Course Overview:
This 5-day course is designed to provide managers with the essential skills to lead teams effectively, foster collaboration, and drive high performance. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, hands-on activities, and practical exercises, participants will learn how to develop their leadership abilities, create cohesive teams, manage conflict, and enhance team dynamics. This course is ideal for those looking to increase their influence as a leader, develop stronger teams, and ensure sustainable organizational success.
Course Duration:
5 Days (8 hours per day)
Course Format:
- Interactive lectures focusing on leadership and team development theories and practices.
- Group discussions and case studies to explore real-world challenges.
- Team-building exercises to practice collaboration and problem-solving skills.
- Role-playing and simulations to improve leadership effectiveness.
- Reflection and feedback sessions to enhance learning and development.
- Assessments including quizzes, assignments, and group projects.
Detailed Course Breakdown
Day 1: Foundations of Leadership and Team Development
Objectives:
- Understand the fundamentals of leadership and team dynamics.
- Learn about different leadership styles and their impact on teams.
- Assess your leadership strengths and areas for improvement.
Content:
- Introduction to leadership theories: Transformational, transactional, and situational leadership.
- Key traits of effective leaders.
- The role of trust, communication, and collaboration in team development.
- Self-assessment of leadership styles.
Activities:
- Leadership style self-assessment: Identifying your leadership approach.
- Group discussion: Analyzing the impact of different leadership styles on team performance.
- Case study: Examining a leader’s journey and their approach to team development.
Assessment:
- Leadership style reflection and action plan.
- Group discussion on leadership challenges.
Day 2: Building High-Performing Teams
Objectives:
- Learn how to form, develop, and maintain high-performing teams.
- Understand the stages of team development (Tuckman’s Model).
- Discover strategies for motivating and engaging team members.
Content:
- Stages of team development: Forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
- Key characteristics of high-performing teams.
- Leadership strategies for fostering team collaboration and accountability.
- Motivational techniques for enhancing team engagement and performance.
Activities:
- Group exercise: Team-building activity focused on problem-solving and collaboration.
- Workshop: Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your current teams.
- Role-playing: Leading a team through a challenging project or conflict.
Assessment:
- Team development action plan.
- Group feedback on the team-building exercise.
Day 3: Effective Communication and Conflict Management
Objectives:
- Enhance communication skills for effective leadership.
- Learn how to resolve conflicts within teams.
- Improve active listening, feedback, and constructive communication techniques.
Content:
- The role of communication in leadership: Verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Strategies for clear and transparent communication.
- Conflict management styles and techniques: Avoiding, accommodating, collaborating, competing, and compromising.
- Managing difficult conversations and delivering constructive feedback.
Activities:
- Role-playing: Leading a team through a conflict resolution scenario.
- Group discussion: Analyzing common communication barriers and solutions.
- Active listening exercise: Practicing feedback techniques and delivering difficult messages.
Assessment:
- Conflict management style self-assessment.
- Group role-play feedback and evaluation.
Day 4: Leading Change and Fostering Innovation within Teams
Objectives:
- Understand the role of leaders in driving organizational change.
- Learn how to lead teams through periods of change and uncertainty.
- Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within teams.
Content:
- The change management process: Key steps and strategies.
- Leading teams through transitions: Minimizing resistance and promoting buy-in.
- Encouraging innovation and creative problem-solving within teams.
- Tools for continuous improvement: Kaizen, Lean, Six Sigma.
Activities:
- Case study: Leading a team through a significant organizational change.
- Group exercise: Developing an innovation strategy for your team.
- Workshop: Identifying opportunities for improvement and change within a team.
Assessment:
- Change management plan for a hypothetical organizational change.
- Group presentation on fostering innovation within teams.
Day 5: Performance Management and Developing Future Leaders
Objectives:
- Learn strategies for setting clear performance expectations and goals.
- Understand how to provide effective feedback and manage performance.
- Develop techniques for mentoring and coaching future leaders.
Content:
- Setting SMART goals for teams: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
- Techniques for performance feedback and evaluations.
- Leadership development: Identifying and mentoring potential leaders within your team.
- Succession planning and developing future leaders for long-term success.
Activities:
- Performance evaluation workshop: Conducting a mock performance review.
- Coaching session: Mentoring a team member for leadership potential.
- Group activity: Designing a leadership development plan for emerging leaders.
Assessment:
- Final project: Creating a performance management and leadership development plan.
- Peer feedback on leadership and mentoring approaches.
Evaluation Methods:
- Daily Quizzes: Short quizzes at the end of each day to assess comprehension of key concepts.
- Assignments: Reflective journals and action plans related to leadership development, team management, and conflict resolution.
- Role-Playing and Simulations: Practical application of leadership skills in simulated real-world scenarios.
- Group Projects: Collaborative activities that require participants to apply leadership and team development principles to hypothetical or real organizational situations.
- Final Project: A comprehensive plan for managing team performance, leading change, and developing future leaders within an organization.
Required Materials:
- Textbook: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni or a similar leadership/management resource.
- Handouts and Worksheets: Tools for team assessment, performance management frameworks, and conflict resolution techniques.
- Leadership Journal: A journal for participants to record daily reflections and action steps.
Optional Resources:
- Books and Articles on Leadership: Additional readings on leadership theories, team dynamics, and management techniques.
- Podcasts and Webinars: Access to relevant leadership podcasts and online resources for continuous learning (e.g., The Leadership Lab or WorkLife with Adam Grant).
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the 5-day course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the key principles of effective leadership and team development.
- Build high-performing, collaborative teams through effective communication and motivation.
- Manage and resolve conflicts to maintain a positive team dynamic.
- Lead teams through change and foster an environment of innovation and continuous improvement.
- Develop and execute performance management strategies, including feedback and goal setting.
- Identify and mentor potential future leaders within their teams.
This course is ideal for current and aspiring managers, supervisors, or leaders seeking to enhance their leadership capabilities, improve team effectiveness, and drive long-term organizational success through leadership excellence and team development.