Agile Leadership Principles and Practices

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Agile Leadership Principles and Practices

This course is part of Agile Project Management Specialization

Instructor: John Johnson

Included with

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Optimize contribution and performance across all roles of your Agile team with Agile Principles and Practices
Practice with real-world approaches and tools for managing and facilitating decisions, interactions, and environments for optimal team performance.
Develop an agile mindset—embrace transparency, adaptability, and continuous learning to create high-performing teams and navigate change

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

26 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Agile Project Management Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

Develop Agile Leadership skills. Master change management, evolve leadership theories, and Agile principles to drive collaboration, empower teams, and lead effectively in dynamic environments.

This Agile Leadership Principles course takes you from foundational leadership concepts to advanced agile practices. You’ll explore how modern leadership values collaboration, continuous improvement, and empowering teams. Learn to facilitate self-organizing teams, delegate effectively, and align your team around shared goals. The course covers evolving leadership theories, the difference between leadership and management, and how agile integrates the best of modern leadership practices. Understand key agile roles like Scrum Master and Product Owner to lead projects smoothly and foster a motivated, autonomous team environment. Designed for new and experienced leaders, this course emphasizes developing an agile mindset—embracing transparency, adaptability, and continuous learning. By the end, you’ll be ready to create high-performing teams, improve decision-making, and navigate change with agility. Join now to transform your leadership approach and make a lasting impact in your organization.

The first week of this course jumps right into our traditional notions of leadership, defining the concept, the characteristics of a leader, the science of leadership, and the styles that exist today across master and servant models (Primal Leadership, Team Leadership, Situational Leadership, and Transformational Leadership).

What's included

7 videos22 readings6 assignments

7 videos Total 53 minutes

1.0.1 Introduction to Agile Leadership 2 minutes
1.1.1 Agile Leadership Question Video 11 minutes
1.2.1 Defining Leadership Video 3 minutes
1.3.1 Traditional Models of Leadership 12 minutes
1.4.1 Modern Leadership Part 1 7 minutes
1.4.1 Modern Leadership Part 2 9 minutes
1.5.1 Agile Leadership Video 9 minutes

22 readings Total 42 minutes

Orientation and Welcome 2 minutes
Course Syllabus 2 minutes
1.1.0 Leading Into Agile Leadership 1 minute
1.1.2 Agile Leadership Summary Points 4 minutes
1.1.4 Agile Leadership Question References 1 minute
1.2.0 Prep for Defining Leadership 1 minute
1.2.2 Defining Leadership Summary Points 2 minutes
1.2.4 Defining Leadership References 1 minute
1.3.0 Prep for Traditional Leadership 1 minute
1.3.2 Traditional Leadership Summary Points 6 minutes
1.3.4 Traditional Leadership References 1 minute
1.4.0 Prep for Modern Leadership 1 minute
1.4.2 Modern Leadership 5 minutes
1.4.4 Modern Leadership References 1 minute
1.5.0 Prep for Agile Leadership 1 minute
1.5.2 Agile Leadership Summary Points 5 minutes
1.5.4 Agile Leadership References 1 minute
Join an Information Session 1 minute
Continue Your Education with UMD! 1 minute
Course Slides Available Below! 1 minute
Opportunity to Verify! Don't Wait! 1 minute
Is a Master’s in Product Management Right for You? 2 minutes

6 assignments Total 25 minutes

1.1.3 Agile Leadership Question Knowledge Check 2 minutes
1.2.3 Defining Leadership Knowledge Checks 2 minutes
1.3.3 Traditional Leadership Knowledge Check 2 minutes
1.4.3 Modern Leadership Knowledge Check 2 minutes
1.5.3 Agile Leadership Knowledge Check 2 minutes
Week 1 Quiz Problems 15 minutes

The second week exposes the reasoning behind servant leadership as the optimal approach and how old philosophies and “modern psychology” reinforce the need for leaders to empower teams. Gamification and the power of play are emphasized to ensure optimal contribution and performance across roles on the scaled Agile teams.

What's included

6 videos19 readings6 assignments

6 videos Total 40 minutes

2.0.1 Week 2 Introduction Video 2 minutes
2.1.1 Agile Leader's Process Video 6 minutes
2.2.1 Framing Purpose 7 minutes
2.3.1 Adapting to Agile Video 8 minutes
2.4.1 Power of Play Video 7 minutes
2.5.1 Mastery, Autonomy, Purpose Video 10 minutes

19 readings Total 32 minutes

2.0.0 Week 2 Goals and Objectives 1 minute
2.1.0 Prep for Agile Leader's Process 1 minute
2.1.2 The Agile Leader's Process Summary Points 5 minutes
2.1.4 Agile Leader's Process References 1 minute
2.2.1 Prep for Framing Purpose 1 minute
2.2.2 Framing Purpose Summary Points 2 minutes
2.2.4 Framing Purpose References 1 minute
2.3.0 Prep for Adapting to Agile 1 minute
2.3.2 Adapting to Agile 2 minutes
2.3.4 Adapting to Agile References 1 minute
2.4.0 Prep for the Power of Play 1 minute
2.4.2 The Power of Play Summary Points 3 minutes
2.4.4 The Power of Play References 1 minute
2.5.0 Mastery, Autonomy, Purpose 1 minute
2.5.2 Mastery, Autonomy, Purpose Summary Points 6 minutes
2.5.4 Mastery, Autonomy, Purpose References 1 minute
Don't Forget to Claim You Some PDUs! 1 minute
Course Slides Available Below! 1 minute
Opportunity to Verify! Don't Wait! 1 minute

6 assignments Total 25 minutes

2.1.3 The Agile Leader's Process Knowledge Check 2 minutes
2.2.3 Framing Purpose Knowledge Check 2 minutes
2.3.3 Adapting to Agile Knowledge Check 2 minutes
2.4.3 The Power of Play Knowledge Check 2 minutes
2.5.3 Mastery, Autonomy, Purpose Knowledge Check 2 minutes
Week 2 Quiz Problems 15 minutes

The third week explores human decision making, its power and its faults in the form of biases, and how we can train ourselves through emotional-social intelligence and mindfulness to go faster by slowing down. Negotiation styles and techniques are also covered requiring self-reflection on how one handles conflict and manages competing, accommodating, avoiding, compromising, and collaborating challenges.

What's included

6 videos18 readings6 assignments

6 videos Total 32 minutes

3.0.1 Week 3 Intro Video 1 minute
3.1.1 Agile Leader's Challenge 8 minutes
3.2.1 Understanding Decision Bias Video 6 minutes
3.3.1 Managing Decision Bias Video 6 minutes
3.4.1 Harnessing Hidden Powers Video 4 minutes
3.5.1 Protecting Focus Video 7 minutes

18 readings Total 29 minutes

3.0.0 Week 3 Goals and Objectives 1 minute
3.1.0 Prep for the Agile Leader's Challenge 1 minute
3.1.2 Agile Leader's Challenge Summary Points 3 minutes
3.1.4 The Agile Leader's Challenge 1 minute
3.2.0 Prep for Understanding Decision Bias 1 minute
3.2.2 Understanding Decision Bias Summary Points 4 minutes
3.2.4 Understanding Decision Bias References 1 minute
3.3.0 Prep for Managing Decision Bias 1 minute
3.3.2 Managing Decision Bias Summary Points 4 minutes
3.3.4 Managing Decision Bias References 1 minute
3.4.0 Prep for Harnessing Hidden Powers 1 minute
3.4.2 Harnessing Hidden Powers 2 minutes
3.4.4 Harnessing Hidden Powers References 1 minute
3.5.0 Prep for Protecting Focus 1 minute
3.5.2 Protecting Focus Summary Points 3 minutes
3.5.4 Protecting Focus References 1 minute
Course Slides Available Below! 1 minute
Opportunity to Verify! Don't Wait! 1 minute

6 assignments Total 25 minutes

3.1.3 The Agile Leader's Challenge Knowledge Check 2 minutes
3.2.3 Understanding Decisions Bias Knowledge Check 2 minutes
3.3.3 Managing Decisions Bias Knowledge Check 2 minutes
3.4.3 Harnessing Hidden Powers Knowledge Check 2 minutes
3.5.3 Protecting Focus Knowledge Check 2 minutes
Week 3 Quiz Problems 15 minutes

The final week focuses on putting these lessons into practice with real-world approaches and tools for managing and facilitating decisions, interactions, and environments for optimal team performance.

What's included

6 videos17 readings6 assignments

6 videos Total 37 minutes

4.0.1 Introduction to Week 4 Video 2 minutes
4.1.1 Designing Decisions Video 7 minutes
4.2.1 Going Slow to Go Fast Video 8 minutes
4.3.1 Nudging Behavior Video 4 minutes
4.4.1 Negotiation Field Guide Video 10 minutes
4.5.1 Leading to Done 6 minutes

17 readings Total 31 minutes

4.0.0 Goals and Objectives of Week 4 1 minute
4.1.0 Prep for Designing Decisions 1 minute
4.1.2 Designing Decisions Summary Points 4 minutes
4.1.4 Designing Decisions References 1 minute
4.2.0 Prep for Going Slow to Go Fast 1 minute
4.2.2 Going Slow to Go Fast Summary Points 4 minutes
4.2.4 Going Slow to Go Fast References 1 minute
4.3.0 Prep for Nudging Behavior 1 minute
4.3.2 Nudging Behavior Summary Points 2 minutes
4.3.4 Nudging Behavior References 1 minute
4.4.0 Prep for the Negotiation Field Guide 1 minute
4.4.2 Negotiation Field Guide Summary Points 5 minutes
4.4.4 Negotiation Field Guide References 1 minute
4.5.0 Prep for Leading to Done 1 minute
4.5.2 Leading to Done Summary Points 4 minutes
4.5.4 Leading to Done References 1 minute
Course Slides Available Below! 1 minute

6 assignments Total 25 minutes

4.1.3 Designing Decisions Knowledge Check 2 minutes
4.2.3 Going Slow to Go Fast Knowledge Check 2 minutes
4.3.3 Nudging Behavior Knowledge Check 2 minutes
4.4.3 Negotiation Field Guide Knowledge Check 2 minutes
4.5.3 Leading to Done Knowledge Check 2 minutes
Week 4 Quiz Problems 15 minutes

What's included

5 readings2 assignments

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

John Johnson

University of Maryland, College Park

11 Courses 5,240 learners

Offered by

University of Maryland, College Park

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