UCL School of Management

Module Fact Sheet

MSING021: Leadership and Communication

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This is a past version of this module for MSING021 17/18.
Click here for the current version.
Taught by
Gillian Lacey-Solymar
Level
Masters
Prerequisites
None
Eligibility
SOM MRes/PhD, SOM PGT affiliates, EMPA, Masters from all departments
Terms
Term 2
Delivery method
3-hour block of lectures and seminars (x 10 weeks)
Assessment
100% coursework

Course overview

This module prepares students to understand and apply the persuasive principles behind the leadership communication process. It gives students the opportunity to practise and develop their own leadership communication skills through both the study of theory, the application of these theories through analysis and practice. There are many examples discussed and many opportunities to practise.

The module is delivered through weekly lectures. In the first part topics are introduced and discussed. The second part consists of practical workshops aimed at developing leadership communication skills.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Appreciate the key concepts of leadership

  • Understand how much successful leadership depends upon excellent communication

  • Grasp the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication in the leadership process

  • Critically appraise different key rhetorical principles in the leadership process

  • Understand the key role of rhetoric in the process of communicating leadership

  • Understand the importance of personality, emotions and arguments in persuasion

  • Apply the persuasive process to different genres and scenarios

  • Develop a repertoire of stylistic choices to enhance the persuasive process in leadership situations

  • Deliver persuasive and truthful leadership messages

Topics covered

  • Introduction to leadership and communication
  • An overview of leadership theories
  • The roles of power, ethics and authenticity
  • Ethos: personality and stance
  • Pathos: emotional engagement
  • Logos: models of argument
  • Structuring rhetoric.
  • The role of storytelling, metaphors and other figures of speech
  • The persuasive repertoire: putting it all together
  • Delivering a persuasive speech in a leadership context

Assessment summary

100% coursework comprising the following elements:

50% consists of a group 2,000-word paper

50% consists of a 500-word persuasive speech written by the student, and to be delivered in person.

Essential reading

Cockcroft, R. & S. Cockcroft (2014) Persuading People: An Introduction to Rhetoric. 3rd Edition. New York: Palgrave.

Past versions of this module

MSING021 17/18

MSING021 16/17

Last updated Tuesday, 18 December 2018