Leadership Assessment and Career Enhancement

SYLLABUS MBA 704

LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT AND CAREER ENHANCEMENT

FALL 2010

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." — John Quincy Adams

“I want my identity back. I don't want to be known as the CEO of AOL Time Warner... I'm my own person. I have strong moral convictions. I'm not just a suit. I want poetry back in my life.”- Gerald Levin, former CEO of AOL Time Warner (the world's largest media company)

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Professor of Practice: Ronnie S. Grabon

Phone (cell): 336-706-1621

Email:

Office Location: Bryan 375

Office Hours: Mondays 2:00 – 3:15

Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:15 and by appointment

PLACE/TIME: Day Students Monday 3:30 to 6:20 Room 110

Evening Students Tuesday 6:30 to 9:20 Room 110

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Through assessment and feedback, leadership strengths and developmental needs are identified to enhance career strategies and competencies. There are no prerequisites for this course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course students will:

·  Demonstrate enhanced self-awareness regarding personality, cognitive style, conflict style, interpersonal orientation, and use of leadership skills in the workplace;

·  Be able to describe the challenges of managing diversity in terms of individual differences in personality, cognitive style, conflict style, & interpersonal orientation;

·  Be able to develop an individualized career strategy, to include a networking plan;

·  Be able to identify goals and strategies for managing the next stage of their careers.

E VALUATION AND GRADING: This course will be graded S/U. Criteria for passing:

·  Attendance - miss no more than 2 classes, make-up work and contact me if you do miss class

·  Complete all assessment instruments and assignments by due date.

·  Demonstrate comprehension of assigned readings and contribute to class activities.

·  Satisfactory grade requires 85% of classes attended, clear classroom contribution, all assessments taken and all assignments completed. Total point score of at least 210 points out of 250 possible.

POLICIES: Attached are links for several important policies:

Faculty/Student Guidelines: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/faculty_student_guidelines_sp07.pdf

Academic Integrity Policy: http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/complete/

Inclement Weather: http://www.uncg.edu/cap/commuter/weather.php

ASSIGNMENTS: Most weeks students will submit a short (1 page) ‘reflection’ relating class materials to your life and/or leadership/career situations that you have experienced (you may use examples in current news/politics where you have not encountered similar situations). (10 points each) Sample questions below:

·  How did this week’s assessment/discussion relate personally to you and your experience?

o  What ideas did you value, what skills will you try, what questions do you have?

·  What material or article did you read; include a specific example of how the material applies in an external situation?

·  Describe a specific leadership challenge and explain how that week’s material relates to the handling of that situation.

·  Choose a leadership or career blog and relate the materials to the ideas expressed in the blog.

Attend three Bryan Graduate Career Services & Internship Programs or University Career Services events (such as Career Fairs, Schmooza Palooza Networking, Federal Government workshops, etc.)or other local networking events and discuss attendance and learning in weekly reflection paper. (30 points – 10 each)

Read one popular book on leadership or career. Work with a group to make a 15 - 30 minute in-class presentation on the most important ideas in the book, their application in real world settings and the relationship to what we have been discussing in class. Individually, write a 2 page report on the most important ideas and how you will put them into action. (40 points – 20 each for presentation and report)

Goal setting/development plan (30 points)

Cover letter and resume (20 points)

Other assignments as outlined in syllabus and on blackboard

REQUIRED ASSESSMENTS:

Course Materials include:

Personal learning journal

Book chosen from list or approved by instructor

Course Assessments include:

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Materials

FIRO–B and Materials

Change Style Indicator and PDF on Blackboard

CareerLeader Assessment and materials on website

Thomas Killman Conflict Instrument

Useful Links

Lists of professional organizations: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/gcs/postings/organizations.html

Lists of local employers: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/gcs/postings/triad.html

Lists of industry online resources: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/gcs/postings/joblinks.html

Online job board: http://www.careershift.com/?sc=uncgbryan

CareerBeam: http://www.uncg.edu/bae/gcs/exploration/login.html

Wall Street JournalManagement/articles: http://online.wsj.com/public/page/management.html

New York Times

Corner office: http://projects.nytimes.com/corner-office?scp=1-spot&sq=corner%20office&st=cse

Fast Company

Leadership: http://www.fastcompany.com/topics/leadership

COURSE OUTLINE

Topic / Tools / Assignments
Pre-work / Create a Linkedin profile, join the LACE group on linkedin, place your Resume and a picture on discussion board (10)
Wk. 1
8/22 & 23 / Introductions, peer group coaching / Small group
Propose model for interpersonal learning – growth – assessment/challenge/support / Assessment & lecture / Write reflection paper (10)
Contact 2 business people and arrange for informational interviews. Focus on career development and business environment. Summarize in 1 -2 pg. paper due 10/23. (10)
Wk. 2
8/29 & 30 / Developing your job hunting toolkit.
Networking, resumes, references, cover letters, e-mails and marketing yourself / Review principles of resumes, networking and marketing strategies / Complete linkedin profile, re-write resume, upload your ‘elevator speech’. (10)
Choose book to read – paper due 11/6 (20) Presentations will be spread out starting 10/3 (20)
Wk 3
9/6
6:30 – 9:20 / Networking Elevator Speech, / Networking event attendance, discuss strategies
Speaker: Sam Funchess – President, Nussbaum Center / Plan to attend 3 career or networking events and write one reflection paper on your experience. Due 11/20 (30)
Combined Day & Night Classes / Diversity/Globalization – Leading in a World of Difference / Reflection paper on class, what did you learn, what is important about this topic, what other points of view do you think were not represented. (10)
Wk. 4
9/12 & 13 / Values / Value card sort / Research a company that espouses values important to you. Submit reflection paper that shows evidence. (10)
Definition of leadership/ Qualities of a leader / Class Exercise / Interview two people, map their careers and major life events
Update strengths chart
Write reflection paper (10)
Wk. 5
9/19 & 20 / Work/life – how do life choices change career choices and the reverse? / Discuss homework / Write reflection paper (10)
The New Career / In class exercise – work/life vision statements / Complete MBTI, FIRO-B
Wk. 6
9/26 & 27 / MBTI – Personality Type / MBTI results, lecture, exercises / Read MBTI materials
Update strengths chart
Find material related to your type. Reflection paper.(10)
Wk. 7
10/3 & 4 / FIRO-B – Interpersonal Orientation / FIRO results – lecture, exercises / Read Firo materials
Update strengths chart
Write reflection paper (10)
Book Presentations Begin / Complete CSI
BREAK
Wk. 8
10/17 & 10/18 / CSI - Problem Solving Style / Change and learning tactics results, lecture, exercises / Read CSI materials
Update Strengths Chart
Write reflection paper (10)
Book Presentation / Complete CareerLeader
Wk. 9
10/24 & 10/25 / Career Leader Instrument – Career Skills and Interests
Review business interview papers / Career Leader
Small Group / Update Strengths Chart
Write reflection paper. (10)
Book Presentation
Wk. 10
10/31 & 11/1 / Goal Setting – Development Plans
Feedback – Giving and Receiving / Form & Lecture / Submit draft of developmental goals.
Book Presentation
Wk.11
11/7 & 8 / Peer group coaching
Discuss Book Reports / Small group work / Complete Development Plan.
(30)
Book Presentation / Complete Thomas Killman instrument.
Wk. 12
11/14 & 15 / Conflict/Stress/Resilience / Instrument and small group work / Reflection paper (10)
Book Presentation / Choose an advertised position that interests you and bring a resume and cover letter targeted to that position.
Research websites and develop 5 possible interview questions that you think will be difficult to answer. (10)
Wk. 13
11/21 & 22 / Resumes (redux) and Interviewing Skills
Review networking events / Role playing
Review networking events / Reflection paper on what you learned from interviewing practice. (10)
Book Presentation
Wk. 14
11/28 & 29 / Wrapping it all up – Reassessing – Resetting Goals / Discussion / Outcomes: increased self-awareness, improved network, resume, development plan,
Final Reflection paper (10)
Book Presentation