Audacious Leadership

The Audacious Leadership unit (MPM702) will be running again from 21 to 28 October 2012. If you would like to register for the program, please email your details to Vicki Daley, vicki.daley@deakin.edu.au

This is an adventure-based unit in leadership. It uses principles of experiential learning to illuminate theories and models. It aims to provide a practical understanding of audacity. An audacious leader is likely to be adventurous, fearless, intrepid, bold, daring. We expect to see chutzpah and nerve on display. Such qualities can achieve great things and confer charisma on the leader. At its best, audacity is paired with self-awareness, humility, good judgement and a deep understanding of how people respond to the tasks of leading and being led.

The Audacious Leadership unit will challenge habits of perception and reaction, allowing participants to gain insight into their own leadership, its strengths to be built on, and its weaknesses to be made sound. The adventure planned for 2012 is a voyage in the sail training ship Windeward Bound.

The ship provides a working metaphor for an organisational system. Its effective running demands answers to leadership questions such as: 'What is the sum total of human energy available in the system? What proportion of this energy is currently being used? What kinds of energy (physical, intellectual, psychic, moral, artistic, technical, social) are represented? What might be done to release this energy for accomplishing greater goals for the system and the individuals in it?'

Permanent members of the ship's company will ensure the safety of the ship and train participants in seamanship during the voyage. This will include sail handling, steering, coastal navigation and general work aloft and about the decks. As the voyage progresses, participants will take increasing responsibility for leadership and for handling the ship. At the conclusion of the voyage participants will be competent hands.

Assessment in this unit comprises a leadership learning plan 20%, a leadership learning portfolio 30% and a critical essay of 3000 words 50%.

Places are strictly limited.

Note:
Students are advised that conditions at sea can be challenging and some participants may become ill. Generally people recover naturally and quickly. Seasickness medication is not recommended while on board the ship as it can make the sufferer drowsy. Please bear this in mind when considering enrolment in this program.

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