Masters in Leadership - reflections on leading a module

As part of my own growth and development, I am leading the "Tools of Leadership" Module for the Masters in Leadership programme for University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

4 weeks in and every day is an honour to excite, support and challenge students as to how they feel and think about leadership.

We have focused on human power dynamics (including Transactional Analysis, the Drama Triangle etc), and used this as the basis to help challenge ourselves as to how we can choose our most appropriate states for any given moment.

We have considered real diversity (i.e. that we are all different) and seeing this is a (the?) key challenge for leadership...recognising, understanding and genuinely valuing everyone's uniqueness... "how can we help someone be themselves and their best as much as possible"?

We have discussed about the levers for leadership including how we can create shared and collectively owned purpose and actions by embracing diversity?

We have discussed what we see as leadership - is it "the ability to influence someone else"? If so, is a newborn baby showing leadership by crying? Do we all show some leadership every day?

We continue to consider how much of leadership is the individual and how much of is it the system that people are in (I am drawn to the Winston Churchill quote that Neil Wooding has used many times... "we shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us")?

We have explored Emotional Intelligence and it's importance to getting things (anything!) achieved. Low EQ leaders and organisations generally have pretty low outcomes (certainly compared to what they could achieve).

With a number of lectures and learning opportunities to come, the assignment that we've set is focused on toxicity in leadership.

What happens to organisations when it's not dealt with? How to deal with its prevalence? What are the opportunities to make real changes? When I have asked the question about toxic leadership and who has experienced it...all the students have identified at least one point in their lives...the challenges are real!

If you or your organisation need help with asking and/or answering any of these questions, perhaps I can help you. Mor Tawel Consultancy specialises in supporting and challenging people and systems to change. By focusing on diversity and developing emotional intelligence, particularly through relationships, you and your organisation can better achieve your potential.

For an initial conversation, please contact me james@mortawel.co.uk. To find out more, please go to www.mortawel.co.uk. #leadership#diversity#learning#opportunities#growth#people#emotionalintelligence#university#students