COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Apply Best Work Practices in Leadership & Management course. This program has been designed to strengthen your practical capabilities, professional judgement, and ethical standards to lead people and manage operations effectively in contemporary organisations.
The course begins by exploring best practice principles in leadership and management, clarifying the distinct but interconnected roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers, and highlighting the importance of ethical, effective, and accountable leadership. It considers how best practice leadership aligns with organisational goals and strategy, and how leaders translate these goals into clear direction, behaviour standards, and decision-making in their day-to-day work.
An understanding of leadership styles and approaches is essential to effective practice. This section examines a range of leadership styles, how different approaches influence culture and performance, and when each may be most appropriate. It explores how leaders adapt their style to the needs of individuals, teams, and the broader organisation, and how leadership effectiveness can be evaluated through outcomes, feedback, and observable behaviour.
Clarity of direction and expectations is a cornerstone of high-performing teams. This section focuses on setting clear goals and objectives, communicating vision and priorities, and aligning team activities with organisational direction. It also examines how leaders monitor progress against expectations, identify when adjustments are needed, and keep individuals and teams focused on what matters most.
Communication is one of the most visible and influential aspects of leadership. This section explores how to use clear and professional communication in a variety of settings, practise active listening to understand perspectives and concerns, and provide unambiguous instructions and guidance. It also addresses how to manage difficult conversations constructively so that issues are addressed early, respectfully, and in a way that maintains working relationships.
Building and leading high-performing teams requires deliberate effort from leaders. This section examines how to develop trust and collaboration, encourage teamwork and cooperation, and support engagement and morale over time. It also considers how to recognise and manage team dynamics, including strengths, tensions, and diversity of working styles, so that the team can perform effectively and sustainably.
Performance and accountability are central responsibilities of leadership and management roles. This section focuses on setting clear performance standards, monitoring individual and team performance against those standards, and providing constructive feedback that guides improvement. It also explores how to address underperformance appropriately, balancing support, fairness, and organisational requirements.
Supporting staff development and building capability underpins long-term organisational success. This section examines how to identify learning and development needs, support training, coaching, and mentoring, and encourage continuous skill development across the team. It also considers how to recognise and nurture future leadership capability, helping to build a strong leadership pipeline for the organisation.
Leaders are frequently required to make decisions and solve problems in complex, time-bound situations. This section explores how to analyse information effectively, make informed and timely decisions, and apply systematic approaches to solving workplace problems. It also addresses how to evaluate the outcomes of decisions, incorporate lessons learned, and improve decision-making processes over time.
Managing time, priorities, and workloads is critical to sustainable leadership performance. This section focuses on planning and prioritising leadership tasks, delegating work effectively to others, and managing competing demands in a way that maintains focus on strategic and operational priorities. It also examines how to maintain productivity under pressure, including the use of boundaries, planning tools, and realistic workload management.
Change and continuous improvement are constant features of modern organisations. This section examines how to manage organisational change effectively, communicate change clearly and honestly, and support teams through transitions that may involve uncertainty or resistance. It also explores how to embed continuous improvement practices into everyday operations so that processes, systems, and outcomes are regularly reviewed and enhanced.
Workplace conflict and challenges are inevitable, and leaders must address them confidently and fairly. This section focuses on identifying sources of conflict, applying appropriate conflict resolution strategies, and managing difficult behaviours in a professional manner. It also considers the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and modelling respectful conduct, even in challenging situations.
Ethical leadership and sound governance practices are fundamental to trust and organisational integrity. This section examines the ethical responsibilities of leaders, the importance of making decisions with integrity, and the role of leaders in managing risk and accountability. It also highlights how leaders uphold organisational values in everyday choices, communications, and responses to pressure.
Leaders play an important role in supporting workplace health, safety, and wellbeing. This section explores how to promote safe work practices, support employee wellbeing, and recognise and manage stress and workload risks within teams. It also considers how leaders respond to health and safety issues, including reporting, corrective actions, and fostering a culture where safety and wellbeing are taken seriously.
Effective leadership also involves managing resources and operational requirements responsibly. This section examines how to allocate resources such as people, budgets, and equipment effectively, monitor costs and budgets, and support efficient operations. It also explores ensuring responsible resource use, balancing efficiency with quality and sustainability considerations.
Monitoring outcomes and organisational performance allows leaders to understand impact and drive improvement. This section focuses on reviewing team and organisational results, using performance data to inform decisions, and identifying opportunities to improve processes, services, or strategic focus. It also examines how to report outcomes to stakeholders clearly and credibly, supporting transparency and informed governance.
Finally, the course concludes with a focus on reflecting on leadership practice and professional growth. This section explores how leaders review their own effectiveness, seek and respond constructively to feedback, and identify personal development needs in areas such as communication, strategy, or people management. It also considers how leaders can commit to ongoing leadership improvement, modelling a learning mindset and setting the standard for professional growth across the organisation.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with best practice leadership and management frameworks, practical tools, and reflective habits that support ethical, effective, and accountable leadership aligned with organisational goals and the needs of your teams.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Best Practice Leadership and Management Practice
- Understanding best practice principles in leadership and management
- Roles and responsibilities of leaders and managers
- Importance of ethical, effective, and accountable leadership
- Aligning leadership practice with organisational goals
2. Understanding Leadership Styles and Approaches
- Identifying different leadership styles
- Applying different leadership approaches
- Adapting leadership to team and organisational needs
- Evaluating leadership effectiveness
3. Establishing Clear Direction and Expectations
- Setting clear goals and objectives
- Communicating vision and priorities
- Aligning team activities with organisational direction
- Monitoring progress against expectations
4. Communicating Effectively as a Leader
- Using clear and professional communication
- Practising active listening
- Providing clear instructions and guidance
- Managing difficult conversations constructively
5. Building and Leading High-Performing Teams
- Developing trust and collaboration
- Encouraging teamwork and cooperation
- Supporting team engagement and morale
- Managing team dynamics effectively
6. Managing Performance and Accountability
- Setting performance standards
- Monitoring individual and team performance
- Providing constructive feedback
- Addressing underperformance appropriately
7. Supporting Staff Development and Capability Building
- Identifying learning and development needs
- Supporting training and mentoring
- Encouraging continuous skill development
- Building future leadership capability
8. Applying Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills
- Analysing information effectively
- Making informed and timely decisions
- Solving workplace problems systematically
- Evaluating outcomes of decisions
9. Managing Time, Priorities, and Workloads
- Planning and prioritising leadership tasks
- Delegating work effectively
- Managing competing demands
- Maintaining productivity under pressure
10. Leading Change and Continuous Improvement
- Managing organisational change effectively
- Communicating change clearly
- Supporting teams through transitions
- Embedding continuous improvement practices
11. Managing Workplace Conflict and Challenges
- Identifying sources of conflict
- Applying conflict resolution strategies
- Managing difficult behaviours
- Maintaining professional boundaries
12. Applying Ethical Leadership and Governance Practices
- Understanding ethical leadership responsibilities
- Making decisions with integrity
- Managing risk and accountability
- Upholding organisational values
13. Supporting Workplace Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
- Promoting safe work practices
- Supporting employee wellbeing
- Managing stress and workload risks
- Responding to health and safety issues
14. Managing Resources and Operational Requirements
- Allocating resources effectively
- Monitoring budgets and costs
- Supporting efficient operations
- Ensuring responsible resource use
15. Monitoring Outcomes and Organisational Performance
- Reviewing team and organisational outcomes
- Using performance data effectively
- Identifying improvement opportunities
- Reporting outcomes to stakeholders
16. Reflecting on Leadership Practice and Professional Growth
- Reviewing leadership effectiveness
- Seeking and responding to feedback
- Identifying personal development needs
- Committing to ongoing leadership improvement
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital โCertificate of Completionโ.