School of Applied Microfinance | Curriculum

The course will explore the challenges facing leaders within micro-finance and related organisations as the change and grow. The role of the leader, setting and maintaining vision and direction, managing change and building team and individual motivation and commitment are all part of the day to day tasks for the leader. Whether you are the chief executive, chair of a governing board or a senior staff member there are differences between managing and leading that you need to appreciate to ensure success. The manager seeks to maintain good performance and ensure quality, s/he monitors service delivery – the leader seeks excellence and organizational goals, s/he monitors organisational achievement. Leadership skills, and qualities, your own leadership profile and potential, and the risks and opportunities of leadership will all be covered using case material and lessons from best practice within the industry and within international leadership experience.

Session 1	Will focus on the leadership roles within the group, expectations and experience; definitions and models of leadership will be examined with opportunities to share current problems.
Session 2	Will focus on managing your own change, becoming a leader, moving into a senior role and changing your approach to colleague and organisational task.
Session 3	Will focus on managing change in others – management teams, staff groups, management boards and external actors. Changing organisations and leading through periods of growth requires skill and understanding in managing others and gaining their commitment to change and growth.
Session 4	Will focus on managing organizational changes. Planning a major organisational change and/or a period of substantial growth and ensuring its delivery is a highly strategic process. The leader needs to understand the resistances and blocks to change and manage them effectively. Most organizational changes fail because of internal resistance rather than external problems – both need to be anticipated and addressed.
Session 5	Will look at your career path as a leader, and the management of transitions within your own career and that of the organisation you lead. Sharing leadership experiences and expectations within the group opportunities will be provided to test options and think through new directions and new challenges within a safe learning environment.