- An undergraduate course
in
Business and Management.
Effective leadership skills
- On this page
Developing your leadership capabilities can be challenging. Different theories and views about leadership come and go, and it’s hard to know which to put into practice. This course takes a critical – but constructive – approach to these different ideas; helps you identify those of most value to you; and enables you to develop your own leadership practices and skills. It’s suitable for managers in all sectors, at both first line and middle management levels, and will benefit both new and experienced managers and team leaders. It will also be valuable in developing leadership processes more widely within groups and teams.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | GB003 |
| Credits | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Register for the course
What you will study
During this course, you will work through study materials that examine different ways of understanding leadership. This includes leadership traits, preferred leadership styles and matching leadership styles to circumstances, together with the ideas of leadership distributed within a group and leading across boundaries. Analysis of the different skills and capabilities required of leaders follows, enabling you to identify those you may need to develop to maximise your own leadership potential.
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Define leadership and identify the distinction between leadership and management.
- Identify where you exercise leadership, or might do so, in your role.
- Explain how context affects a person’s approach to leadership.
- Identify (some) of your own strengths and development.
- Critically assess a range of ideas about, and approaches to, leadership.
- Identify a range of perspectives on leadership.
- Understand the strengths and limitations of a range of approaches to leadership.
- Identify your own strengths and development needs as a leader.
- Understand the benefits of developing effective working relationships; recognising the need to understand yourself and your colleagues/manager.
- Demonstrate an awareness of working as a virtual team.
- Recognise the four major capabilities of leaders.
- Understand the role of knowledge and networks in leadership.
- Implement a realistic action plan for your further development as a leader.
The strong link between course learning and your work practice creates relevant, enduring and transferable outcomes. It requires no more than 30 hours of your time in total, over whatever period suits you. But the learning is far richer than more expensive one- to three-day workshops. Register online today and start tomorrow – no need to wait!
The course features the distinctive strengths of The Open University from its years of expertise in work-based learning:
- The convenience of accessing its clearly presented and sequenced materials, activities and support whenever suits you and wherever you have access to the dedicated website – if you prefer, you can print key materials to work on them offline.
- The support of an expert learning adviser who can clarify study materials, answer questions and help you relate the course to your specific needs.
- A work-based activity helping you to connect the course to your individual and organisational context and needs. This is built up from short activities during the course, leading to a Personal Development Plan. At the end of the course you send this to the learning adviser, who provides personal feedback.
- Certification of completion from the OU for those who complete the course. You can use this to demonstrate your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity to your employer and/or professional body. (N.B. The course does not carry academic credit points.)
Entry
Although there are no formal academic requirements to study any of our CPD courses, you are expected to have some experience in the field and the course assumes a familiarity with the subject.
For each course you can register and begin at any time during the life of the course. You can study at your own pace and submit your work-based activity at any date before the final submission date for the course. Information about the final submission date is available when you register for the course.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are delivered online. Learners who use screen readers or who cannot use a mouse will not be able to access some materials or some activities without assistance. Written transcripts of the audio interviews are available on the website. If you are a new learner with the OU, make sure that you have our publication Meeting Your Needs.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises, study support and work-based activity are delivered entirely online.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course which includes online activities. You can only access these using a web browser with Flash and Java.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2006 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
- If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
- If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.5 or later.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you direct within 24 hours. Other support is available via the GB003 forum, library, StudentHome website and computing helpdesk.
Work-based activity
The work-based activity for this course is a written report and has been designed as an integrated ongoing activity which you submit at the end of your study. It will allow you to reflect on your learning and how to use it in your professional work.
Professional recognition
Successful completion of the course enables us to recognise your achievement of the course learning by issuing an OU certificate which you can use to document your commitment to continuing professional development in your personal portfolio, or to provide evidence to employers or professional body.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Student Reviews
“Really enjoyed this course and gave a very useful insight into leadership vs management: easy-going study pace; very informative; and ...”
Read more
Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | GB003 |
| Credits | This is a non-credit bearing course. |
Undergraduate
Study explained
- Time
- – find out how much time is required to complete OU study. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Costs
- - find out how much you can expect to pay.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35
Get a prospectus
Download ororder
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.