Applied Leadership Program

Who should attend?

• Individuals interested in progressing into, or are currently in, a supervisory or leadership role
• Newly appointed team leaders or supervisors
• Organizations invested in succession planning and /or developing current supervisors

 

Why you should take this program:

• Career advancement - leadership and soft skills are among the most in-demand skills across all industries and sectors. 
• Applied learning - this program is not about textbooks and lectures, but rather taking the knowledge you will learn and the skills you will build to solve real-world leadership problems.
• Networking & professional connections - connect and work with like-minded individuals from a cross section of backgrounds, industries and varied experiences. 
• Minimal time commitment - in only a few hours per week, you will be exposed to the key principles and practices of professional, successful leaders.
• Incredible instructors - a selection of industry professionals who work in the field, conduct research and maintain outstanding credentials. 

Module 1 - Industry Partner Presentation 

Industry partner will present a real life leadership dilemma facing their organization.

 

Module 2 - Introduction to Project Management 

Instructor: Francine Durivage

Topics include:

• Phases of a Project Framework
• Successful Project Criteria
• Triple Constraints
• Developing a Project Charter and Schedule
• Risk Management Identification
• Managing Costs, Schedule and Scope
• Closing the Project

 

Module 3 - Communication Skills for Leaders 

Instructor: Dr. Amir Talaei

Topics include:

• Communication Frameworks
• Ways Communications Can Fail
• Improving Listening Skills
• Virtual Communication
• Cultural Communication
• Communication with Difficult People

 

Module 4 - Managing Organizational Change 

Instructor: Dr. Amir Talaei

Topics include:

• Three Main Phases of Change 
• 5-stage ADKAR Change Management Model 
• Tactics and Best Practices of Going Through Change 
• Resistance to Change and How to Overcome It 
• The Change Conversation 
• Understand the factors affecting organizational change 

 

Module 5 - Leading Self and Others 

Instructor: Diana Sarkis

Topics include:

• Defining Leadership
• Self-Reflection on Your Leadership Skills
• Growth Mindset
• Emotional Intelligence
• Qualities of a Good Leader
• Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership
• Understanding Your Followers and Adapting Your Leadership Style
• Determining Your Leadership Philosophy
• Creating a Leadership Development Plan

 

Module 6 - Supervision and Coaching for High Performance 

Instructor: Diana Sarkis

Topics include:

• Role of a Supervisor
• Supervisor vs. Coach
• Delegation
• Handling Complaints
• Coaching Guidelines
• Managing Performance
• Setting performance objectives
• Conducting performance reviews
• Giving constructive feedback
• Begin to develop a coaching plan for an individual

 

Module 7 - Effective Teams 

Instructor: Kyle Brykman

Topics include:

• Why Good Teamwork Matters
• Defining a Team vs. Group
• 6 Keys to a Resilient Team
• How to Build a Resilient Team
• Pros and Cons of Team Conflict
• Stages of Teamwork and When Conflict Happens
• Using Various Conflict Management Styles
• Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals
• Begin Your Plan to Build a Resilient Team

 

Module 8 - Capstone Presentations with Industry Partners 

Instructor: Diana Sarkis 

Your industry guided capstone project allows you to practice communication, leadership, teamwork and planning skills learned throughout the program.  Working with a small team, you will strategize and develop a solution to a common leadership challenge.

Upon completion of the certification, you will be able to:

• Develop communication strategies and leadership plans in support of organizational strategy.
• Recognize the project lifecycle and best practices in change management for teams.
• Incorporate leadership tactics to manage teams, conflict, coach others and meet goals.
• Build the foundations of a personal leadership mantra and understand the tools to implement.
• Develop a growth mindset and an appreciation for lifelong learning.

Upcoming Course Schedule

There are no scheduled sections of this course. Please join our interest list for more information about new programs & upcoming sections of this learning.

 

Format

Online Classroom

In-Person Option Available

Time Commitment:  3.5 hours of class per week for 8 weeks, 1-2 hours/week of work outside of class 

 

Credential

Learners must attend at least 80% of classes to receive a “Certificate of Completion” from the University of Windsor.

In order to successfully complete the program, learners must attend live virtual instructional sessions, submit an action planning workbook and complete the capstone project presentation requirements.

Prerequisites:

While there are no formal prerequisites for this offering, it is expected that learners will have:

• Basic computer skills
• English language proficiency
• 3-5 years of work experience

 

Technical Requirements for Brightspace

• Learners will require access to a computer to access class materials.

• A link will be provided through email prior to the first day of class so that you will have access to all course resources and streaming functions
• Once you register for this class you will be issued a UWinID. Please activate your UWinID as soon as possible. Document your UWinID and password as you will need it to access Brightspace. If you have any issues, please contact continue@uwindsor.ca.
• Visit this site for Brightspace technical requirements

Course Fees

Applied Leadership Program: $1,250 + HST

 

Discounts

For leaders in their organization who wish to send their team, group rates are available. Please visit our registration page for more details.

UWindsor Staff, Students, Alumni, and Hire UWindsor Partners are eligible for a discount. Email continue@uwindsor.ca for details.

 

Funding

OSAP-MC

• This program is eligible for the OSAP Micro-credential application (OSAPMC).
• Participants must be registered into the program prior to applying for OSAPMC.
• Participants are obligated to pay their fees in full, at least 10 days before the class start date
  • If you wish to withdraw from the program, you must email your drop request to our team at continue@uwindsor.ca at least one week before the course start date to receive a full refund (less the $25.00 administrative fee)
• Register for this program accordingly to allow ample time for your application to be processed. It takes approximately 10-15 business days for the OSAPMC application to be processed.

For more information, please visit our OSAP-MC website, or email our financial aid office. 

 

Grants

Interested in sending a member from your organization? You may be eligible for the Canada-Ontario Job Grant as a way to off-set the cost.

 

Other Financial Aid Opportunities 

Continuing Education has partnered with Windmill Microlending to make your learning opportunities more accessible.  Windmill Microlending is a registered charity serving newcomers since 2005. Windmill Microlending provides loans of up to $15,000 for skilled immigrants and refugees to pay for their Canadian licensing or training needed to restart or continue their careers in Canada. Loans can be used to cover fees for licensing and qualifying exams, credential assessments, books, course materials, living allowance during the study period, and language courses. To find out if you are eligible for a Windmill loan, please click here.

Please apply 2-3 weeks before the start of your desired program.

For more information, please contact Andrea D’Souza at inquiry@teamwindmill.org 

Coming Soon

Dr. Amir Talaei holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and has completed three Post-Doctoral Fellowships in the fields of leadership and organizational psychology focusing on leader counterproductive work behaviours, managing high conflict personalities in the workplace, and motivational processes in underperforming employees. He also holds certificates in Effective Workplace Communication, Supervision, Customer Service Management, Coaching, and Human Resources Management from the Universities of Waterloo, Toronto, and Calgary. Amir is currently a Partner and the Director of Applied Research at E.M. Vokes, Ph.D. & Associates, an organization development and change management consulting firm, based in Windsor, Ontario. He and his research team have been involved in the development and advancement of applied theories that have been used in training and coaching of organizational leaders at different levels in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Amir’s passion is identifying and countermanding management pseudo-science, and translating the cutting-edge psychological science into practical solutions for organizational challenges leaders routinely face. He has presented his work at several national and international conferences across the globe in countries such as Canada, USA, Japan, France, Italy, and Czech Republic.

---

Diana Sarkis currently works as a Sessional Instructor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. She teaches courses at the Master of Business (MBA) and the undergraduate program in the Management and Labour areas. Diana operates as an HR Consultant, where she partners with organizations throughout Canada to provide expertise in compensation, training and development, recruitment and outplacement services. She previously worked in the field of human resources in a full-time capacity in various sectors, including manufacturing, professional services and the broader public sector. Through her employment experience, Diana has gained extensive experience in labour relations, recruitment, training and development and strategic human resources practices. Diana completed a Master of Industrial Relations (MIR), a specialized advanced degree in human resources and labour relations, at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Diana also holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation through the Human Resources Professional Association. She has served the HR community as the Chair of the Human Resources Professional Association of Windsor

---

Francine Durivage helps individuals, groups and industry leaders handle the often challenging landscape of Project Management in a practical and impactful way. She works with private and not for profit businesses domestically and internationally as well as all levels of government to create or enhance their project frameworks, project management offices and to upskill the project team’s abilities and execution.

In addition to providing a broad set of in-demand courses, Francine has created two university accredited certifications in the areas of Project Management and Business Process Improvement. For Francine it is the ability to positively impact results, make the project a more enjoyable experience and remove impediments by providing user friendly tools, techniques, tips, troubleshooting and tutorials that fuel her passion for project management.

A fluently bilingual instructor (English, French), Francine is the Founder and President of Durivage Management Solutions Limited where she and her team have worked in more than a dozen countries on three continents. She is a speaker, trainer, consultant, author and project manager. Francine holds a Master of Project Management (MPM), a Masters Certificate in Organizational Development (MCOD), and a B(Psychology), as well as having multiple industry credentials including certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and PRINCE2 Practitioner (P2P) and has been using Agile project methods for the past 20 years.

---

Kyle Brykman is an Assistant Professor of Management at Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Kyle's research focuses on employee voice and interpersonal team dynamics, including team resilience and conflict. Kyle's mission is to help employees speak up with higher quality ideas and to assist leaders with creating and sustaining effective teamwork, such as by building their teams’ resilient capabilities and improving their conflict-experiences. As part of his research, Kyle has worked with large and small companies to diagnose and improve their human capital challenges. Kyle's research has been published in various prestigious academic journals, including the Journal of Organizational Behavior and Small Group Research, and presented at various international conferences, including the Academy of Management and Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Kyle holds a PhD in Management (Organizational Behaviour) from Smith School of Business at Queen's University, an MSc in Management (Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management) from Wilfrid Laurier University, and an HBA from Ivey School of Business.   

               

                 

 

      

Listen to the AM800 Interview with guest host Kyle Horen, Continuing Education Executive Director, Jennie Atkins and Master Plan Manager, Jamie Marshall from Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant.