Leadership and Interpersonal Skills Program
Overview
The Leadership and Interpersonal Skills program emphasizes transferable skills validated through assessments of personal experiences, allowing participants to track their leadership growth. Completing each skill earns a digital badge, providing detailed evidence that surpasses traditional certificates or resumes. Participants can showcase their progress on LinkedIn and other networks. This innovative program offers a dynamic platform to showcase your competencies through digital badges, setting you apart in your career.
Level 1 Micro-credentials focus on individual leadership and interpersonal skills, with a badge awarded for each credential completed. These contribute towards Level 2 badges, culminating in a Level 2 badge after finishing all Level 1 badges. The Level 3 badge is granted after completing all Level 2 badges. Each Micro-credential is self-paced, with a recommended study time of 2 hours per credential.
What are Micro-credentials?
A Micro-credential is a digitally-recorded recognition of a small, specific skill. It is a portable communication tool that represents evidence of your skills for employers, educators, and peers. Micro-credentials are created with industry, so you can be assured that the skills you are learning are in demand and current.
Micro-credentials are different from more traditional learning experiences. A micro-credential may recognize learning obtained from a particular experience (such as a workshop), it may not, or both. They are designed to fit in with busy schedules and adapt quickly to changing needs in the workforce.
Level 1 Badges
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Action Through Conclusions
Drawing conclusions focuses on the practical use of information and insights to guide decision making and action. Drawing sound conclusions can be starts with determining the focus, defining the criteria, searching for and collecting information, and then assessing the insights you have gathered.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Influential and Resilient Leadership
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Active Listening
Active listening is a communication technique that includes awareness, verbal, and non-verbal skills to support positive communication. The listener’s body language is an important component of the non-verbal active listening process that uses awareness of body language, such as eye contact, to support the speaker.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
Register for this micro-credential
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Build Positive Habits
Habits are routines or actions that we do automatically. We often do them without intent or motivation. Positive habits are associated with long-term wellness benefits and can help increase personal satisfaction with sustained effort.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
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Build Relationships
The ability to build and strengthen relationships has implications throughout life, including in personal or professional situations. Strengthening a relationship can come in many forms, but positive interactions and shared experiences play critical roles in the process. Positive interactions are encounters that make us feel good, impacting the perceived intensity and the meaningfulness of shared experiences.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
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Catalyst for Change
A catalyst is a person or thing which causes change to happen. When someone acts as a catalyst, they initiate change around them. They are able to think beyond their primary role or task, and instead coordinate, strategize, and move forward. Catalysts for change engage groups to focus on long-term solutions, unique solutions, and out-of-the-box thinking.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
Register for this micro-credential
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Challenge Assumptions
An assumption is a decision or belief we make without proof. Often, we believe something without ever exploring the reasons behind it, which may have both positive and negative implications. Challenging assumptions isn't easy - we need to look deeper than the surface to explore our beliefs, the reasons behind them, and use this to better inform our opinions and actions.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Influential and Resilient Leadership
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Challenge Cultural Biases
Cultural Bias can refer to conscious or unconscious interpretations and judgements of another individual or community’s actions, beliefs, values, words, or other characteristics. The issue with cultural bias is that it can sometimes lead to people forming opinions about others without any experience. Challenging cultural biases means you can work effectively with those from other cultures and that you avoid ethnocentrism.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
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Curiosity
Curiosity means you demonstrate an openness and interest in exploration, change, and difference.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
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Deal with Ambiguity
An ambiguous situation is uncertain; you might have no information, or low-quality information about what is going on or what might happen in the future. An ability to respond positively to an ambiguous situation is essential as consistently negative responses can increase anxiety and stress. Dealing with ambiguity means you can tolerate the discomfort and anxiety in an ambiguous situation, and gather the right kinds of information before making decisions.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level badge Influential and Resilient Leadership
register for this micro-credential -
Embrace Diversity
The process of learning about others can also help us to learn about ourselves by exploring perspectives and realities that we may have never considered before. As the twenty-first-century has afforded us the opportunity to be more mobile, we are afforded a unique opportunity in the history of the world to explore cultures and insights more rapidly than ever before.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
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Flexible Thinking
Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to dynamically adapt from one situation to another. This means you adapt to changing or new situations well, by changing your thinking and reflecting on your emotions.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
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Grit
Self awareness includes grit: the ability to persevere with a focus and sustained commitment over time to achieve long-term goals. The effort to persevere occurs regardless of adversity, failure, or setbacks. The perseverance associated with grit is often a predictor of success. Resilience and grit can be considered a complementary process, where resilience is about short-term dynamic responses to challenges and grit refers to long-term achievement.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Influential and Resilient Leadership
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Ideation
Ideation is the process of generating ideas. There are two general skills used in ideation: convergent thinking and divergent thinking. Divergent thinking refers to a process of generating various ideas and insights and is often used in brainstorming. Convergent thinking aims to take broad ideas and insights to generate more focused ideas and new solutions. The process can occur as an independent act or within groups, which can allow us to create unique perspectives that may not have otherwise been heard, stimulating innovation.
This Level 1 badgel is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
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Lead Through Influence
While a title can infer leadership or authority, the credential does not directly relate to an individual's ability to lead others or that their choices and decisions are effective. A title and the authority related to it may indicate may result in short-term influence; however, on its own, a title does not inspire action or thought from others. Those who can lead through influence motivate and guide others in a group and take initiative.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Influential and Resilient Leadership
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Provide Validation
Feelings are a private representation and response to physiological changes related to emotions, which are systems that help us act through rapid information-processing. The validation of feelings and emotions is a form of communication where a listener exhibits acceptance of an individual. Validating an individual includes authenticating the belief of another person's perception of who they are, supporting the perception that they are relevant and meaningful. This creates a safe environment that allows others to feel valued.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
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Realize the Needs of Others
Recognizing others’ needs includes empathy, prosocial behaviour, and altruism. Empathy refers to the ability to cognitively and emotionally perceive and relate to someone's emotional state. Prosocial behaviour is the voluntary intent to benefit others and society as a whole. Altruism can be considered a subtype of prosocial behaviour, which is the absence of the hope for reward after acting. The ability to recognize others’ needs reflects moral action and can include generous giving of resources, helpful acts, volunteering, and behaviours that reduce stereotypes.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
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Resilience
Personal resilience is a dynamic process of stress- or trauma-management that occurs by effectively adapting, managing, or negotiating with change. People who are resilient are able to use feedback to make improvements and see failure as a learning opportunity. They learn from experience and respond well to challenges.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Influential and Resilient Leadership
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Solution-based Thinking
Focusing on solutions uses resilience by focusing on pre-existing strengths and resources and using them to create positive change. Focusing on solutions instead of problems can increase confidence and positive emotional impacts, which increases goal-achievement, performance, and well-being. It can also help reduce or minimize opportunities for negative emotional and mental well-being.
This Level 1 badge is applicable toward the Level 2 badge Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
Level 2 Badges
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Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
This Level 2 badge demonstrates a learner’s ability to create inclusive environments, engage effectively with diverse groups, and drive team collaboration. Learners showcase empathy, adaptability, and proactive communication, building a foundation for leadership that respects and integrates diverse perspectives. This badge is part of the Leadership and Interpersonal Skills program, preparing individuals to lead with empathy, inspire trust, and create a culture of belonging in any organizational setting.
Complete the below level 1 Micro-credentials to receive a level 2 badge in Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership:
- Build Positive Habits
- Challenge Cultural Biases
- Embrace Diversity
- Flexible Thinking
- Provide Validation
- Realize the Needs of Others
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Influential and Resilient Leadership
This Level 2 badge demonstrates an individual’s ability to apply strategic thinking, make sound decisions, inspire others, and maintain perseverance through challenges. Learners show mastery in drawing actionable insights, adapting to change with resilience, and navigating uncertainty while promoting positive group dynamics. This badge is part of the Leadership and Interpersonal Skills program, offering learners the opportunity to develop competencies highly valued in professional environments.
Complete the below level 1 Micro-credentials to receive a level 2 badge in Influential and Resilient Leadership:
- Action Through Conclusions
- Challenge Assumptions
- Deal with Abiguity
- Grit
- Lead Through Influence
- Resiliance
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Strategic and Adaptive Leadership
This Level 2 badge recognizes an individual’s ability to foster effective communication, think innovatively, build meaningful connections, and drive change within an organization. Learners demonstrate strategic awareness, adaptability, and the capacity to navigate complex challenges with resilience and forward-thinking solutions. This badge is part of the Leadership and Interpersonal Skills program, equipping learners with the tools needed to thrive in dynamic work environments and lead teams to achieve long-term goals.
Complete the below level 1 Micro-credentials to receive a level 2 badge in Strategic and Adaptive Leadership:
- Active Listening
- Build Relationships
- Catalyst for Change
- Curiosity
- Ideation
- Solution-based Thinking
Level 3 Badge
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Leadership and Interpersonal Skills
This Level 3 badge signifies a good understanding and application of leadership principles and interpersonal competencies essential for leading diverse teams and managing complex projects. Learners exhibit the ability to inspire and influence others, adapt strategies effectively, foster inclusive environments, and navigate challenges with resilience and empathy. As part of the Leadership and Interpersonal Skills program, this badge highlights a learner’s readiness to assume impactful leadership roles and drive meaningful change in professional and community settings
Complete the below level 2 Micro-credentials programs to receive a level 3 badge in Leadership and Interpersonal Skills:
- Inclusive and Collaborative Leadership
- Influential and Resilient Leadership
- Strategic and Adapatable Leadership
Micro-credentials are short, competency-based learning opportunities that are closely aligned to the needs of industry. You can build your own custom pathway with learning that fits what you need by choosing learning that fits your interests and schedule.
Digital badges record and recognize your achievements. More than just an image, they contain verifiable data of how you earned the credential.
Micro-credentials can be stacked toward higher-level micro-credentials (level 2 and 3), showing evidence of proficiency and advanced skills to build towards higher learnering.
Add badges to social media profiles, share with colleagues, employers, professors, and others in your network. Badges give context to a transcript or resume by displaying your specific skills and provide secure proof to employers of your abilities.
