COML 504 - Organizational Communication
Dr. David Givens, Summer 2020
This class was my second in the ORGL progression, and I found the content to be relevant and immediately useful within my professional life. One of the course objectives was to help students establish a framework or system to assess the communication effectiveness within organizations. The audit tool is valuable to our organization, and I have expanded its use in other departments. With employee feedback and continuous refinement, our communication skills and employee satisfaction will continue to improve.
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Key Takeaways: The communication audit: appreciation for the work it takes to create, administer, evaluate, and plan for future improvement. Humility in acknowledging and better understanding our communication weaknesses. Inspiration to communicate more effectively and engage with a broader spectrum of staff ideas.
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Artifact: Communication Audit. I utilized this audit as a baseline tool for determining patterns in communication that developed into part of my capstone project.
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Click here for the artifact.
COML 511 - Communication, Consulting & Training
Dr. Andrea McCracken, Fall 2021
I initially enrolled in this course to learn about becoming an effective consultant, as I desire to help others develop strategic plans for small and medium-sized businesses more effectively. Instead, this course gave me a foundation for creating training courses and an enhanced appreciation for working with a team. The team activity reaffirmed my belief in the value of diversity in project development. We were able to creatively utilize each individual's gifts and life experience as we developed, organized, and delivered our training module. The sum of our contributions was by far greater than what we could have achieved on our own.
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Key Takeaways: The experience allowed me to appreciate a truly collaborative process in project development that I have used repeatedly in my professional life since this class. We were able to utilize the technical and organizational aspects of training and create a framework for training module design. Additionally, the design of each system of training addressed Silberman's Three Major Ingredients of Any Design: Objective, method, and format. (2015, p. 163). Each trainer displayed relatable interpersonal qualities and created an atmosphere of enjoyable learning and trust. Positive interpersonal qualities combined with effective technical and organizational structure made these sessions valuable and memorable.
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Artifact: Consulting & Training Portfolio. This portfolio is utilized as a model for beginning the capstone portfolio.
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Click here for the artifact.
COML 530 - Women, Communication & Leadership
Dr. Carolyn Cunningham, Fall 2021
The purpose of this course was to examine gender differences in leadership styles and efficacy and specific communication issues women face in attaining and retaining leadership positions. I learned a great deal about perceptions based on gender identity and refined my sensitivity for those who may have different perceptions and experiences. I am also more self-aware about my body language, voice inflection and habits I have formed over my life that may reinforce gender bias and hinder my effectiveness in leadership and communication.
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Key Takeaways: One significant revelation from this course was the recognition of gender bias in myself. I did not realize that I had gender preferences in hiring for specific positions and even in the leadership of certain areas of our business. I expected to gain insight into how I could more effectively communicate and navigate leadership challenges associated with my gender. I did not expect to gain so much understanding, encouragement, and spectrum of thought from a single online class.
I better understand the complexities of gender issues and growth/change within our culture and feel I can be a more positive influence on eliminating bias within our organization, beginning with the hiring process.
ORGL 523 - Psychology of Leadership
Dr. Joe Albert, Fall 2020
This course was engaging, interactive, and enjoyable. Dr. Albert was an excellent storyteller and helped us navigate the themes of leadership and personality, emotional intelligence, and attachment theory. Understanding my leadership role's psychological challenges will allow me to adapt as challenges arise from those who behave in ways that affect productivity within our organization.
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Key Takeaways: Acknowledging that I have to work on my feelings of shame and perceived lack of value to avoid the "shark music." The EQ assessment was an interesting exercise and gave me an additional perspective to address potential leadership challenges under stress. The final reflection was an exercise in humility and digging deep into negative thoughts and feelings that have been under the surface for years. Discussion regarding generational tendencies and how to move younger workers toward more intrinsic motivation at work was valuable. Storytelling is key here; find the personal connections and motivators to build that intrinsic value.
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Artifact: EQ Assessment. Utilized in my introduction for the supervisor’s training module within my capstone as a tool to display vulnerability and imperfection to gain trust.
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Click here for the artifact.
ORGL 532 - Leadership, Justice & Forgiveness
Dr. Shann Ray Ferch, Summer 2021
Dr. Ferch focused mainly on the forgiveness aspect of leadership. He wanted us to understand the emotional discipline better that it takes to forgive in the face of atrocity (or lesser offenses). His readings and assignments pushed us to recognize and practice admitting fault (or responsibility) and focus on restorative, rather than retributive justice in finding and working toward peace.
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Key Takeaways: The capacity to forgive in the face of atrocity or wrong committed is beautiful and full of strength. Looking at two examples, The Count of Monte Cristo and Holocaust victims' capacity to choose forgiveness over dwelling in misery and vengeance is inspiring. I realized that every attempt to correct harmful behavior is positive and life-affirming, no matter my perception of relevance. Seeking forgiveness for a word spoken in frustration can build incremental trust and not be discounted. I will practice sharpening my awareness for even these tiny incidents to convey that I genuinely care and value the dignity and feelings of those in my sphere of influence.
ORGL 600 - Foundations of Leadership
Dr. Michael Carey, Dr. Dung Tran, Fall 2020
Although participating in this class was much like drinking from a fire hose, I have come to appreciate the course content and reference material as valuable resources in my work-life and throughout my ORGL journey. I found myself with the means to better define my leadership style, the ability to define my leadership philosophy more fully, and engage in thoughtful reflection on other situationally appropriate approaches.
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Key Takeaways: The value of humility and the ability to look at oneself to examine weakness and make continuous improvement. My leadership philosophy will continue to evolve with experience, wisdom, and consistent space to reflect. This was also an important introduction to writing in APA format.
ORGL 605 - Imagine, Create, Lead
Dr. Josh Armstrong, Dr. Michael Carey, Dr. Tina Geithner,
Dr. Dung Tran, Spring 2020
605 was my first class in the ORGL curriculum. It was instrumental in forming my belief that creativity and nurturing the spirit are as important as theory and structure when studying and practicing leadership. The on-campus experience allowed me to connect with the class and creative concepts of working together, using imagination, touch, and reflection.
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Key Takeaways: Pentimento (to see and see again), getting off the dance floor and onto the balcony, recognizing the importance of the "first follower." Looking at the same situation after taking the time to reflect can allow you to see new possibilities. Thinking of leadership like being a conductor: the conductor brings the components of the orchestra together to give the audience a performance that provides an emotional connection. Everyone (musicians and audience) is pulled into the experience.
ORGL 610 - Communication & Leadership Ethics
Dr. Nich Whittington, Spring 2021
This course was a good reminder that many decisions require us to call on our ethical integrity. However, we must be conscious of those who have different life experiences and cultural backgrounds from which they draw their sense of right and wrong. Utilizing communication skills to apply empathy in situational ethics can help us better understand a broad spectrum of experience.
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Key Takeaways: Appreciation and recognition of other perspectives and moral "right" basis. Different life experiences can give us a different view of what is "right". Learning to effectively utilize dialogic communication to support my values, while also avoiding the marginalization of others' views. Conscious use of Potters Box helps create a systematic process for moral reasoning, and Rest's Four Component Model can assist in developing ethical actions/solutions to moral dilemmas. Give a voice to my core values and consider them carefully in each action taken within my home, organization, and community: Live an undivided life in the tragic gap.
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Artifact: Personal Ethics Narrative. This assignment’s script is included as it was key in helping me frame my own values and ethics as I created the Values Based Leader training for my Capstone project.
Click here for the artifact.
ORGL 615 - Organizational Theory & Behavior
Dr. Michael Aucoin, Spring 2021
This course provided me with a logical approach to problem-solving and identifying systems within our organization. It was one of the most challenging courses in the curriculum and was compounded in difficulty as I lost my father mid-way through the course. Dr. Aucoin was patient and kind in helping me sort through emotions and encouraged me not to give up. Working in teams for the Everest summit and the case study taught the effects of decision-making on the team's results.
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Key Takeaways: Application of systems thinking to a real-life scenario. Dr. Aucoin advises "giving yourself grace" in times of difficulty…his advice was life-changing for me. Gaining a better understanding of the impact of actions and decisions from systems thinking perspective. The experience of the Mount Everest summit was memorable and reinforced the value of balancing individual goals with the group's goals.
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Artifact: Systems Thinking Journal assignment. This artifact is included as it will be an “add-on” training module to my capstone following the completion of this course. I consider it a crucial piece of education that will assist our team in seeing each task, procedure and activity as part of a system that we can break down, analyze and improve.
Click here for the artifact.
ORGL 620 - Capstone, Leadership Seminar
Dr. Barbra Kingsley, Dr. Adrian Popa, Spring 2022
This course is the culmination of all efforts in the ORGL program. Designed as a space for reflection on learning over the past two years, we were asked to develop a leadership project that utilized the competencies gained throughout this journey. I chose a project that would benefit the culture and communication of my current organization.
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Key Takeaways: A grateful, humble heart that knows I have a great deal to learn. I am at peace with the knowledge that throughout a lifetime of learning, listening, and reflection, I will continue to stretch and grow, helping others along the way.
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Artifacts: Powerpoint Slides and Handouts from my Leadership Project can be found on the Capstone page.