Handbook

The purpose of this subject is to deliver a thorough grounding in the main leadership theories, concepts, and issues upon which students can produce a relevant and individualised leader development plan.  It is intended both as an introduction to leadership as a subject and an opportunity to develop students ability to lead effectively.  After critical introductions to traditional theories of leadership, it will introduce an alternative and contemporary approach to leadership that will reconfigure how students understand how their own understanding of leadership shapes and influences their own actions when wanting to be seen as a leader.  It also explains why others may or may not respond to their leadership actions.  This new approach is based on social construction and includes implicit leadership theory and leadership categorisation theory.  The subject provides an opportunity to construct a practical and personalised leader development plan based on these theoretical ideas.  The aim is to transform the way students conceptualise leadership and do so in a way that brings practical guidance to improve students’ ability to be perceived as an effective leader by others thereby making them better able to achieve their objectives.  In addition, students will be introduced to the impact of digital media on leadership effectiveness and given the opportunity to develop their skills to perform more effectively in this environment.