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Course Description
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Course Name
Leadership with Humour: Using Humour to Lead Yourself and Others
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Host University
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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Location
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Area of Study
Communication Studies, Public Relations
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Language Level
Taught In English
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Course Level Recommendations
Upper
ISA offers course level recommendations in an effort to facilitate the determination of course levels by credential evaluators.We advice each institution to have their own credentials evaluator make the final decision regrading course levels.
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ECTS Credits
3 -
Recommended U.S. Semester Credits3
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Recommended U.S. Quarter Units4
Hours & Credits
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Overview
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Developing humour skills (from humour appreciation to curating, producing, improvising, and knowing when to abstain from humour) is becoming a key interpersonal competence for accomplished leaders. This course aims not only to equip participants with research-based knowledge of types of humour and their different effects in leadership, but also with the ability to free their creativity and to practice with creating and using humour in leadership circumstances.
"I am just not that funny" is what many managers still say today, when asked whether they use humour at work. Only 50 years ago, managers would have similarly thrown their hands in the air and said, "I'm just not a born leader!". We know today that leadership can be developed. It is time to embrace the notion that humour can be developed too.
Participants will learn about the several types of humour and their effects on follower and organisational outcomes, about the psychological antecedents of humour, about factors that influence how humour is received by various audiences. They will practice with releasing their own creativity, deconstructing and reconstructing jokes, preparing a humour-supported business presentation, improvising with humour in direct interactions. They will learn to avoid common traps presented by humour in a work context, to master verbal and nonverbal humour and to create a "personal humour style" that fits their own personality and preferences.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Have a complete understanding of frameworks applicable to humour in leadership, its antecedents and outcomes, and conditions under which it may misfire.
- Have enhanced self-confidence about being able to develop their humour abilities and the practical tools to do so.
- Have a deeper understanding of their own "humour style" in connection with a deeper understanding of themselves as (future) leaders.
- Be more effective communicators and influencers in a leadership context.
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, Case discussions, Exercises, Simulations and Presentations.
TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
In-class participation: 20%
Simulation 20%
Written assignments 30%
Individual presentation 30%