Advanced Topics in Macro Social Work

This mini-course focuses on the characteristics and competencies of the executive leader. After introduction s and a brief overview on elements of leadership as conceptualized by different authors, we will look at a number of assays which will help the individual student compile her or his own profile . These assays will include "temperament" assessments such as the Myers Briggs and the Emotional Intelligence Assay, on the characteristics side, and managerial assessments and Executive profile mapping from the competency sets The interaction between characteristic sets and competency sets will be discussed. We will also explore the social psychology and sociology of leadership-in-action, Various readings from the Harvard Business Review, including one from Manfred Kets DE Vries, an organizational thinker and trained psychoanalyst will be explored. The assignment will be to develop a personal learning/development plan.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will have the opportunity for self knowledge through reflections on their characteristics and competencies in the management and leadership areas through a variety of self-administered assays.
2. Students will have the opportunity for self knowledge through discussing the views of themselves as reflected by others on similar assay instruments. While not a "360" approach, it does balance one's own perceptions with those of others.
3. Students will then have the chance to build their own personal kaleidoscope from these material.
4. Learning is reinforced and expanded through the use of reading materials on the social psychological elements of the executive "personality"