NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SYLLABUS (version 1/11/2017)
Course Title: Executive MPA Seminar: Leadership Course Number: EXEC-GP.3190 Credits: 4.5 Professor: Dr. Matthias Birk Contact Information: [email protected] Semester: Spring, 2017 Dates: In-person sessions on the following Mondays:
Class 1 Jan 23 Class 2 Jan 30 Class 3 Feb 6 Class 4 Feb 13 Class 5 Feb 27 Class 6 Mar 6 Class 7 Mar 20 Class 8 Apr 24 Class 9 May 1 Class 10 May 7
Time: Each class will begin promptly at 4:55PM – please arrive just a few minutes early Ending time will vary somewhat over the term but class will never run later than 8:25 PM Location: Waverly Building, Room 566B, which is located at 24 Waverly Place,
DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to create an “action-learning” community in which you will integrate your professional experience, this class and other graduate course work, with a final exploration of leadership concepts, theory and applied practice. The course is also designed to strengthen your ability to lead, including as a colleague who can support leadership behavior in peers, and as one who can promote leadership behavior in supervisors and subordinates.
Specifically, as a result of your work in this course, you are expected to become: • conversant with a broad survey of theoretical concepts and assumptions about leadership and leadership behavior; Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 1 of 8 • a better navigator of the internal and external factors influencing successful leading; • demonstrably more expert in using a variety of skills -- such as appreciative inquiry, positive deviance, narrative inquiry and action research -- to frame and describe personal leadership challenges as a step towards increasing successful leading; • deft in consulting with others, and receiving and providing constructive feedback; • able to synthesize and apply leadership theory • more insightful about personal leadership competencies, paradoxes and challenges. Growing out of this increased awareness, you will leave the class with an action plan for continued development of your personal leadership capabilities.
This is an academic seminar with a significant component of experiential learning. The class will be managed as a learning community including both participants and the professor.
To succeed in this course, you will: • Read all assigned materials in advance of each class; • Attend all sessions of class; • Conduct a 360° survey on your leadership including both self-reported data and data from others; • Reflect on your own transformational journey and write a paper about it • Write reflective papers on selected topics.
This is a 4.5 credit course and due to the highly experiential nature of our classroom work together, you are expected to attend ALL class sessions. Clearly, emergencies occur. Therefore, if you know that you have obligations that preclude attending all class sessions, or if you believe you MAY have such obligations emerge over the course of the semester, please think carefully before proceeding.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
• Fritz, R. (1989). The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life, New York: Fawcett Columbine ISBN # 0-449-90337-0 • Short, R. R., (1998). Learning in Relationship: Foundations for Personal and Professional Success, Seattle, WA: Learning in Action Technologies, Inc. (Available from the NYU Professional Bookstore)
Required readings assigned for each class are listed below. There is a supplemental document to this syllabus providing source/location and acquisition information for each reading.
The Emotional and Social Competency Invenory (ESCI). The cost of this instrument is $188.00, payment will be due to the professor the THIRD session of class. Your check or money order should be made payable to Matthias Birk (for The ESCI Profile). You will receive a signed receipt which can be used to request reimbursement if applicable.
Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 2 of 8 GRADING AND ASSIGNMENTS:
You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of course material in a variety of ways, some verbal and some written. The writing assignments for this course vary in scope. Some writing assignments are as short as a page or two, while others are more substantial as outlined below. Your total grade will be made up of the following percentages: 30% class participation, 20% annotated bibliographies, 20% short papers and 30% final paper.
30% class participation – People have different styles of learning and interacting. I’m offering these suggestions to maximize our mutual learning.
Come to class prepared and oriented to the topic at hand Ask questions of real inquiry – what are you deeply curious about with regard to the concepts being discussed? Expand your conceptual reach by understanding the material through application to your own leadership challenge Communicate ideas – good questions demonstrate higher levels of mastery than assertions Communicate your feelings and offer and seek information Encourage the contributions of others Don’t withdraw; alternately, don’t dominate Try to enjoy through serious play
20% Annotated bibliography of required readings and survey assignments For each class, prepare and turn in a soft copy of your annotated bibliography for the assigned readings. All readings should be annotated.
Annotated descriptions of articles should be succinct and very concentrated. The following questions may assist in preparing your approximately five sentence write-up of each article: What, in general, is the main concept in the material? What new paradigms and words are important in this material? What common words does this author use that are essential but have an unusual or special meaning? What concepts are not clearly defined? How does this material clarify, support or contradict other articles and knowledge? How does it challenge the attitudes that you hold?
Finally, each annotation must include one sentence that addresses this final question:
How does this article relate to YOUR leadership challenge?
Note: Assertions of unsupported opinion (i.e. I loved/hated this article) are not appropriate.
In addition to the Annotated bibliographies some sessions require you to take surveys in advance.
20 % Short papers Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 3 of 8 Paper 1 (3-5 pages): Submit a written description of a leadership challenge you face in your work. This should be a first-person (i.e. you are a prime actor in the situation), current, serious and potentially changeable challenge that you are facing. It can be in your workplace, a volunteer organization, or other association, but should not be a challenge you face in your family unless you work in a family-based business.
Paper 2 (3-5 pages): Based on your first paper in which you describe your leadership challenge, and subsequent class discussions, write a second 3-5 page paper analyzing your originally described situation in light of the leadership models discussed in the articles and class. Discuss which models appear to be in use in your organization and which appear to be most effective and why.
Paper 3 (3-5 pages): Write a short essay on “my life well-lived”. Elaborate on what matters to you. Describe what that means for your life now as a student as well as after you graduate. What does that mean in terms of where you need to allocate your time. Also describe how much or how little your current life is in line with your “life well-lived” at the moment. Anticipate challenges that you may face in aligning your life with your “life well-lived.” Make sure that you focus on what you will do, not about what you think will happen to you.
30% Final paper Write a substantial and critical reflection on your learning during this course. Use feedback from your 360° Feedback and key issues addressed in the course that are important to you as your point of departure. You should also reference any critical learning moments that provided a “breakthrough” insight. Cite course readings and discussions that informed your learning. Explain how you may (or already have begun to) behave differently because of this new knowledge or skill. Writing this will be easiest if you keep a journal or notes throughout the course.
COURSE ACTIVITIES BY SESSION
Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 1 Inaugurating Introduction of Argyris, C. (1993). Teaching Smart People How to Annotated bibliographies 1/23/17 the Learning students and Learn. Harvard Business Review, July-August. Community orientation to Short, R. (1998). Learning in Relationship: Foundation action-learning for Personal Success, pp. 5-90 and 113-129 course approach. Goffee, R. & Jones, G. (2000). Why Should Anyone be Review syllabus, Led by You? HBR expectations and Drucker, Peter. Managing Oneself. Harvard Business philosophy. Review. Discuss definitions of leadership Start group learning process.
Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 4 of 8 Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due
Week 2 Leadership Exploration of Goleman, D. (2000). Leadership that Gets Results. Short Paper #1 1/30/17 Models and seminal and Harvard Business Review. Styles traditional leadership models MODERN LEADERSHIP MODELS in organizational Feiss, R. (1915) Personal Relationship as the Basis of behavior literature, Scientific Management. Bulletin of the Taylor Society focusing on the 1(6)(Nov), p. 3-15 role of the individual leader POST MODERN LEADERSHIP MODELS and his/her Kotter, J. (2003). What Leaders Really Do, Business behavior. Leadership, New York: Jossey-Bass, pp. 29-43 Exploration of Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2003). The Five Practices of own leadership Exemplary Leadership, Business Leadership, Jossey- styles Bass, New York, pp. 72-84
Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 3 Values and Assess how our Ibarra, H. (2002). How to stay stuck in the wrong career. Annotated Bibliographies 2/6/17 Purpose values and purpose Harvard Business Review relate to our Rock, D., & Schwartz, J. (2006). The Neuroscience of Payment for ESCI due behavior and Leadership, Strategy + Business, 43. pp. 1-10 performance. Brown, Brenee (2012). The Power of Vulnerability. Interview three people that are close to you (Ted Talk: (could be family, friends, roommates, etc.) about what they perceive as your core http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerabilit values and strengths and what they think y.html) are opportunities for you to strengthen Gilbert, Daniel (2004). The Surprising Science of these Happiness. Ted Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_w Take the following three surveys in e_happy.html preparation for this class. All of these can be found on the website of the Authentic Happiness Testing Center of the University of Pennsylvania (http://www.authentichappiness.sas.up enn.edu/testcenter.aspx): Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 5 of 8 o Authentic Happiness Inventory o Brief Strengths Test o Meaning in Life Questionnaire
Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 4 Bringing Learn how to Finding the Coaching in Criticism (2014), Heen, S. & Annotated Bibliographies 2/13/17 Leadership into resolve difficult Stone, D., Harvard Business Review: Relationships conversations and https://hbr.org/2014/01/find-the-coaching-in-criticism Short Paper #2 build strong Making Relationships Work (2009), Gotman, J: relationships https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLXX8wzvT7c (all You will need to take the surveys in 4 parts) preparation of this class: Weeks, Holly (2001). Taking the stress out of stressful Close Relationships Questionnaire conversations. Harvard Business Review. (http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn. edu/testcenter.aspx) *Short, R. (1998). op. cit. pp. 93-112 & 131-141 Difficult conversations script: Write down one specific difficult conversation you want to work on in class using the template available online.
Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 5 Leadership Learn about the Aiken, C. & Keller, S. (2009). The irrational Side of Annotated Bibliographies 2/27/17 Transformation effect of negative Change Management. McKinsey Quarterly. and managing emotions on Barsch et. al. How centered leaders achieve what’s leadership and teams extraordinary results. McKinsey Quarterly. underneath and practice Goleman, Daniel (2010). Emotional Intelligence or (Guest: Kai techniques on how Behavioral Control? http://www.youtube.com/watch? Gruenewald, to become better at v=LTItzKrNX68 Aberkyn) managing our own Leary, Kimberly, Pillemer, Julianne, & Wheeler, emotions Michael (2013). Negotiating with Emotion. Harvard Business Review. ( http://www.changeforchildren.co.uk/uploads/primal- leadership.pdf)
Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 6 Energy Understand the Schwartz, Tony & McCarty, Catherine (2007). Manage Annotated bibliographies 3/6/17 Management & importance of your energy, not your time. Harvard Business Review. Mindfulness managing your https://hbr.org/2007/10/manage-your-energy-not-your- Conduct Energy Assessment in energy and time Shwartz & McCarthy HBR mindfulness on Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 6 of 8 leadership, Hallowell, Edward (2005). Overloaded circuits. Why practice mindfulness Smart People Underperform. Harvard Business Review. techniques https://hbr.org/2005/01/overloaded-circuits-why-smart- people-underperform Webb, Caroline & Dean, Derrick (2011). Recovering from Information Overload. McKinsey Quarterly. Dalio, Ray (2010). Ray Dalio on Meditation. Conversation with the John Main Centre for Meditation and Inter-Religious Dialogue at Georgetown University: http://vimeo.com/50999847 Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 7 Leadership & Deepen the Snowden, D., & Boone, M., (2007) A Leader’s Annotated Bibliographies 3/20/17 Advocacy for understanding of the Framework. Harvard Business Review, November. civil society link between Beyond easy answers. New leadership practice for the Paper #3 (Guest: Tobias leadership digital age. LEAD – Mercator Capacity Building Leipprand, development and Center for Leadership & Advocacy Study (2015). MPA, civil society Bennis, W., (1999). The End of Leadership: Exemplary Executive Leadership is Impossible Without the Full Inclusion, Director Initiatives, and Cooperation of Followers, in LEAD) Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 28., pp. 71-79. Feser, C. et al. (2015). Decoding Leadership: What really matters. McKinsey Quarterly.
Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 8 ESCI 360° To receive and Goleman, D. (1998). What Makes a Leader, Harvard Annotated Bibliographies 4/24/17 Feedback process 360° Business Review, November-December Session feedback in the Goleman, Daniel, Boyatzis, Richard & McKee, Annie context of overall (2001). Primal leadership: The hidden driver of great course material. performance. Harvard Business Review. Dweck, Carol (2012). The right mindset for success. HBR IdeaCast: http://blogs.hbr.org/ideacast/2012/01/the-right-mindset- for-success.html Maccoby, M. (2004). Why People Follow the Leader, in Harvard Business Review, September pp. 76-85 Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 9 Immunity to Understand why Kegan, Robert & Lahey, Lisa (2001). The real reason Annotated Bibliographies 5/1/17 Change deep people won’t change. Harvard Business Review. (Guest: transformational Heifitz, R., & Linsky, M. (2002). "Leadership on the Michael change is hard and Line," Boston: Harvard Business School Press, pp. 51- Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 7 of 8 Koehler, MPA) build you own 74 immunity to change An evening with Robert Kegan and Immunity to map Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=FFYnVmGu9ZI Topic Goal Reading Assignment Due Week 10 Bringing it all Conduct team peer Anderson, R. (2004). Mastering Leadership. Self- Annotated Bibliographies 5/8/17 together coaching session, published available at develop a plan for http://www.theleadershipcircle.com/site/main/position- Final Paper sustaining change papers.htm after the class Collins, J. (2001) Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve. Harvard Business Review. Fritz, R. (1989). The Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life.
Syllabus EXEC-GP 3190 Spring, 2017 ~ Leadership ~ Professor Dr. Matthias Birk Page 8 of 8