In today’s complex and rapidly evolving workplace, leadership is not just about authority, it is about how effectively you use power, build influence, and earn trust. This advanced leadership course explores the deeper dimensions of mindful leadership, power dynamics, influence strategies, and trust-building within organizations.

Advanced Leadership Skills

Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Advanced level
This course is designed for professionals from diverse work backgrounds. A basic understanding of working in organizations is recommended.
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Advanced level
This course is designed for professionals from diverse work backgrounds. A basic understanding of working in organizations is recommended.
What you'll learn
Leverage power and influence effectively in organizations
Build high-trust cultures through mindful leadership and communication
Navigate uncertainty, ambiguity, and leadership transitions
Develop executive presence and a purpose-driven leadership approach
Details to know

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24 assignments
April 2026
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There are 6 modules in this course
In this module, you will learn about aspects of ‘nonviolent communication’ (NVC). This module will take you on a series of exercises and practices to learn NVC concepts as well as apply them to your communication and relationships. Nonviolent communication is one of the important aspects of creating high-trust workplaces, and we will be exposed to the essential ingredients in this module. In addition, you will also gain insight into some exercises that you can practice as you go along, managing different activities in personal and/or professional life.
What's included
16 videos5 readings4 assignments
16 videos•Total 89 minutes
- Course Introduction•4 minutes
- Future of Work: Key Trends•4 minutes
- Skills of the Future•4 minutes
- Quality, Not Just Quantity•6 minutes
- Leadership in the Age of Fuzzy•4 minutes
- Focus of this Course•7 minutes
- Life-alienating Conversations•5 minutes
- Denial of Responsibility•5 minutes
- Four Components of NVC•7 minutes
- Observations, Not Evaluations•6 minutes
- Understanding Feelings•5 minutes
- Connecting Feelings to Needs•6 minutes
- Making A Request•5 minutes
- Requests versus Demands•5 minutes
- Receiving Empathetically•8 minutes
- Connecting Compassionately with Ourselves•8 minutes
5 readings•Total 50 minutes
- NVC Workbook •10 minutes
- Essential Reading: The Future of Jobs Report•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: Nonviolent Communication (NVC)•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: NVC lecture by Marshall Rosenberg•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 85 minutes
- Graded Quiz•40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
This module aims to help leaders learn how failures evolve in organisations, how to prevent failures and how to effectively manage risk in a complex organisation. The module helps leaders understand reasons for large-scale failures in complex systems. Second, the module helps learners to understand how leaders may respond to ambiguous threats within organisations. Next, the learner understands the communication barriers that exist within many organizations which serve to suppress dissenting views, candid questioning, constructive inquiry and admission of past mistakes. Finally, this module gives guidance on leadership and decision-making in high-stakes situations.
What's included
15 videos7 readings4 assignments
15 videos•Total 83 minutes
- Columbia: Key Timelines•4 minutes
- Beyond Technical Failure•6 minutes
- The Shuttle Program•4 minutes
- Foam Strike History•6 minutes
- Event Sequence: Days 1 to 5•6 minutes
- Event Sequence: Days 6 to 8•6 minutes
- Normalisation of Deviance•5 minutes
- Bureaucracy and Communication Failure•6 minutes
- Failure in Organisational Learning •7 minutes
- Systemic Factors•6 minutes
- High-Risk Decision Making•8 minutes
- Psychological Safety•5 minutes
- Accountability•4 minutes
- Lessons from Columbia•4 minutes
- Implications beyond NASA: Lessons for High-Risk Organisations•5 minutes
7 readings•Total 70 minutes
- Essential Reading: Columbia Teaching Case Study•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: What is Psychological Safety?•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: 20 years after Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster, Lessons learned still in Sharp Focus at NASA•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: Columbia Disaster•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: Leadership Lessons from a NASA Tragedy•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: A Note on Decision-Making•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 85 minutes
- Graded Quiz•40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
This module is geared toward preparing leaders to navigate leadership Transition journeys successfully. It will provide a very practical framework to navigate the first 4-6 months of leadership transition to locate and mitigate Transition Challenges and plan and initiate a successful journey.
What's included
15 videos8 readings4 assignments
15 videos•Total 92 minutes
- Your Career Transitions•4 minutes
- Leadership and Career Transitions•6 minutes
- Transition Breakeven•5 minutes
- Transition Traps•5 minutes
- Virtuous Transition Cycles•6 minutes
- CLIMB Framework•4 minutes
- ‘C’ of CLIMB: Clarifying Expectations•6 minutes
- Five Key Conversations•7 minutes
- ‘L’ of CLIMB Learning •8 minutes
- ‘I’ of CLIMB: Individuals (Team members)•7 minutes
- ‘I’ of CLIMB: Individuals (Coalitions)•6 minutes
- ‘M’ of CLIMB: Masterplan (Strategy)•7 minutes
- ‘M’ of CLIMB: Masterplan (Alignment)•6 minutes
- ‘B’ of CLIMB: Build slowly, for long-term•7 minutes
- CLIMB for the Future•7 minutes
8 readings•Total 80 minutes
- Essential Reading: Aditya Kumar (Case Study)•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: CLIMB Workbook •10 minutes
- Essential Reading: Navigating Career Transition•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: Navigating a Career Transition: Strategies for Growth and Clarity•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: The First 90 Days•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Learn to Navigate Key Career Transitions•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: 5 Tips for Changing Careers•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Psychological Issues at Mid-career•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 85 minutes
- Graded Quiz•40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
This module explores how Executive Presence (EP) and personal brand building contribute to career growth and leadership readiness. It focuses on aligning your authentic self with strong communication, confidence, and strategic thinking to build trust and influence. You will learn practical ways to enhance your visibility, stand out, and communicate a compelling personal brand that goes beyond technical skills.
What's included
15 videos7 readings4 assignments
15 videos•Total 113 minutes
- Architecture of a Personal Brand•6 minutes
- The Psychology of First Impressions•7 minutes
- Authority and Expertise Signalling•6 minutes
- Storytelling and Narrative Identity•6 minutes
- Social Proof & Building Credibility Networks•6 minutes
- The Myth of Meritocracy•5 minutes
- Personal Qualities that Build Power: Will •7 minutes
- Personal Qualities that Build Power: Skill•7 minutes
- Standing Out and Breaking Some Rules•12 minutes
- Play Your Power Game Carefully•11 minutes
- What Leaders Project?•10 minutes
- High-Power Body Language•9 minutes
- Digital Presence and Online Personal Branding•7 minutes
- Consistency, Commitment & the Reputation Flywheel•7 minutes
- Your 90-day Brand Plan•8 minutes
7 readings•Total 70 minutes
- Essential Reading: Why Personal Branding Matters More Than Ever Today?•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: The ABC’s of Executive Presence•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Personal Branding at Work•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: How David beats Goliath•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: How AM Naik Saved L&T from Takeover Attempt by Ambani and Birla Group Without Losing Them as Customers•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Mehrabian’s Communication Theory•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Reliance Didn’t Pay Tax for 30 Years Due to Legal Loopholes•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 85 minutes
- Graded Quiz•40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
This module uses the case of Ricardo Semler of Semco to explore how leaders shape organisational culture, drive mindset shifts, and lead change. It highlights how Semler transformed his organisation by building a high-trust, democratic workplace. Learners will understand the leadership philosophy, actions, and systems that enabled sustained performance and scalability, and gain insights into creating people-centric, future-ready organisations.
What's included
16 videos7 readings4 assignments
16 videos•Total 89 minutes
- Background to the Case•5 minutes
- Succession and Early Autocracy: 1980-1984•5 minutes
- Wave One: Dignity and Transparency (1985-1988)•4 minutes
- Wave Two: Self-Management and Democracy (1989-1993)•6 minutes
- Wave Three: Scaling and Diversification (1993-2003)•5 minutes
- Three Leadership Phases•6 minutes
- Core Leadership Behaviors•6 minutes
- Leadership Lessons•5 minutes
- Engineering Trust Culture at Scale•5 minutes
- Cultural Comparison: Before and After•7 minutes
- First Set of Core Practices •6 minutes
- Second Set of Core Practices •5 minutes
- Third Set of Core Practices •5 minutes
- Key Management Principles•6 minutes
- Key Management Principles: Systems•7 minutes
- Is this replicable?•6 minutes
7 readings•Total 70 minutes
- Essential Reading: Ricardo Semler Case Study •10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: The Big Company that Has No Rules•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: Ricardo Semler Won’t Take Control•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: TED Talk by Ricardo Semler•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Semco Style Institute•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Ricardo Semler Does Things Differently•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: What is Adaptive Leadership?•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 85 minutes
- Graded Quiz •40 minutes
- Practice Quiz •15 minutes
- Practice Quiz •15 minutes
- Practice Quiz •15 minutes
This module explores the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Festival as a powerful case study in large-scale execution and leadership. It examines how a temporary city for millions was created in a short span through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and a shared vision. Learners will gain insights into leadership principles, organisational design, and high-trust cultures that enable extraordinary outcomes, and understand how these lessons can be applied across diverse organisational contexts.
What's included
17 videos12 readings4 assignments
17 videos•Total 106 minutes
- About BAPS•6 minutes
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj (PSM)•5 minutes
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav•7 minutes
- Interesting Facts•8 minutes
- Achievements•8 minutes
- The Leadership•7 minutes
- Work as ‘Sewa’•4 minutes
- Dedicated ‘Volunteer’ Workforce •8 minutes
- Accountability to ‘Volunteer’ Workforce•7 minutes
- Management of Work ‘Sewa’•7 minutes
- ‘Sewa’ is a Spiritual Phenomenon•7 minutes
- ‘Sewa’ creates Hierarchy-Less Organisation•5 minutes
- ‘Sewa’ Creates High-Trust Organisation•5 minutes
- ‘Sewa’-based Organisational Design•5 minutes
- High-Performance Reinforces ‘Sewa’ •6 minutes
- ‘Sewa’ and Ancient Indian Wisdom•6 minutes
- Course Summary•6 minutes
12 readings•Total 120 minutes
- Essential Reading: PSM Case Study•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl•10 minutes
- Essential Reading: Building Hindu Rashtra Through Seva•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: PSM Nagar Introduction•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: Design Elements•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: The Glimpses of Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar•10 minutes
- Reference Watch: Dignitaries Refection•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav: Event Scale•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav: Service Orientation, People Management and Leadership•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Seva: The Sacred Practice of Selfless Service in Hindu Philosophy•10 minutes
- Recommended Reading: Concept of Sewa•10 minutes
4 assignments•Total 85 minutes
- Graded Quiz•40 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
- Practice Quiz•15 minutes
Instructor

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The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is a premier, global management Institute that is at the forefront of promoting excellence in the field of management education. Over the 60 years of its existence, it has been acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to scholarship, practice and policy through its distinctive teaching, high-quality research, nurturing future leaders, supporting industry, government, social enterprise and creating a progressive impact on society.
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