Foundations of Tech Leadership
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Foundations of Tech Leadership
This course is part of Leadership & Management Training for Tech Managers Specialization
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What you'll learn
Gain the core leadership and management skills required to succeed in a tech environment.
Learn strategies for transitioning from an individual contributor to a tech manager.
Master time management, delegation, and productivity strategies for managerial efficiency.
Apply leadership models to motivate your team and drive performance in dynamic tech settings.
Skills you'll gain
- Team Performance Management
- Relationship Building
- Team Leadership
- Expectation Management
- Communication
- Team Motivation
- Technical Management
- Leadership Development
- Leadership and Management
- People Management
- Rapport Building
- Time Management
- Team Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Strategic Leadership
- Delegation Skills
- Team Building
- Relationship Management
- Prioritization
- Leadership
Details to know
January 2026
6 assignments
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- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
This course features Coursera Coach!
A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This comprehensive course equips you with the essential leadership and management skills necessary for success as a tech manager. Youβll learn how to handle the unique challenges of transitioning into management and develop a leadership style that drives performance. Through structured lessons, youβll gain insights into building relationships, time management, and leveraging leadership models to inspire your team. Each section builds on the previous one, guiding you from the early stages of management to accelerating team performance, making strategic impacts, and handling critical transitions. The course is designed to take you through a step-by-step journey, from understanding foundational concepts like the key roles and tasks of a tech manager, to applying them in real-world situations. You'll explore how to make an effective transition from an individual contributor to a manager, build rapport with your manager and team, and effectively manage your time and priorities. By the end, you will be prepared to drive team growth and achieve your company's goals while developing a robust management strategy. This course is ideal for new managers in tech or those aspiring to transition into management roles. It requires no prior management experience but an understanding of the tech industry and a willingness to learn. This is an intermediate-level course focused on developing foundational leadership skills in a tech context. By the end of the course, you will be able to confidently transition into a management role, build productive relationships with your manager and team, implement key time management strategies, and lead your team using established leadership models to inspire performance.
In this module, we will lay the groundwork for your managerial journey in tech, covering essential leadership and management skills. You will explore the common challenges faced by new tech managers, key misconceptions to avoid, and the importance of continuous growth in leadership. With a focus on mindset shifts and foundational practices, this section prepares you to step confidently into your managerial role.
What's included
15 videos2 readings1 assignment
15 videosβ’Total 121 minutes
- Introduction: Leadership and Management Skills in Tech for New Managersβ’2 minutes
- What You Will Learn in This Courseβ’6 minutes
- 7 Key Misconceptions New Managers Should Avoidβ’14 minutes
- Great Managers Are Made, Not Bornβ’8 minutes
- Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Managerβ’11 minutes
- Choosing Your Path in Tech: Individual Contributor vs. Management Tracksβ’5 minutes
- What Is Management?β’6 minutes
- The Multifaceted Roles of Managementβ’5 minutes
- Key Management Tasks and Responsibilitiesβ’9 minutes
- A Day, Week, Month, Year in the Life of a Managerβ’7 minutes
- Starting Your Role on the Right Foot: Having the Essential Foundations in Placeβ’4 minutes
- Laying the Groundwork: Achieving Success in the First 100 Daysβ’12 minutes
- Phase 1: Discovery and Ramp-up (Your First 30 Days)β’17 minutes
- Phase 1: Perform an Initial Assessment and SWOTβ’8 minutes
- Phase 2: Accelerating Team Performance and Strategic Impact (30β100 Days)β’6 minutes
2 readingsβ’Total 20 minutes
- Introduction to the Course 'Foundations of Tech Leadership'β’10 minutes
- Full Specialization Resourcesβ’10 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Introduction and Foundations - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will dive into the essential dynamics of managing relationships with your manager. You will learn how to align team objectives with your manager's priorities, communicate effectively, and establish trust. Practical tips for navigating expectations, autonomy, and career development will empower you to lead with confidence and build a positive working relationship.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
9 videosβ’Total 56 minutes
- Introduction: Building Relationships and Working with Your Managerβ’2 minutes
- Working with Your Managerβ’3 minutes
- Best Practices for Working with Your Managerβ’1 minute
- Aligning Priorities with Your Manager's Goalsβ’4 minutes
- Understanding Your Manager's Expectationsβ’8 minutes
- Your Autonomy and Decision-Making Freedomβ’8 minutes
- Your Manager's Communication Style, Saying No, and Career Developmentβ’9 minutes
- Building Your Network Beyond Your Teamβ’17 minutes
- Leading Former Peers: Tips for a Smooth Transitionβ’5 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Building Relationships and Working with Your Manager - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will focus on essential skills for managing your time and increasing productivity. You will learn strategies to delegate effectively, balance dual roles, and prioritize tasks to drive team success. Additionally, assertiveness techniques will be explored to help you communicate your needs and lead with clarity in your new managerial role.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
9 videosβ’Total 99 minutes
- Introductionβ’2 minutes
- Time Management and Productivity: Navigating Chaos with Confidence (Step 1 + 2)β’11 minutes
- Leveraging Core Tools: Managing Your Essential Tools (Step 3)β’18 minutes
- Reducing Time Wasters (Step 4)β’10 minutes
- Dealing with the Dual Role Dilemmaβ’4 minutes
- Basics of Effective Delegationβ’7 minutes
- A Step-by-Step Process for Delegating Correctlyβ’25 minutes
- How To Be Assertive As A Managerβ’7 minutes
- Key Areas to Focus on for Improving Assertivenessβ’15 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 15 minutes
- Time Management, Productivity, and Delegation - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
In this module, we will explore various leadership models and motivation theories that are crucial for fostering high-performing teams in tech environments. You will learn how to apply adaptive leadership styles, assess team capabilities and motivation levels, and create an environment that nurtures intrinsic motivation for long-term success.
What's included
8 videos1 reading3 assignments
8 videosβ’Total 60 minutes
- Introduction: Adaptive Leadership Models and Motivation Theoriesβ’1 minute
- Tannenbaum & Schmidt's Continuum of Leadership Behaviorβ’10 minutes
- The Skill Will Matrix: Understanding Ability and Motivationβ’3 minutes
- Situational Leadership: Adapting Leadership Styles to Maximize Team Performanceβ’9 minutes
- Employee Motivation, Satisfaction, and Intrinsic Motivationβ’4 minutes
- Theory X and Theory Y: Understanding Management Approachesβ’8 minutes
- Two-Factor Theory: Creating a Motivating Environmentβ’17 minutes
- Nurturing Intrinsic Motivation: Self-Determination Theory in Practiceβ’8 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 10 minutes
- Conclusion to the Course 'Foundations of Tech Leadership'β’10 minutes
3 assignmentsβ’Total 90 minutes
- Leadership Models and Motivation - Assessmentβ’15 minutes
- Full Course Assessmentβ’60 minutes
- Full Course Practice Assessmentβ’15 minutes
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Johns Hopkins University
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University of Maryland, College Park
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Frequently asked questions
Tech leadership refers to the ability to manage and lead technical teams effectively within a technology-driven environment. It is a crucial skill for those in managerial roles, especially as tech organizations grow and face unique challenges in project management, team collaboration, and innovation. Developing strong leadership skills allows tech managers to navigate these challenges, guide their teams toward success, and align technical projects with organizational goals. The relevance of tech leadership has increased as the tech industry evolves, requiring managers who can blend technical expertise with leadership strategies to drive high-performance teams.
The "Foundations of Tech Leadership" course provides a comprehensive overview of the key skills and knowledge needed to transition into a managerial role in the tech industry. The course covers topics such as the mindset shifts required to go from an individual contributor to a manager, effective time management, relationship building with your manager and team, leadership models, and motivation techniques. The content is designed for those new to management in the tech field, providing practical strategies for success in the first 100 days and beyond.
After completing this course, you will have a solid understanding of the key aspects of tech leadership. You will be equipped with the skills to manage teams, delegate tasks effectively, improve productivity, and foster a positive and motivating work environment. Additionally, you will have practical insights into managing your relationship with your manager and leading teams through common managerial challenges. This course will give you the tools necessary to confidently take on a leadership role in tech, particularly during your first few months in a new managerial position.
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