Best Free MOOCs In Business For January by: Jeff Schmitt on December 29, 2016 December 29, 2016 Copy Link Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share on Reddit Self Awareness and the Effective Leader School: Rice University Platform: Coursera Registration Link: REGISTER HERE Start Date: January 2, 2017 (5 Weeks Long) Workload: 3-5 Hours Per Week Instructor: David Van Kleeck Credentials: A newbie to academia, Van Kleeck joined the Rice faculty in 2014 as professor in engineering leadership. A Ph.D. in chemical engineering who also rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, Van Kleeck spent 34 years at Shell, including leadership stints in R&D and recruiting. Graded: To earn a passing mark, students must complete all graded assignments. Description: Often, it’s what people don’t know that ruins their careers. Deficits in technical skills are easy to spot — and rectify one way or another. However, soft skills are what make-or-break leaders. Listening, communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, poise, decision-making, flexibility, integrity, professionalism: These are the attributes that help leaders gain trust, which produces buy-in and (ultimately) results. Too often, leaders are unaware how they come across to others. Forcefulness can be interpreted as closed-mindedness or salty language for a lack of composure and maturity. This course focuses on helping prospective leaders become aware of their strengths and weaknesses in their interpersonal skills, to help them convey confidence, openness, and a can-do spirit. Review: No reviews. Additional Notes: This course is part of the Engineering Management Certificate, Part 1: Leadership Specialization. To learn more about these courses and register for them, click here. Previous Page Continue ReadingPage 18 of 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 © Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.