Connie Yuan is a professor in the Department of Communication and the Department of Global Development at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Professor Yuan teaches and conducts research in the areas of organizational communication and intercultural communication. She is particularly interested in studying knowledge management through the development of social capital and the adoption and usage of information and communication technology. Professor Yuan’s recent research has focused on examining cultural differences in cognition and decision making; for instance, the different ways in which American and Chinese people react to climate change initiatives and obtain health information. She has also explored how differences in communication styles between the East and the West influence the effectiveness of intercultural collaboration and expertise sharing. Trained in both Taoist and Buddhist meditation tradition, Professor Yuan has been meditating almost daily since 2012.
Course Overview
So many theories come and go about how to develop leadership. Originally, people thought leaders needed specific capacities, such as decisiveness or charisma. A common expectation in many cultures is that you have to be an extrovert to be a leader, but that is not necessarily true. There are plenty of examples of introverted leaders, and you don't have to copy others in order to be a successful leader. Leadership is complex; it hinges on understanding followers and their environment. As a result, your ability to mindfully assess your followers' characteristics and the environment is crucial to both the overall survival of you as a leader and your organization. This course encourages you to identify your own strengths and use that self-awareness to lead authentically, discovering the importance of being authentic and true to yourself.
In this course, you will investigate universal ethical standards that transcend cultural boundaries and rise above cultural differences. The primary focus will be on your unique development as a leader, and in addition to exploring the variety of leadership models, you will identify factors that affect your leadership identity. By drawing on your mindful meditation practices, you will reflect and integrate lessons, further developing your own distinct professional identity. You will also explore success stories of authentic, ethical leaders and reflect on these qualities for your leadership journey, assessing the roles that team and environment play in how you lead. Through instruction and practice, you will discover how authenticity and ethics are the pillars of impactful leadership in a multicultural society.
You are required to have completed the following course or have equivalent experience before taking this course:
- Using Mindful Meditation to Strengthen Relationships
Key Course Takeaways
- Develop your repertoire of ethical leadership tools and styles
- Grow self-awareness
- Mindfully assess your followers' characteristics and the environment
- Leverage your network to develop connections
How It Works
Course Author
Who Should Enroll
- Individual contributors
- Managers
- Executives
- Global leaders
- Business leaders
- Entrepreneurs
- Anyone in a collaborative role, specifically interculturally
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