a professional portfolio of photos to share
  Understand the dynamics of leadership as a relational process
• Learn the models and elements of historical and current leadership theories and practices
• Determine the right leadership outcomes for you and your role
• Share and discuss how you can apply leadership theories to your own work setting
• Recognize the similarities and differences among leadership models
• Conduct self-assessment to determine your leadership effectiveness
• Develop your own leadership plan moving forward

Instructor Information

Dr. Chris Leupold, Isabella Cannon Professor of Leadership and Professor of Psychology, has taught a variety of courses over the past 20 years in the Psychology Department, the Love School of Business and the Elon School of Law. An industrial-organizational psychologist, he specializes in leadership, team, and organizational development. Prior to Elon, he worked for an international management consulting firm that specialized in leadership assessment and development, and later at The Home Depot where he oversaw the former Eastern region’s leadership development and succession planning. In addition to teaching, he continues to consult to organizations in his areas of expertise.