Best Free MOOCs In Business In December

Scott DeRue, dean of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan

Inspiring and Motivating Individuals

School: University of Michigan (Ross)

Platform: Coursera

Registration Link: REGISTER HERE

Start Date: December 4, 2017

Instructors: D. Scott DeRue and Maxim Sytch

Credentials: DeRue is a member of Poets&Quants’ “Top 40 Professors Under the Age of 40.” An associate dean in the executive MBA program at the University of Michigan, DeRue is a prolific writer and researcher, whose research has appeared in journals like the Academy of Management Review and Research in Organizational Behavior  (along with national outlets like the New York Times and the Harvard Business Review). Holding a Ph.D. in management from Michigan State, DeRue is also the managing partner of an angel investment firm.

Sytch has also been profiled by Poets&Quants for being among the “Top 40 Professors Under the Age of 40.” A Northwestern Ph.D. who previously taught at Kellogg, Sytch has earned several awards while teaching at Michigan, including the Ross Executive Education Teaching Impact Award and the Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Academy of Management Journal and Organization Science in both 2014 and 2015. A leadership expert, his clients have ranged from Morgan Stanley to Oracle to the Ronald McDonald House.

Graded: Students can choose to explore course videos, discussions, and ungraded assignments for free, but they won’t be able to submit graded assignments, earn a certificate, or complete a specialization without paying a $95 fee.

Description: People are paid to do a job. They should just automatically do it to the best of their abilities, right? Seems simple enough in theory. In execution, well, not everyone shares the same commitment to personal excellence and development. For some, work is just a means to an end. They may pay lip service to your mission, but many don’t hold themselves accountable to achieving it.

How do you engage your employees so they truly share your purpose and perform at their best every day? Over four weeks, DeRue and Sytch will focus on communication and psychology – how to create conditions and craft messaging that resonates with employees over the long haul. This includes fostering a shared vision and value system; setting clear goals and expectations; establishing a series of rewards that reinforce the best behaviors; and delivering feedback that motivates instead of alienates.

Review: “Interesting subject and the course was executed in a nice way by the teachers. I highly recommend this course if you are interested in leadership.” For additional reviews, click here.

Additional Notes: This is the first course in the University of Michigan’s “Leading People and Teams” specialization. To learn more about these courses and register for them, click here.