Leading High Performance Teams

Subject MGMT90219 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 6.25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

July, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start 22-Jun-2015
Teaching Period 01-Jul-2015 to 12-Aug-2015
Assessment Period End 04-Sep-2015
Last date to Self-Enrol 23-Jun-2015
Census Date 10-Jul-2015
Last date to Withdraw without fail 07-Aug-2015


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 16 hours
Total Time Commitment:

80 hours total

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge:

Undergraduate degree with five years’ workplace experience or 10+ years of professional experience

Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit:
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Peter Gahan

Contact

Professor Peter Gahan

pgahan@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Leading High Performance Teams is a practical, two-day course that develops the skills required to drive team performance. The subject has an intervention design with a full-day facilitated workshop, a four-week intervention period and a second full-day workshop. This spacing allows participants to reflect on what they have learned and put the learning into practice. There are also pre-course readings and leadership assessments to prepare participants, provide meaningful insights and build a base of relevant knowledge. Although the course involves only two days face-to-face, the individual experience is a genuine leadership journey.

The subject covers the skills and tools that facilitate team performance. What is your interpersonal style? What issues could this cause? How do you manage teams as they progress through the stages of team life? How do you have conversations with team members, actively listen, provide support and coach them? How can you better understand your team members so you can motivate them to work with you? The course focuses on learning through doing and following activities with reflection. Every lesson leads to an actionable learning that makes a difference.

The subject is structured as follows:

a) Two weeks’ preparation: pre-readings, interview with supervisor, FIRO-B online diagnostic, ‘challenging scenario at work’ personal case study

b) All-day facilitated workshop covering:
- Understanding self and others
- Workplace communication
- Understanding how teams work (part 1)

c) Four-week intervention period: additional readings, application of new knowledge / skills approaches to personal case study, application of team learning styles questionnaire, reflective journal, connect with ‘accountability partner’

d) All-day facilitated workshop covering:
- Leadership perspectives
- Workplace challenges
- Understanding how teams work (part 2)
- Putting it all together

e) Post-program reflective assessment

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Understand personal leadership and communication styles (FIRO-B)
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills
  • Understand how high-performance teams are structured, led, and ‘work’
  • Understand the development needs of others
  • Demonstrate effective coaching (GROW model)
  • Understand how to measure effectiveness of self and team
Assessment:
  • Pre-workshop interview with supervisor, due before the first workshop (10%);
  • Personal case study and corresponding write-up (500 words), due before the first workshop (10%);
  • Effective participation and engagement in 45 minute group coaching through ‘difficult conversations’ role play, due in the workshops (20%);
  • Reflective paper on intervention and general classroom material (1500 words), due at the end of the assessment period (60%).

Hurdle requirement: completion of online FIRO-B 45-minute self-assessment, prior to the first workshop

Prescribed Texts:

Goleman, D. (2000). ‘Leadership That Gets Results.’ Harvard Business Review, Vol. 78 Issue 2, p78-90.

Gentry, WAB. (2014). ‘It’s not about me. It’s me & you.’ Centre for Creative Leadership Transitioning into Leadership Series, Vol. 1 Issue 1.

Gorgenyi, I. (1998). ‘Hunting Territory.’ Sports Coach, Summer, pp 18-21.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On successful completion of this subject students should have enhanced their skills in:

  • Problem-solving
  • The ability to work as an effective team member and team leader
  • Confidently meeting complex (relational) problems multiple ways
  • Communication, both verbal and non-verbal
  • The ability to plan own work, as well as that of their team(s)
Related Course(s): Specialist Certificate in Executive Leadership

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