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Leadership Essentials

Acquire Practical Tools
and Proven Strategies.

As a management concept, leadership is unrivalled in its ability to spark passionate debate. Although the topic has been popular for many years, a new interpretation emerges every decade or so. Leadership is a key organizational concept, but no-one can agree on a definition. The beliefs and assumptions that underlie the notion of leadership vary between cultures, generations and even organizations.

This course offers you the chance to dig deeper in order to clarify and contextualize what it means to be a leader. Its purpose is not to provide a magical formula for producing leaders. Rather, it aims to teach participants about the diverse understandings of leadership, improve their self-awareness and help them find a leadership style that works for them.

The program is built around case studies, practical activities, group discussions and visits from inspirational leaders.

Forge your own leadership style through reflection, introspection and action.

GOALS

Demystify leadership.
Learn about the diversity of expectations around leadership.
Discover how our definition of leadership has changed and will change over time.
Reflect on your own practices to identify areas for improvement.
Develop an approach that works for you and strengthen your skills in the various aspects of leadership.

IS THIS FOR YOU?

Managers, executives and leaders with more than four years of experience and at least four years in a management role.
Professionals who are looking to take a step back and reflect on their management and leadership practices.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Interactive and discussion-based training approach.

Course developed by Cyrille Sardais. Dr. Sardais is the current Pierre-Péladeau Chair of Leadership, heads the Reflective Mindset module in the McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA program and coordinates leadership courses for HEC Montréal’s BBA, MBA and MSc programs.

Day 1 - What is leadership anyway?

Morning - Introduction
Cyrille Sardais

Our expectations about leadership
The possible and the impossible
An initial definition of leadership with examples from film

Afternoon - The concept of leadership, past and present
Cyrille Sardais

Influence and leadership
Types of legitimacy
Changing expectations
Lessons learned from orchestra conductors
Lessons in leadership

Day 2 - The dilemmas and difficulties of leadership

Afternoon - The main challenges faced by leaders
Stéphane Coulier - Coaching en leadership

A professional’s perspective and follow-up discussion
Action plan for implementing what you learn in the program

Morning - The structure game
Pénélope Codello

The pitfalls of management
The issue of engagement
Types of structure and leadership
Assignment based on an educational game (the “Structure Game”)

Day 3: Authentic leadership

Morning - Visit with a leader
Robert Dutton

Conversation with Robert Dutton

Afternoon - Values, non-negotiables and authenticity
Cyrille Sardais et Robert Dutton

Types of rationality
Authentic leadership
Non-negotiables

Day 4 - Self-awareness and leadership development

Morning - Accept yourself, accept others
Pénélope Codello

Profile types
How different profiles act and communicate
Self-acceptance
Using the NOVA Profile tool (a diagnostic tool that helps you get to know and understand yourself and others)

Afternoon - The roadmap of long-term leaders
Josée Lortie

Leaders that last
Stumbling blocks
Nine elements to remember and cultivate
Go the distance: Your roadmap to sustainability

Day 5 - Leading for the long haul

Morning - Leadership paradoxes
Cyrille Sardais and Jean-Marie Zeitouni

What can we learn from the strengths and weaknesses of the leaders around us?
Case study examples looking at a variety of leaders

Afternoon: Overview
Cyrille Sardais and Jean-Marie Zeitouni

Unit review
Questions
Taking the long view

TRAINING APPROACH

Games
Case studies
Guest lecturers
Psychometric tools

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Participants will receive a copy of the book Petit traité de management pour les habitants d'Essos, de Westeros et d'ailleurs (A Short Treatise on Management for the Inhabitants of Essos, Westeros and Beyond)

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