About Course
Leadership & Team Building
Leadership and team building are essential pillars of any successful organization. Effective leadership inspires vision, drives performance, and fosters a positive culture, while strong teams ensure collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Together, they create a foundation where individuals feel valued, motivated, and empowered to contribute toward common goals.
In leadership, emotional intelligence, clear communication, and decision-making are crucial traits. Great leaders lead by example, provide guidance, and adapt to challenges while encouraging growth and ownership among team members. Team building focuses on trust, alignment, and collaboration, aiming to create cohesive groups that function efficiently under shared values and objectives.
Whether you’re managing a startup or leading a large department, mastering leadership and team-building skills is key to scaling success and cultivating a thriving workplace environment.
What Will You Learn?
- Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek
- Leadership is about creating trust, collaboration, and a safe environment for teams to thrive. Great leaders prioritize the well-being of their team members.
- Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
- Leaders take full responsibility for their team’s successes and failures. Leadership requires discipline, accountability, and the ability to lead by example.
- The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John C. Maxwell
- Effective leadership is built on foundational principles, including influence, integrity, and the ability to serve others. Leadership is not about authority but the ability to inspire and empower.
- Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
- True leadership is grounded in vulnerability, empathy, and courage. Leaders must embrace uncertainty and lead with authenticity and integrity.
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
- Teams struggle when they lack trust, avoid conflict, and fail to hold each other accountable. Building a cohesive, high-performing team requires addressing these dysfunctions.
- Drive – Daniel H. Pink
- Motivation is driven by autonomy, mastery, and purpose. To inspire high performance, leaders must create environments that support these intrinsic motivators.
- Multipliers – Liz Wiseman
- Great leaders amplify the intelligence and capabilities of their teams. By fostering a culture of growth, challenge, and ownership, leaders can multiply their team’s impact.
- Good to Great – Jim Collins
- Companies that make the leap to greatness do so by focusing on leadership, people, discipline, and creating a long-term vision rooted in passion, talent, and performance.
- Principles – Ray Dalio
- Effective decision-making is based on clear, tested principles. Radical transparency and the pursuit of truth in every decision lead to better outcomes for individuals and organizations.
- Radical Candor – Kim Scott
- Great leaders show that they care personally while challenging directly. Honest feedback, delivered with empathy, is essential for improving team performance and building trust.
- Each of these books offers valuable insights on leadership, team dynamics, and personal growth, encouraging leaders to lead with clarity, compassion, and a focus on empowering others.
Course Content
Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek
Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek
In Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek explores what makes great leaders and thriving organizations. His core message revolves around the idea that exceptional leaders prioritize the well-being of their teams. Drawing inspiration from the military tradition where leaders eat after their soldiers, Sinek explains that true leadership is about service, trust, and creating a safe environment where people feel valued.
Key themes include:
The Circle of Safety: Great leaders create a space where employees feel secure, not just physically but emotionally. This encourages collaboration, loyalty, and innovation.
Biology of Leadership: Sinek delves into the brain chemicals—endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin—that influence how people behave in teams. He explains how strong leadership activates positive chemicals, while fear-based leadership triggers stress hormones like cortisol.
Servant Leadership: Leaders who put their people first build stronger, more resilient organizations. They gain loyalty and trust by protecting and empowering their teams.
Culture Over Profits: A sustainable and human-centered workplace culture often outperforms short-term, profit-driven strategies.
Leaders Eat Last is a call to lead with empathy, integrity, and courage—focusing not on power or personal gain, but on the success and security of the people you lead.
Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
Extreme Ownership is a powerful leadership book written by former Navy SEAL officers Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Drawing from their battlefield experiences, the authors lay out fundamental leadership principles that are as applicable in the business world as they are in combat.
Core Concepts:
Extreme Ownership: Leaders must take full responsibility for everything in their domain—no excuses, no blame-shifting. If a team fails, the leader owns it and finds a way to fix it.
No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders: The performance of a team reflects its leadership. Strong leaders set the tone, uphold standards, and create a culture of accountability and resilience.
Cover and Move: This principle emphasizes teamwork and support—departments or individuals must collaborate and cover each other to achieve the overall mission.
Simple, Clear Communication: Complexity leads to confusion. Leaders must communicate plans and expectations in a clear and understandable way.
Discipline Equals Freedom: Strict discipline in planning, execution, and mindset leads to greater freedom in decision-making and performance.
Why It Matters:
Extreme Ownership is more than just a leadership philosophy—it’s a mindset. Whether you're leading a team, managing a business, or striving for personal growth, the principles taught in this book can help you build trust, make better decisions, and become a leader others want to follow.
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John C. Maxwell
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John C. Maxwell
John C. Maxwell’s The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is a foundational book for anyone looking to grow as a leader. With practical insights and real-world examples, Maxwell outlines 21 timeless principles that define effective leadership.
Key Laws Highlighted:
The Law of the Lid – Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness. To grow your organization, you must first grow yourself as a leader.
The Law of Influence – True leadership cannot be mandated; it is earned through influence, not position.
The Law of Process – Leadership develops daily, not in a day. It's a journey of continuous improvement and learning.
The Law of Respect – People naturally follow leaders who are stronger and more competent than themselves.
The Law of Addition – Leaders add value by serving others, not themselves.
The Law of Solid Ground – Trust is the foundation of leadership. Integrity and consistency build that trust.
The Law of Legacy – A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession—what and who they leave behind.
Why It’s Valuable:
Maxwell’s book serves as a practical guide for both new and seasoned leaders. Each law is presented with clear examples and actionable takeaways, making it easy to reflect, assess, and apply to any leadership context—whether in business, community, or personal growth.
Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
In Dare to Lead, Brené Brown explores the power of courage, vulnerability, and empathy in leadership. She challenges traditional ideas of leadership rooted in control and perfectionism, advocating instead for authenticity and connection.
Core Concepts:
Vulnerability is Strength: Brown redefines vulnerability as the birthplace of innovation, trust, and creativity. Great leaders are not afraid to be seen, to admit mistakes, and to ask for help.
Courageous Leadership: Real leadership is about daring to show up and lead even when the outcome is uncertain. Courage trumps comfort.
Rumbling with Tough Conversations: Leaders must lean into difficult conversations with honesty and compassion. Avoiding discomfort can hinder progress and trust.
Living Your Values: Integrity means aligning actions with core values. Effective leaders identify, model, and reinforce values in their organizations.
Building Trust: Trust is built in small moments. Leaders must be consistent, reliable, and generous in their relationships.
Why It Matters:
Dare to Lead is a powerful call to humanize leadership. It equips leaders with the emotional intelligence, communication skills, and resilience needed to inspire teams, foster innovation, and create inclusive, brave spaces. This book is essential for anyone looking to lead with heart and purpose in today’s evolving world.
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Patrick Lencioni
Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team outlines a powerful framework for understanding why teams often struggle and how leaders can foster a culture of trust and collaboration to overcome these barriers.
The Five Dysfunctions:
Absence of Trust – Without vulnerability and openness, team members avoid being honest, leading to guarded communication.
Fear of Conflict – Teams that lack trust avoid healthy debates, resulting in artificial harmony and unresolved issues.
Lack of Commitment – Without open dialogue and buy-in, decisions lack clarity and unity, and commitment suffers.
Avoidance of Accountability – When there’s no commitment, team members are less likely to hold themselves and others accountable for results.
Inattention to Results – Personal success and ego take priority over collective team outcomes.
Why It’s Important:
This book is essential for leaders who want to strengthen team dynamics and drive performance. Lencioni uses a compelling story-based format to illustrate how real change begins with trust, and how teams that address these dysfunctions can achieve remarkable synergy and success. It’s a practical, insightful guide for building high-functioning teams in any organization.
Drive – Daniel H. Pink
Drive – Daniel H. Pink
Daniel H. Pink’s Drive explores what truly motivates people—and it’s not just rewards and punishments. Drawing on decades of research, Pink argues that the key to high performance and satisfaction at work, school, and home is the human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create, and to contribute to something bigger than ourselves.
Core Principles of Motivation 3.0:
Autonomy – People want control over their work and decisions. Giving team members freedom leads to higher engagement and innovation.
Mastery – We are motivated to get better at things that matter. Environments that support learning and growth increase persistence and productivity.
Purpose – Connecting work to a larger mission inspires individuals to go above and beyond. Meaningful work fuels long-term motivation.
Why It Matters:
Drive debunks outdated management tactics and offers a fresh approach to motivating people in the 21st century. It’s a must-read for leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to build empowered teams, create fulfilling work environments, and drive lasting performance.
Multipliers – Liz Wiseman
Multipliers – Liz Wiseman
Liz Wiseman’s Multipliers reveals how the best leaders amplify the intelligence and capabilities of those around them. Instead of being the smartest person in the room, great leaders make everyone smarter by fostering growth, collaboration, and independent thinking.
Key Concepts:
Multipliers vs. Diminishers
Multipliers bring out the best in their teams, encouraging innovation and ownership.
Diminishers, even unintentionally, stifle potential by micromanaging or overshadowing others.
The Five Disciplines of Multipliers
Talent Magnet: Attracts and optimizes talent.
Liberator: Creates a safe, high-performing environment.
Challenger: Pushes people to go beyond what they think is possible.
Debate Maker: Encourages rigorous thinking and sound decisions.
Investor: Gives ownership and holds people accountable.
Accidental Diminishers
Even well-intentioned leaders can fall into traps that suppress team performance—like always jumping in with answers or overprotecting the team.
Why It’s Valuable:
Multipliers is a game-changing guide for leaders who want to unlock the full potential of their teams. It offers actionable insights into how small shifts in leadership behavior can drive massive improvements in performance, engagement, and innovation. Perfect for managers, executives, and team leads aiming to inspire rather than control.
Good to Great – Jim Collins
Good to Great – Jim Collins
In Good to Great, Jim Collins examines why some companies make the leap from being merely good to truly great—and how most fail to do so. Based on years of rigorous research, the book identifies the key traits and practices that distinguish top-performing companies.
Key Concepts:
Level 5 Leadership
Great leaders combine humility with intense professional will. They prioritize the company’s success over personal recognition.
First Who, Then What
Get the right people on the bus before deciding where to drive it. Great teams precede great strategies.
The Hedgehog Concept
Focus on what you’re best at, what drives your economic engine, and what you’re deeply passionate about.
Confront the Brutal Facts
Acknowledge harsh realities without losing faith. Honest dialogue leads to smarter decisions.
The Flywheel Effect
Greatness doesn’t happen overnight. Small, consistent efforts build momentum over time.
Why It Matters:
Good to Great is essential for leaders and entrepreneurs aiming to build sustainable, high-performing organizations. It provides a roadmap based on real-world evidence and enduring principles that can transform businesses, nonprofits, and even personal careers from mediocrity to excellence.
Principles – Ray Dalio
Principles – Ray Dalio
Principles by Ray Dalio shares the guiding philosophies that helped him build Bridgewater Associates into one of the world’s most successful investment firms. The book blends personal insights with practical advice on decision-making, leadership, and life management.
Key Concepts:
Radical Transparency
Embrace openness and honesty in communication—truth and transparency lead to trust and better decisions.
Radical Truth
Always seek the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Clear thinking comes from facing reality head-on.
Principled Decision-Making
Use data, reflection, and tested principles to make consistent, objective decisions.
Meritocracy of Ideas
Encourage input from everyone and let the best ideas rise—regardless of seniority or ego.
Fail Well and Learn
Mistakes are opportunities for growth. Systematically analyze them and create principles to avoid repeating them.
Why It Matters:
Principles is a playbook for individuals and leaders who want to live and lead with intention. It’s especially powerful for entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone seeking to improve their thinking, relationships, and results through a structured, principled approach to life and work.
Radical Candor – Kim Scott
Radical Candor – Kim Scott
In Radical Candor, Kim Scott introduces a management philosophy that emphasizes the importance of caring personally while challenging directly. It’s about being honest with your team while showing empathy, which leads to better communication, stronger relationships, and improved team performance.
Key Concepts:
Radical Candor
Combine directness and care. Leaders who practice radical candor give honest feedback with genuine concern for their team members.
Obnoxious Aggression
Giving direct feedback without caring about the person can come off as harsh and unhelpful, creating tension.
Ruinous Empathy
Caring for someone but avoiding giving tough feedback leads to underperformance and missed opportunities for growth.
Manipulative Insincerity
Neither giving honest feedback nor caring, which can result in passive-aggressive behavior and undermines trust.
Building Trust through Feedback
Creating an environment where feedback flows freely and is received constructively helps teams thrive.
Why It Matters:
Radical Candor provides actionable tools for leaders who want to foster a culture of openness, trust, and growth. By focusing on both results and relationships, it helps teams communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts, and drive performance. This book is ideal for anyone looking to lead with authenticity and create a high-performing, engaged team.
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