ABF 404 Communication for Leaders

Lecture Hours: 5
Credits: 5

Explores key theories of effective communication and leadership to facilitate innovative and creative leadership in inclusive and productive environments. Centers on disciplined communication strategies that can improve performance in different leadership contexts, including with peers, upper management, and external stakeholders. Explores fundamental elements of communication, including written, oral and online messages, practice strategies for developing powerful messages in diverse types of presentation; and learning to develop a personal brand while leading diverse, collaborative teams.

Prerequisite: Completion of WR 121Z with a grade of C or better; entry into the Leadership Applied Baccalaureate Program; or completion of AAS degree; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Prepare, deliver, and analyze spoken, written, and digital messages with confidence and clarity, with messages tailored for specific audiences.
Demonstrate ability to command attention with confidence and clarity, tailor messages, answer difficult questions from multiple sources, manage crisis communication, and define public persona via social media.
Explain how verbal communication, nonverbal communication, conflict management, listening skills, and interpersonal communication skills influence the communication process with peers, upper management, and external stakeholders.
Increase intercultural communication competencies to foster inclusive and equitable environments including developing an understanding of strategies that have been successfully implemented to lead diverse groups.
Grow leadership abilities by enhancing strategic and critical thinking skills; knowledge and confidence in self-expression; relational savvy in groups and teams; and creativity and the ability to engage with ambiguous and complex ideas, decisions, and communication situations
Apply communication and leadership theories and models to understand and resolve complex real-world challenges.

Content Outline

Understanding Leadership and Communication
- Foundational theories of leadership
- Foundational theories of communication
- Communication and strategic leadership
- Strategic leadership and problem-solving
- Ethics, values, and integrity in leading and communicating
Understanding leadership philosophies and goals
- Clarifying leadership philosophy and purpose
- Formal and informal leadership roles
- Setting meaningful leadership goals
- Setting meaningful communication goals
- Approaches to decision making and problem-solving in formal leadership positions
- Power and influence
Communication, culture, and leadership
- Culture and cultural identity
- Cultural diversity in society
- Organizational culture
- Leadership and intercultural communication competence
Listening
- Understanding listening
- Barriers to effective listening
- Listening styles
- Listening more effectively
- Conducting meaningful interviews
Verbal and Nonverbal Messages
- Verbal messages
- Improving verbal effectiveness
- Nonverbal communication
- Improving nonverbal effectiveness
Interpersonal strategies and skills
- Building positive relationships
- Sharing feedback
- Dealing with difficult people and situations
- Leading teams: challenges and opportunities
- Managing conflict in teams, groups, and organizations
- Approaches to managing conflict
- Running effective meetings
Developing, organizing, and delivering presentations
- Preparing for the presentation
- Writing the presentation
- Delivering the presentation across different mediums
- Using presentation aids
Navigating the digital world
- Leadership from a distance
- Leadership and social media
- Managing online identity as a leader
Crisis Communication
- Defining crisis communication
- Planning for crises
- Responding to crises
- Postcrisis concerns