CAS Leadership & Inclusion

Art of Communication I/II

I know what I want and say how to get my message across! As managers, we have to write texts and present key messages again and again. A lot depends on the result, but there is often not enough time to prepare. How do we convince others in writing or in a presentation?  And how do we achieve a convincing result as quickly and efficiently as possible? In this module we train to plan writing processes and presentations strategically and creatively as well as to execute them skillfully and successfully. We question our habits, break routines and expand our repertoire of strategic and operative leadership communication with goal-oriented strategies and practices.

Learning Objectives

• Use rhetoric and body language effectively
• Structure presentations clearly and deliver them convincingly in front of a heterogeneous audience
• Answer critical questions competently
• Using crises communicatively

Leading Yourself & Others I/II

Leadership starts with ourselves – which is why we deliberately focus on self-leadership before external leadership. Based on the internationally recognized Big Five personality test, an individual coaching session for self-reflection on our leadership personality takes place before the module. We learn how to promote our strengths, overcome inner obstacles and deal with weaknesses. In addition to self-leadership based on personal values, the module focuses on efficient self-management. In this context, we look at resilience and antifragility, among other things. The more aware we become of our own leadership personality, the more successful and confident we become in our dealings with employees.

Learning Objectives

• Understand self-efficacy and its positive influences on interactions with others
• Develop strategies for self-organization and make sustainable decisions
• Learn to deal with uncertainty and loneliness at the top
• Cope with setbacks and leave a crisis with new strength

Diversity & Inclusion I/II:

Individual equality of opportunity refers to the fair opportunity for every single person, regardless of their personal characteristics, background or circumstances, to have equal access to a wide range of resources such as inclusion, further training or career progression. An inclusive and diversity-promoting culture therefore not only aims to prevent discrimination and create equal opportunities, but also offers much more (“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance”). And not without reason: it has long been proven that diverse teams can be more successful – if they are managed correctly. In this module, we therefore focus on the benefits and opportunities, but also the challenges, of diversity in teams and companies. It deals with topics such as psychological safety and dealing with weaknesses and using strengths in the team. We also want to create a common basis for assessing different behaviors and responding to them professionally. For example, we discuss different communication patterns so that all parties can support each other better in future and deal with challenging situations skillfully.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the dimensions of diversity and the underlying mechanisms for dealing with diversity
• Be able to justify the added value of individual equality of opportunity and psychological safety
• Recognize communication patterns and be able to respond to specific situations
• Identify best practices and adapt them to your own situation

Leading Yourself & Others II/II

Leadership means working through employees – but how do we do this successfully and sustainably? How do we deal with the leadership of diverse teams and other challenging leadership situations? In this context, it is important to reflect on the values and thought patterns that guide us in shaping leadership relationships and how our ideas about leadership or being led, which we have learned in the course of our biography, influence our leadership actions, as reflected in selected leadership models and with reference to the topic of authenticity. The approach of “Positive Leadership” gives us a new perspective on our leadership actions. Using the concrete example of “employee retention”, we also want to deepen our understanding of the relevant influencing factors at the team leader level in order to strengthen retention in the company/organization. As part of the module conclusion, we will look at future trends in Work 4.0 and their impact on leadership. The afternoon before the module is reserved for an interpersonal skills simulation with a focus on team (dys)functions.

Learning Objectives

• Be able to assess the explanatory value and practical relevance of selected leadership models
• Understand authenticity as a concept and develop your own leadership brand
• Getting to the bottom of one’s own ideas and thought patterns about leadership
• Reflect on core elements of strength-based leadership for own practice
• Understanding factors influencing employee retention
• Derive success factors for mastering future leadership challenges

Art of Communication II/II

Managers negotiate at different levels every day. In addition to professional competence, convincing and sustainable negotiation results require efficient and well-structured negotiation management. Furthermore, the attitude with which we face our negotiating partners is important.  A successful negotiation results when all the involved parties gain some benefit. In this module, we therefore cover negotiation management in detail and discuss ways of assessing and resolving conflicts at various stages.

Learning Objectives

• Plan and successfully conduct negotiations and meetings
• Successfully integrate the cultural context into your negotiating position
• Cope with negotiation stress professionally
• Recognize, understand, and manage conflicts

Diversity & Inclusion II/II

A culture that promotes diversity and inclusion must build a shared understanding. On this basis, a corporate culture can be created in which all employees are perceived and can contribute so that we live for each other instead of against each other. In this module, we deal with challenges and approaches to solutions on the way to a shared culture. In a workshop, for example, we discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion for promoting innovation and competitiveness in the age of new work.

Learning Objectives

• Assess corporate readiness for diversity and inclusion
• Understand and overcome cultural barriers
• Know sustainable diversity as well as inclusion strategies
• Promote diversity and inclusion in the company