Leadership Skills Expedition

Module title	Leadership Skills Expedition
Module code	MBAM847
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	5
Module staff	Dr Hannes Leroy (Lecturer)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks			1

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

The leadership expedition is an opportunity for MBA students to implement and practice the theoretical leadership insights they have gathered during their MBA experience. At the end of the expedition, students come to a new consolidated leadership narrative they can use moving forward, based on good understanding of the skills they bring to the table. At the same time, this expedition is an opportunity to transition – from the turbulence and learning environment of the MBA to the new chapter of their life and the professional identity that comes with that. A moment to press pause and reflect with the intent of moving forward with energy and intent.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Understand facets of research/theory supporting mindfulness.
2. Discuss your potential impacts on plants, wildlife, human beings
3. Build strong connections with others through careful and powerful questions, attentive listening, and coaching to help others

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. Leadership & Teamwork: Understanding of the basic four components of leadership (task, relation, change, and ethics) and the inherent tensions between them.
5. Apply skills in each component area, such as time management (task), perspective taking (relation), storytelling (change) and ethical reasoning (moral).

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. Understand basic notions of mindful and active listening as well as appreciative inquiry and powerful questions, in relation to coaching.

Syllabus plan

	Typical day-by-day itinerary
	Day 0
	Days 1 – 6 practicalities	Actual Expedition: Each day follows a similar structure. Students operate in groups of five. In these groups they navigate independently through the wilderness (their safety ensured) with rotating leadership and coaching roles. Morning: Wake at 7:00am Make your own breakfast Leadership instruction (theory/exercise) over breakfast. We address one component per day: task, relation, change, ethics. You get your 360^o feedback on site; students are encouraged to process this feedback alone or with others during the day. Leave camp by 9:00am latest. Afternoon: Lunchtime is set by students themselves (no more than 1 hour) During lunch instructors provide the principles of mindful attention and awareness, increasing the complexity of instruction day-by-day Students are encouraged to try these principles during the rest of the day Evening We start our evening at 5:00pm latest Debrief of the day: observed behavioural patterns; translation to work practice Go to bed around 8:00pm
	Day 7	Rest & Recover: Depending on the student’s progress, we spend the last afternoon and night closer to civilisation, connecting to local culture (inc. real food). This wraps up the expedition.
	Day 8	Travel home

Teaching for this course is very hands-on. Because every person is unique and every outdoor challenge is unique, there is little in terms of standardized format in which challenges present themselves. Ensuring safety first and foremost, we follow these guiding principles:

1) Personal challenges: Students will decide on the activity they choose which ranges from meditation to a challenging hike. On day 3, there will be time/opportunity to debrief the day’s events and lessons learned and discuss the challenges for the future (e.g., experiences at work). The challenges will follow the four buckets, building on each other: task, relation, change, and ethics.

2) Leading yourself and others: Everyone will receive ample opportunity to lead, follow, and share leadership. Throughout the course instructors will increasingly (depending on the skillset of the followers, ensuring safety at all costs) distance themselves from the actual goal to instead focus on coaching and supporting personal growth. Students will not only be coached, but throughout the trajectory will receive the skills to coach each other. These coaching skills are an effective ingredient to the capacity to lead effectively and we see this as the culmination of experience throughout the trajectory: first you learn how to lead, second you learn how to follow, third you learn how to share leadership, and fourth you learn how to coach others how to lead themselves.

3) Mindfulness: A final ingredient of this course is mindfulness. Although one possibility, you do not have to meditate. The outdoor setting and hikes provide ample attitude for students to engage in mindfulness in a very natural way. Instructors will gradually introduce students to the basic principles of this ancient, scientifically tested technique. We see mindfulness not as an end goal but as a catalyst: mindfulness enhances the likelihood that learning occurs.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
18	32

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	18	In-person guidance and workshops on personal challenges, leading self and others, and mindfulness
Guided Independent Study	32	Reflection, peer-to-peer discourse, practice in action, private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Legacy speech	On site around 8 minutes	All ILOs	During the expedition by coaches

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
0	70	30

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Pre expedition case submission - Challenge	50	1000 words (approx. 375 per topic)	All ILOs	During the expedition by coaches/instructor
Post expedition case submission Challenge and Solution	50	1000 words (approx. 375 per topic)	All ILOs	During the expedition by coaches/instructor
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Pre expedition case submission - Challenge	Pre expedition case submission - Challenge	All	Next reassessment window
Post expedition case submission Challenge and Solution	Post expedition case submission Challenge and Solution	All	Next reassessment window

Re-assessment notes

In the event that a student misses the expedition a reflective assignment will be set as re-assessment.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Leader identity:

Harvard Business Review: Goffee, R., & Jones, G. (2000). Why Should Anyone Be Led by you?
TED TALK: Drew Dudley, Lollipop moments
Harvard Business Review: Becoming the boss.
TED TALK: Sheryl Sandberg: On why we have too few women leadership
Book: George, B. (2007). True north. Ch. 6 What motivates you to be a leader?

Task-oriented leadership:

Article: Mintzberg, H. (2009) The best leadership is good management. Business Week, 8-11-2009
Talk: McCraney: A talk on procrastination.
TED TALK: Nigel Marsh on work-life balance
Blog: De Rue & Morton: Leading when lives are at stake
Book: George, B. (2007). True north. Ch. 8. Staying grounded: Integrating your life.

Relation-oriented leadership:

Harvard Business Review: Casciaro & Lobo (2005). Competent jerks, lovable fools, and the formation of social networks.
California Management Review:Too hot to handle
Article: How to take feedback, Psychology Today
Book: George, B. (2007). True north. Jossey-Bass, US. Ch. 7: Building your support team.

Change-oriented leadership:

Harvard Business Review: Crucibles of leadership
RSA. The surprising truth about what motivates us:
TED TALK: Simon Sinek: How leaders inspire great action
Talk: Cal Newport Why following your passion is wrong:
Book: George, B. (2007). True North. Ch. 9: Leadership with purpose and passion.

Ethics-oriented leadership:

TED TALK: Zimbardo P. the psychology of evil
Harvard Business Review: Carr, A. (1967, 2001). Is business bluffing ethical?
RSA: The honest truth about dishonesty.
RSA: The empathic civilization.

Book: George, B. (2007). Ch. 5 Practicing your values and principles

Key words search

Leadership, retreat, expedition.

Credit value	5
Module ECTS	2.5
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	15/08/23