My Transformational Journey with the High-Performance Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration Certificate from Northwestern
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I'm eager to share my personal and professional growth experience after completing the Coursera High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation certificate (offered by Northwestern University).In this blog post, I review how this certificate helped me learn new skills and greatly impacted my approach to collaborating with people and leading teams.
When I started this online learning journey, I had high hopes of honing my leadership skills, specifically regarding group collaboration and virtual teamwork. Little did I know that this certificate program would exceed my expectations, equipping me with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in today's competitive landscape
Throughout this blog, I will provide an honest and comprehensive review of the High-Performance Collaboration certificate, drawing comparisons with similar programs I've encountered. As I share my experiences, insights, and personal takeaways, I hope to help fellow professionals make more informed decisions about their growth and development. So let’s dive in and start with a brief overview of the certificate and learning objectives.
Course Overview
The Coursera: High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation
The certificate is a six-week online course offered by Northwestern University.
It is part of the Leadership and Management section on Coursera. Each module focuses on three critical aspects of leadership: style, teamwork, and negotiation.
The High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation Certificate teaches students to:
Assess their leadership style to adapt to different situations and contexts
Equip teams for collaboration to optimize their performance and productivity
Master the art of negotiation and manage conflicts quickly and effectively
Leigh Thompson, a distinguished professor of dispute resolution and organizations at Kellogg School of Management, teaches this course. She uses various methods to engage students, such as videos, quizzes, assignments, peer feedback, and case studies.
The course also includes access to Coursera Labs and hands-on learning projects allowing students to practice their skills in realistic scenarios.
Why did I enroll in the course?
I love learning new skills and getting better as a professional. As you know, I am a co-founder of DesignACE. We are a small business that wants to make meetings less tedious and more effective. I knew I needed to master the art of collaboration, leadership, and negotiation. These are essential skills for any entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and achieve their goals.
I need to collaborate, lead, and negotiate well to do that. These skills are essential for any entrepreneur who wants to grow their business and reach their goals.
I chose the Coursera High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation certificate. I wanted an online course that was flexible and affordable. I was happy with my choice. This course taught me a lot and gave me valuable tools I could use immediately.
Here are some examples of how I used these skills in my work:
Leadership: I learned to assess and adapt my leadership style to different situations and contexts.
When I pitch our product to a potential client, I use a more assertive and persuasive style.
I use a more collaborative and supportive style when leading a brainstorming session with my team.
I plan bold visions effectively and inspire others to follow me.
Teamwork: I learned to build and manage teams that work well together.
When forming designACE, we created a team charter that outlined our purpose, values, and norms.
I foster a culture of collaboration and creativity in my team. I use the SCAMPER technique to generate new ideas for our product features. I'm writing a blog about using SCAMPERS to develop new Icebreaker Questions for our seriers.
I also used the How Might We questions to reframe our challenges as opportunities.
Negotiation: I learned how to negotiate with confidence and skill.
When negotiating a contract with a vendor, I use the BATNA technique to determine my best alternative to the agreement.
I also am very structured in how I prepare for a negotiation. I always set goals and plan strategies. I start all my negotiations by researching the vendor’s background, needs, and interests.
I also set my target, reservation, and aspiration points. I planned my opening statement, questions, concessions, and a closing statement.
These learnings helped me improve my collaboration, leadership, and negotiation skills. They also helped me grow my business and achieve my goals. In the next section, I will share some of the benefits I gained from this course.
Andrew & Henry studying together.
The resources I recommend from the course.
The course was highly informative and practical. Throughout the six-week course, I learned about many valuable concepts, experimented with mental models, and acquired tools I could apply immediately to my projects and everyday work.
How to identify my leadership style and preferences using self-assessments such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Big Five Personality Test
designACE recommendation: We use a free and reputable Myers-Briggs test you can find here at 16personalities.com.
Adapting my leadership style to different situations and contexts using the Situational Leadership Model.
The model identifies four leadership styles (directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating), and its flexibility allows leaders to adapt their approach to the specific needs of their team members and the situation at hand.
By understanding and applying this model, leaders can enhance their effectiveness in guiding and motivating their teams.
Increasing self-awareness, disclosing information about oneself, and actively seeking feedback from others is the ultimate goal of the Johari Window Model—learn more about the Johari Window Model here.
How to form a dynamic team and establish norms and rituals for collaboration using the Team Charter Template.
The Team Charter, a collaborative document, defines the purpose, objectives, and strategies for achieving goals, fostering a shared sense of direction and more profound connection among team members—check out this free Team Chartmanyate from Mural here.
How to manage team dynamics and performance using the GRPI Model (Goals, Roles, Processes, Interpersonal Relationships).
The model highlights the interconnectedness of goals, roles, processes, and interpersonal relationships, emphasizing that addressing each component is crucial for overall team performance—more on the GRPI Model here.
How to negotiate effectively using the BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) concept.
BATNA emphasizes the importance of evaluating alternatives before negotiating.
What makes BATNA fascinating is its ability to shift the negotiation's power dynamics. By identifying and understanding their BATNA, negotiators gain confidence and a stronger position to negotiate from—learn more about the BATNA concept from the Harvard Business Review here.
How to resolve conflicts using the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument
Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument recognizes that individuals have unique preferences when managing conflicts.
A critical difference between the TKI and other conflict resolution methods is that it provides individuals with insight into their preferred conflict resolution styles and how they tend to behave in different situations—explore the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument here.
I highly recommend checking out some of my favourite resources from Coursera: High-Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation certificate. This course provides an in-depth theory on these resources and effective strategies for their application.
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Certificate of completion for Andrew from Coursera
What is my rating and recommendation for the course?
Based on my experience, I would give the Coursera Leadership and Collaboration Certificate a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a well-designed and well-delivered course covering essential skills and topics for leadership and collaboration. I also think it is a practical and relevant course that provides students with real-world examples, case studies, and projects to apply their skills. The tools, models, and instruments they employ and train the learner on are precious and easy to repeat with your team.
I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve their leadership and collaboration skills for their current or future roles. I think it suits students of all levels, from beginners to advanced. I also think it is an excellent course for anyone who wants to learn from a renowned expert in the field.
