Course Descriptions
Leadership Development
Leadership Overview • LDCT 500V (12 hours)
As the workplace becomes more complex and diverse the role of the supervisor is ever expanding. The more skills you have, the better equipped you will be to do the job. The Situational Leadership model will explain the various styles of leadership and when they are most appropriately used. You will also discuss change and diversity as fundamental issues in today’s workplace. This course will provide the foundation for the Leadership Development Program and is a core requirement for the Certificate. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Describe the skills necessary to be an effective leader;
- Identify the impact of changing from worker to leader;
- Apply theories on motivation in a practical and effective way;
- Explain the concept of situational leadership;
- Describe four basic leadership styles and indicate when each is the best choice;
- Identify their personal leadership style;
- Understand and apply the concepts of empowerment and delegation;
- Understand the impact of organizational culture on leadership effectiveness; and
- Describe the change process and the leader’s role in implementing and managing change.
Prerequisites: None
Workplace Communication • LDCT 501V (12 hours)
Your success in the workplace both as an employee and a supervisor will depend on your ability to communicate. Learn the critical components of effective communication and the different ways we communicate beyond the words we say. You will also develop a new appreciation for the role of effective questioning and active listening skills. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Recognize common communication barriers and ‘filters’ that affect communication
- Develop helpful questioning and clarifying techniques
- Demonstrate improved ‘active’ listening techniques
- Understand the role of non-verbal communication
- Identify and analyze their preferred communication style
Prerequisite: None
Managing Workplace Conflict • LDCT 502V (12 hours)
Conflict is normal and inevitable. Even though our associations with conflict may often be negative working to resolve these differences is often a constructive growth experience – both for the organization and the individual. This introductory workshop explores concepts and skills that help people prevent, manage or work through conflict in a way that minimizes destructive conflict dynamics and maximizes mutual benefits. Note: Workplace Communication (LDCT 501V) is recommended before learners register for this course. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Describe the costs and functions of conflict in the workplace
- Identify sources of conflict in the workplace
- Identify factors which escalate and de-escalate conflict and use this awareness to minimize the destructive elements of conflict
- Describe their own preferred conflict resolution style and how it interacts with other styles in the workplace
- Create and maintain a collaborative atmosphere for managing workplace conflicts and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes
- Clarify and understand their own and other’s issues, interests and feelings involved in specific workplace conflicts
- Problem solve collaboratively for mutual gain or win/win resolutions
Prerequisites: None
Problem Solving & Decision Making • LDCT 503V (9 hours)
As a leader, a large part of your responsibility is anticipating and addressing potential problems. Once identified you need to make important decisions to solve these problems. Your ability to do this well will be enhanced if you understand the risks and the processes involved as well as the impact your decisions have on others. The objective of this course is to provide you with an understanding of tools and techniques to perform problem and solution identification, to build implementation plans, and to confirm successful results. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Recognize, target and analyze a problem
- Employ individual and participative problem solving and decision making techniques
- Discuss the importance of making decisions using sound reasoning, knowledge and adequate risk assessment
- Understand effective leadership roles in the different problem solving processes
- Discuss the critical processes of finding solutions and making decisions
- Compensate for the pitfalls of group dynamics
- Create implementation plans and monitor results and outcomes
- Consider one’s own values, beliefs and biases when making decisions and taking action
- Create solutions for a real-time problems
Prerequisites: None
Coaching • LDCT 504V (6 hours)
Coaching in the workplace means bringing out the best in your staff. Create an environment where others will feel empowered and where responsibility, acknowledgement and creativity will be encouraged. With hands-on examples, you will use coaching principles in a variety of situations. Learn to apply these principles to lead your staff to success. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Understand what coaching entails
- Know when and how to coach
- Recognize the benefits of coaching
- Recognize coaching as a leadership skill
- Become a more effective leader through the use of coaching
- Learn how to apply coaching skills during performance review
Prerequisite: None
Hiring the Best People • LDCT 505V (6 hours)
Your organization's financial health depends on finding and keeping good employees. Hiring well is only part of the job. You have to keep your employees happy and productive. This workshop reveals what the best-managed organizations do in the early stages to find and keep good people. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Explain the importance of hiring right the first time.
- Define the “best” people qualities needed by today’s organizations.
- Understand the most common hiring mistakes and how to prevent them.
- Know the different types of workers available to do the work.
- Understand the value of “hidden work” and how to uncover it before hiring.
- Analyze the nature of work in terms of the DATA (Desires, Abilities, Temperament and Assets) needed by those who perform it.
- Conduct effective interviews using “Situational Interviewing” techniques.
- Conduct effective reference checks.
- Recognize the warning signs that people might be leaving the organization and how to react to them.
- Understand how to prevent turnover and keep the best people.
Prerequisite: None
Leading Change • LDCT 506V (9 hours)
Supervisors of the future will be required to understand the dynamics of change and to develop the skills to manage the change process. This overview will introduce you to models for understanding change, explore the stages of the change process and focus on the human dynamics of change including resistance to change. The purpose is to provide a framework for understanding, to develop strategies for applying this to your workplace and to enable you to successfully take a leadership role in meeting the challenge of change. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Describe the different types of change and the dynamics of the change process
- Describe the stages of change and how to manage transitions
- Recognize common responses to change and manage resistance
- Identify the elements of effective change management
- Create conditions for success
- Identify personal leadership style in managing change.
Prerequisite: None
Great Meetings! • LDCT 507V (6 hours)
A well run meeting saves time, money and engages the participants. Discover what you can do so people leave your meeting saying, “What a great meeting!” Topics include: pre-planning, agendas, facilitation, managing differences and decisions, and action planning. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- Consider and plan an approach that will create the intended outcome of the meeting
- Prepare agenda with enough detail to allow participants to make valuable contributions
- Facilitate a meeting so that all participants are heard
- Manage the dialogue and probe beneath the surface information
- Control the conversations so individual working styles are acknowledged and respected
- Clarify and reach agreement on next steps
- Obtain commitment to act and spread the workload by securing specific action plans from participants
Effective Teambuilding • LDCT 508V (12 hours)
Working on a team has become the norm in today’s workplace and creating a great team takes work! This course provides an overview of effective teams, including the essential elements of productive work teams and the stages of team development. Participants explore ways to utilize individual strengths of team members to build an effective, productive team that is committed to achieving common goals. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Understand basic principles of group dynamics and team development
- Identify the phases of group development
- Understand how personal influence and leadership influence function in work groups
- Recognize the importance of both member and leadership roles in groups
- Identify the elements that contribute to effective team building and maintenance.
- Describe ways to diagnose team effectiveness
- Describe ways to encourage participation of team members
- Identify the processes for making effective decisions in a team
- Appraise own abilities as a team member/team leader and identify ways to continue own growth and development in team building
- Identify resources and options for continued understanding and skill in team building
- Identify personal communication style in team situations
- Develop confidence in both member and leader roles in groups
Prerequisite: None
Speaking with Confidence • LDCT 509V (12 hours)
Develop and improve your speaking skills! Do you wonder how to express your ideas to a group? Do you wish you could find a way to control those jitters? Presenting your ideas confidently and effectively enhances your ability to communicate in the workplace. In this practical session, you will have the opportunity to prepare and conduct a presentation in a non-threatening environment. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Adapt your speech and your non-verbal communication to the needs of your listeners
- Deal effectively with presentation anxiety
- Structure a presentation around what you want to accomplish
- Deliver a prepared presentation with confidence
Prerequisite: None
Managing Performance • LDCT 510V (9 hours)
The ability to manage performance is based on regular feedback and an open and free exchange of information between the parties. Through this course you will be able to create an understanding of what needs to be accomplished so employees can work with clarity. You will learn how to effectively communicate expectations to staff, how to support them to fulfill the expectations and how they will be evaluated on those expectations. Within a highly experiential environment you will put theory into practice in the classroom. You will be given an opportunity to analyze problems, plan strategies and experience conversations to help you overcome challenges and manage successfully. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Develop performance goals with the employee
- Create a performance plan to support the employee as they proceed in their work
- Monitor results and provide feedback
- Provide constructive feedback and discuss challenges
- Diagnose performance problems
- Develop a plan to improve performance
- Apply the most appropriate leadership style to the situation
- Use the most suitable coaching style to obtain results
- Apply knowledge of behaviourial styles to interactions
- Conduct an annual review of results with the employee
- Record results and establish developmental needs
Prerequisite: None
Orientation, Training, & Development • LDCT 512V (9 hours)
Training and development must benefit employees and the organization. We will explore ways to: develop training plans, enable employees to formulate career goals, identify and assess training and development needs, determine appropriate training resources and orient new employees. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
- Develop orientation program that work
- Identify four learning styles that impact adult learners
- Analyze and define training needs
- Create an effective adult learning environment
- Develop training plans that fit individual learning styles
- Monitor and evaluate training effectiveness
Prerequisite: None
Strategic Planning • LDCT 513V (12 hours)
Planning pays off! Learn the basics of the planning process including strategic and tactical/operational planning as well as time management. Today’s supervisors must understand the larger organizational planning picture, visions and mission statements. All these will be discussed in terms of their connection with specific goals & objectives. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
- Understanding the steps in the planning process
- Differentiate between strategic planning and operational planning
- Develop vision and mission statements
- Understand the importance of personal and organizational values in planning
- Develop operational goals and objectives within parameters of vision and mission
- Prepare a budge based on goals and objectives
- Conduct S.W.O.T. analysis
Prerequisite: None
Project Management • LDCT 516V (9 hours)
Project Management is a fundamental skill in today’s workplace. You will learn the basics of good project management, planning considerations, and how to create reasonable, manageable project objectives. You will also discuss the importance of keeping your project on track, scheduling and tracking tools such as the PERT and GANTT charts, and a review of the process upon project completion. Also, given that multiple project management is often a reality, you will discuss managing multiple project objectives and priorities simultaneously. Schedule Details
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Define, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate projects
- Differentiate between projects and programs
- Identify duties and responsibilities of the project manager and the project sponsor
- Work within parameters of quality, time and cost
- Develop work breakdown structures
- Estimate time and cost dimensions
- Understand PERT and GANTT charts
- Review project management software
Prerequisite: None
Bullying, Abuse of Power & Human Rights • LDCT 522V (6 hours)
The jobs of supervising/managing is becoming more complex and managing within a human rights environment can be intimidating. When you add bullying and abuse of authority to the mix, it can appear almost overwhelming! What are people’s rights and what constitutes “harassment,” bullying and abuse of authority? What are the responsibilities and liability of a supervisor/manager? In this session, you will learn about human rights legislation and how it works, bullying and abuse of authority issues, liability and prevention. You will also discuss fair treatment, freedom of information and privacy and the supervisor’s role.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Understand human rights legislation and how it works
- Recognize the differences between harassment, abuse of authority, and bullying
- Identify helpful behaviours for managers and supervisors in human rights environments
- Understand the basic tenets and importance of freedom of information and privacy and fair treatment.
Prerequisites: None
Personally Effective Leadership • LDCT 524V (15 hours)
The cornerstone of effective leadership is personal mastery. Using 360 feedback, small group exercises and reflective practice, this module is designed to increase self-awareness and personal efficacy. Participants will be given activities to complete between sessions in order to deepen their learning and build a foundation for on-going leadership development. Given that this module requires previous understanding of leadership principles and the capacity for personal introspection, it is likely that participants will derive greater benefit if it is taken later in the program.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Identify the critical elements of personally effective leadership by:
- Enhancing their understanding of personal mastery;
- Developing a self-reflective practice to enhance self-awareness;
- Using 360 feedback to enhance their leadership practice;
- Identifying personal values; and
- Creating a clear personal vision.
- Identify ways to continue their own growth and development.
- Utilize self-reflective tools to increase self-awareness.
- Identify resources and options for continued learning; and
- Create a personal learning plan aimed at continued development.
Prerequisite: None
Leading the Multi-generational Workforce • LDCT 529V (6 hours)
With changing workforces, multiple career moves and delayed retirements, today’s leaders face many challenges in meeting the needs of their employees. In this course you will gain an understanding of the values and characteristics of the multi-generational workforce which provides insights into their motivations, priorities and expectations. You will learn how to use these insights to become an effective leader in your organization. In order to retain your best employees and keep the organization effective, it is important to foster a workplace culture where everyone achieves their full potential.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Identify and compare the four “working” generations
- Describe the personal & lifestyle characteristics of each generation
- Describe the workplace characteristics of each generation
- Identify the generation gaps
- Apply effective techniques to manage (bridge) the generation gaps
- Evaluate personal management styles
- Adjust management styles for each generation
- Attract and retain employees from each generation
- Assist employees in working effectively within a multi-generational workforce
Prerequisites: None
Writing Skills for Leaders • LDCT 530V (12 hours)
Excellent writing skills are vital to leaders for communicating ideas, implementing them effectively, and achieving results. In this course, students will enhance their leadership abilities by learning skills such as how to write actionable communication, write for a variety of purposes and audiences, write clearly and concisely, and implement an effective writing process. Fluency in written and spoken English is recommended.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Describe the significance of writing skills for leaders
- Identify types of documents leaders often write
- Select mediums appropriate for messages
- Use an effective writing process
- Demonstrate the fundamentals of editing their own work and the work of others
- Improve their ability to write:
- With concision and clarity
- At an appropriate level of detail
- For various purposes
- In appropriate tone and level of formality
- For multiple audiences
- In plain language.
Prerequisites: None
Coaching Conversations • LDCT 531V (3 hours)
Take coaching to the next level with three one-hour telephone coaching sessions with two peers and a professional coach. A personal coaching experience is an important step towards becoming an effective coach.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Describe a coaching experience
- Identify the steps in a coaching conversation
- Avoid common pitfalls in coaching
- Improve his/her coaching skills
Prerequisites: Coaching (LDCT 504V) must be taken before registering for this module
Speaking with More Confidence • LDCT 532V (6 hours)
You enjoyed “Speaking with Confidence” and saw your skill level and confidence improve. You left with a desire to further develop your presentation skills and project your personal style. This course will provide additional opportunities to practice your speaking skills as well as incorporate more tips and techniques. This course has been specifically designed as a skills-development opportunity for learners who have previously completed LDCT 509V – Speaking with Confidence.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Deliver an impromptu presentation with confidence
- Effectively critique and review their own presentation skills
- Demonstrate effective presentation skills by incorporating meaningful images to convey a message and promote audience engagement
Prerequisites: Speaking with Confidence (LDCT 509V) must be taken before registering for this module.
The Art of Dialogue • LDCT 533V (9 hours)
This course introduces four dialogue processes specifically developed to provide a framework for conversations that matter. Open Space Technology, World Café, Appreciative Inquiry and Circle practice are powerful processes for leaders to employ when facing important conversations – how to work together, creating the future together or managing difficult situations. This is an experiential workshop where participants learn by doing and debriefing the experience.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Describe the four group conversation processes presented – Open Space Technology, Appreciative Inquiry, World Café and Circle practice
- Describe the theory behind the processes and explain the best use for each method
- Organize and lead each of the four group conversation processes at work, home or in the community
Strength through Diversity • LDCT 534V (6 hours)
What does diversity mean and why is it so important? What can you do to recognize and value diversity? Ultimately today’s workforce is diverse and leaders play an important role in creating a positive, respectful and inclusive workplace environment. In this course you will learn about the diversity that exists in the workplace and will be introduced to practices that can help you build on and support the strengths and skills of a diverse working group. Select topics of diversity will be discussed including, but not limited to, gender, culture and disability.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Describe individual diversity that exists in the workplace and the impact on workplace culture
- Describe an inclusive workplace and identify practices that strengthen and build on diversity
- Recognize and use communication strategies and styles that demonstrate respect for individual diversity
Prerequisites: None
Building Relationships with Indigenous People • LDCT 535V (6 hours)
Camosun College is located on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Straits Salish people and is making significant efforts to indigenize curriculum in an effort to welcome and recognize indigenous people. The Leadership Development program will add this key element of learning as the ability to work with and foster relationships with first people is important. This new course will provide you with opportunities to reflect on your personal beliefs about Indigenous People and culture and examine some of the myths associated with Indigenous societies. You will gain knowledge about ways to respectfully work with Indigenous people.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Reflect upon personal beliefs about Aboriginal People and culture
- Examine social mythology about Aboriginal culture
- Discuss ways of respectfully working with Aboriginal People
- Discuss social, economic and legislative systems and their impact on Aboriginal People and their culture
Prerequisites: None
Financial Literacy for Leaders • LDCT 536V (6 hours)
Financial literacy is an essential principle of business acumen. As an emerging or existing leader, it is essential that you have the financial knowledge, can ask all the right financial questions and speak the financial language required in a leadership position. This course will provide you with the basic information you need to become an informed user of financial information and how to communicate that information with others.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- understand the importance of financial management
- analyze and interpret financial statements and budgets
- understand fiscal responsibility and reporting
Prerequisites: None
Leading for Work Life Balance • LDCT 537V (6 hours)
Work-life balance is jeopardized in our world of immediate action and requirements to be available 24/7. Is that realistic? Is that wise? Is that a reality of leadership? Can you be a leader and live a work-life balance? In this course you will explore what work life balance looks like in today's world and how to develop an appropriate balance for you at this stage of your life and career. Concepts of productivity, flow, positivity and approach to work will be explored as they relate to work life balance.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Define what work life balance means on a personal level
- Appreciate various leader’s approaches to work life balance
- Discuss and define work life balance differences that exist for different generations
- Appreciate why work life balance is an important facet of leadership
- Complete a self assessment to consider their own work life balance
- Appreciate what being out of balance can look like and how to guard against this
- Use tools to create a work life balance plan
Prerequisites: None
Dealing with Difficult Interactions • LDCT 600V (6 hours)
Most of the people we deal with are reasonable people and we have the skills to help them on a day to day basis. However, sometimes we encounter angry, abusive and sometimes potentially violent people who challenge our abilities and leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. This workshop is designed to give you important tools to help minimize the number of difficult situations you encounter, understand how to manage a situation that is escalating and deal most effectively with hostile and angry people. We will use an assessment tool to help you determine your preferred method of dealing with conflict.
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, learners will be better able to:
- Utilize active listening skills for improved relationships and better problem solving
- Recognize common phrases that may provoke a reaction in people
- Explain the relationship between anger levels and judgment levels
- Implement strategies for dealing with people at the peak of their anger
- Understand how the communication model can help to explain, and be used to minimize, misunderstandings and conflict
- Assess your preferred conflict management styles
Prerequisites: None
Leadership Program - Assessment • LDCT 699V
This self-directed module is the final requirement for the Certificate in Leadership Development. You will be given an assignment outline to assist you in the completion of a written submission or a face-to-face presentation that will demonstrate your general knowledge and abilities in the area of Leadership. Completion of a minimum of 141 hours of core and elective modules is required. Once you have completed all the required hours, please contact the Program Coordinator by phone (250-370-4565) or email (sofbus@camosun.bc.ca) to be provided with the materials needed to complete the assessment.
Prerequisites:Completion of 141 program hours (117 core, 24 elective) and Permission from the Program Coordinator.
