Harvard University · edX
Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles
4.71,590 ratingsMobilize people to tackle tough problems and build the capacity to thrive through the dangers of change
Overview
Updated in May 2025.
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A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course.
Unlock the power of assertiveness with this comprehensive course designed to help you communicate with confidence, clarity, and control. By the end of this course, you’ll master essential assertiveness techniques to improve relationships, foster leadership skills, and navigate challenging situations effectively.
The course begins with practical assertive techniques, introducing methods like empathic, discrepancy, and consequence approaches, and guiding you on when and how to apply them. You will then delve into leadership-specific assertiveness, learning traits and strategies to lead with confidence and authority.
As you progress, discover powerful tools to deal with workplace negativity, handle aggressive behavior, and say "no" firmly yet respectfully. You will also explore practical advice tailored to shy and introverted individuals, empowering you to find your voice and express yourself in any situation, including when communicating with your boss.
Perfect for professionals, leaders, and individuals aiming to communicate confidently, this course requires no prior knowledge and is suitable for all skill levels. Whether you’re looking to enhance personal growth, improve workplace dynamics, or build leadership qualities, this course offers actionable tools to become assertive with ease.
Syllabus 1
- Assertiveness Skills 2.5 hours
In this module, we will explore key techniques and strategies for building assertiveness in various scenarios, from saying no with confidence to handling aggressive behavior and workplace challenges. Learners will also gain insights into becoming more assertive leaders and expressing themselves eff…
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Structured courses with graded quizzes, assignments and deadlines you can reset.
- A shareable certificate from the university or company when you pay.
- Financial aid is often approved for students in India (apply 15 days before you need it).
- Covers niche tools that universities don't teach.
- Self-paced: start any time.
- A clear syllabus (1 parts) you can see before you start.
Disadvantages
- Paid after a 7-day free trial (Coursera Plus or per course).
- Some courses can be audited for free, but graded work and certificates need payment.
- Many courses are produced quickly from slides and screen recordings; read the reviews first.
Some points apply to every course of this kind; see how we rank.
This course is paid. Here is how to take it for free
- Free trials: You can start a 7-day free trial for many individual courses, Specializations, or a Coursera Plus subscription to test full course features. Cancel before the seventh day if you do not want to be charged.
- Financial aid: If you cannot afford the fee for a certificate, you can apply for financial aid through the link on the course home page by filling out an application about your background and goals.
Taught by
- Packt - Course Instructors
Packt is in Tier 5: mass-produced or unclear of our institution ranking (40/100). Thousands of courses turned out quickly; check reviews first.
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