Topic outline

  • Course Introduction

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    • Time: 37 hours
    • CEUs: 3.7
    • Free Certificate
    All managers are leaders. All leaders are managers. Which of these statements is true? Neither. The words are often confused, even in academic settings, because we think that both leaders and managers are in charge of a specific task or group of people. However, there are many differences between the two. One such distinction is that a manager may not be in charge of people at all. For example, a manager may be responsible for data acquisition, analysis, and dissemination. Or consider the fact that a leader may have no formal power; many of history's most outstanding leaders only had power "earned" from their peers instead of power granted by another individual or group. Think of our country's founding fathers, like Thomas Jefferson, who went against the British government to draft the Declaration of Independence – the situation created the "team", and from that, the recognized leaders emerged. All of these distinctions will be explored in this course.

    This course will distinguish between managers and leaders and provide you with some of the resources to be both a competent manager and a good leader. Whether you want to run a doctor's office or a company with thousands of employees, management and leadership skills are the keys that open those doors. Many believe that the highest positions are given to those who know the most about the business, but in reality, those positions are reserved for leaders whose leadership skills transcend business acumen. These skills are difficult to teach in any setting, so it is important to study them carefully and look for real-world situations to practice them.

    The structure of this course focuses mainly on leadership because a good portion of management skills are reserved for technical knowledge in a position. This course will begin with an introduction that will help further the distinction between leadership and management. Then, you will be introduced to major theories and models of leadership and leadership development from various perspectives. Next, you will be introduced to the decision-making process in various leadership settings. You will then study the processes of leading independently, or without direct authority. The final unit will focus on managing groups and teams. After concluding this course, you may not be a leader, but you certainly will better understand leadership qualities. Perhaps you will discover there is a leader right at your fingertips.