ETLS 650 Leveraging Leadership for a Lifetime - II

Instructor:

David L. Wondra

Contact Information:

952.233.1927 (Office)
952.233.8141 (Fax)
dlwondra@stthomas.edu

Time:

Section 5
Saturday Mornings—February 2nd and 16th; March 1st and 15th; from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Location:

OSS 122, St. Paul Campus, MN

Required Text:

True North: Discover your Authentic Leadership by Bill George with Peter Sims

Suggested Readings:

Additional readings furnished by Instructor

Course Description:

This course, through a variety of methods, assesses student progress with his/her learning and leading plan along with applications in the workplace. The student re-evaluates his/her key leadership dimensions and identifies critical success factors to date.  As a result of the renewed assessment profile, the student will:  modify leading and learning action steps as needed; build broader and deeper understanding of team effectiveness and the leader’s role in the organization for leading change.  S/he will develop leadership competencies in leading/managing change in his/her organization. S/he will share presentations and writings with peers; seek feedback on the demonstration of newly developed competencies; identify an organizational action learning project to be undertaken over the next couple of years and further enhance his/her communication skills.  Portfolio design and development will be evaluated and a further developed leadership agenda will be shaped.

Prerequisites:

ETLS 550 Leveraging Leadership for a Lifetime I

Course Objectives:

The course objectives are to increase the learner’s ability to 1) assess his/her present capabilities and experience; 2) define a continued learning trajectory for remainder of his/her graduate program; 3) think and act like an executive; 4) build significant learning relationships; 5) communicate effectively and 6) work in a peer group setting to make learning applications.

Learning Outcomes:

Learners will demonstrate:                                                       

·        An expanded perspective on self as a leader, the leader’s work and effecting positive change; (TM2, TM3, TM4, TM5, TM6, MS1, SE15, YE2, YE4)

·        How to give voice to his/her beginning leader’s story and lessons learned:  progress, stumbles and successes; (TM2, TM4, TM5, TM6, MS2, MS4, SE16, YE2)

·        An understanding of the context for leader’s work, focusing on team effectiveness and impact in the broader organization; (TM2, TM3, TM4, TM5, TM6, MS2, MS7, MS4, SE16, SE13, YE2, YE5)

·        An ability to analyze and present information in a presentation that effectively describes his/her experience in effecting positive change as a leader; (TM2, TM6, MS1, MS2, MS4, MS7, MS9, SE9, SE16, SE14, SE13, YE4, YE5)

·        The ability to adjust and define a new leading and learning plan that will focus on impacting positive change in his/her environment—including a specific action learning project; (TM2, TM4, TM6, MS1, MS2, MS4, MS9, SE9, SE13, YE5)

·        The ability to effectively identify and use resources for his/her advantage in achieving his/her goals. (TM2, TM4, TM6, TM7, MS1, SE9, YE4)                 

Course Methodology:

This course, taught over four sessions, will continue the leadership work begun in LLL-I on leading and learning throughout his/her graduate program.  It will be conducted in a seminar format, using a variety of methods—small group exercises, case studies, video and mini-lectures, discussion, group and individual presentations, writing assignments and selected readings.  The learner will be expected to continue the development of a portfolio of his/her learning progress as well as a learning plan that will guide his/her learning activity throughout the graduate program(s).  Everyone will be expected to be in attendance and actively participate in each session.   

Major Assignments:

1. Review of the leading and learning plan and process from LLL-I, determining progress and making appropriate modifications in the plan.
2. Assess data that demonstrates growth, change and results.
3. Share progress with Sounding Board and use of that Board in achieving results.
4. Work in a small learning group to identify key dimensions of his/her leadership story, lessons learned and impact on the broader environment/team.
5. Develop a portfolio of integrated learnings to date.
6. Work in a small group to define team effectiveness, identify his/her leadership role in creating positive change and a plan of action for bringing change into team setting.
7. Write a paper expressing one’s role in effecting positive change.
8. Integrate material from readings and other courses into the class small group work and writing assignments.
9. Work with a case study to identify key aspects of leading change.
10. Identify an action learning project that will serve as a major learning process for remainder of his/her graduate program.

Grading Policy:

Participation and contribution       30%

(Small group and Large group)

Paper                                          30%

Class Presentations                      10%

Leading and Learning Plan             30% 

Related Courses:

Masterful Leaders and Leadership—ETLS 670
Human Aspects of Technical Management—ETLS 671
Program/Project/Team Management—ETLS 601

Academic Integrity:

All learners are expected to understand and follow the University of St. Thomas policies on Academic Integrity. These are described at:
www.stthomas.edu/engineering/graduate/policies/

Attendance Policy:

Learners are expected to attend all class sessions. Absences in excess of two times may result in a lower grade for the course. Contact the instructor if/when a special situation arises.

Bibliography:

Bibliography furnished at first session of class.

Instructor Biography:

Dave Wondra works with people who want to become strong, focused leaders who act on what they care about.  This work is fulfilled through WondraGroup, a private practice started in 1999.  Prior to that, Dave held a variety of leadership positions at Wilson Learning Worldwide, Quali Tech, The Pillsbury Company, and Green Giant.  He received his Professional Coaching Certification in Individual and Organizational Coaching from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara.  While at the Hudson Institute, he studied with Frederic Hudson, one of the founders of the Coaching profession.  Dave earned a Professional Certified Coach designation from the International Coach Federation, holds a Master of Arts in Industrial Relations degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Minnesota State University.

Dave has published several articles on the subjects of purpose, renewal, and leadership.  He is actively involved in prairie restoration and playing trumpet in the Minneapolis area.