This module supports your exploration and development of critical self-knowledge in leading yourself and others. It draws on a range of leadership approaches, including those specific to education and broader frameworks applicable across contexts. You will engage with literature, tools, and structured reflection to deepen insight into your assumptions and leadership identity.

Key perspectives include Authentic Leadership (Avolio et al., 2009), Total Leadership (Friedman, 2014), and self-leadership, defined as a process of self-influence focused on motivation and direction for personal growth (Neck et al., 2019).

The Primary Colours Framework (Pendleton et al., 2021) is used to explore leadership tasks and the concept of the incomplete leader. The module responds to the increasing complexity of educational environments by helping you examine how your strengths, values, and characteristics shape your leadership.

You will develop greater self-awareness and understanding of how you contribute to leadership situations, while recognising diverse approaches to leading self and others. Structured around critical self-reflection, the module encourages exploration of leadership identity and how others perceive you.

Weekly activities introduce key concepts alongside reflective tools. You will reflect on insights, engage in discussion forums, and build on peers’ perspectives. This reflective cycle supports your assessment and development of key leadership competencies.

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Critically evaluate the theory and practice of self-leadership.
2. Analyse self-leadership in your specific educational and professional context.
3. Develop a personal leadership plan.

Learning and teaching

This is a fully asynchronous module, with all materials and communication on our online learning platform Blackboard. Occasional module drop ins which are communicated on Blackboard announcements during modules.

This involves self-directed study and participation in online activities (12-18 hours per week) with the support of an online tutor. You will have access to the course materials for 8 weeks.

International students

This module is available to international students. Please see English language proficiency requirements below.

Assessment

There will be formative and summative assessments. You can also elect to take the module as non-assessed. 

If you are interested in taking this module as non-assessed, please get in touch at pd@uwe.ac.uk. Please be aware this means you would receive no evidence of completion of any kind (no certificate, credit or “confirmation of attendance"). Often, employers do not want to sponsor individuals to take a module as non-assessed as they would not receive confirmation that individual had attended.