Psychology of Shared and Collective Leadership

Catalog description

Students will examine the topic of shared and collective leadership, which includes the psychological processes surrounding collective, team-based, and dyadic leadership in organizations. PSY 817 Psychology of Shared and Collective Leadership (3) Given the complexity faced by leaders in organizations, it will not always be possible to operate alone as a leader. At times, it will be beneficial to share that process with one or more other individuals, hence the growing emphasis on "we-based" leadership. With psychology serving as the disciplinary framework for the course, students will have the opportunity to learn about the process and framework of shared leadership with the express goal of allowing them to utilize this, and similar, leadership processes in their own professional careers. The course will focus on providing a broad exploration of collective leadership. In particular, it will provide an understanding of the varying approaches to understanding and thinking about shared and collective leadership. In the investigation of course material, students will be exposed to real life examples and experiences - drawing heavily on instructor and student experiences as well as chosen case studies. Learning objectives for the course will center first on providing a foundation in the relatively new concept of "we-based" leadership to students. With this foundation, students will begin to apply this knowledge to understanding the conditions under which we-based approaches are most and least effective. Finally, students will be provided with a greater understanding of the contextual factors that shape the need for we-based leadership, with a focus on sustaining long-term leadership effectiveness.