This course builds on the foundations of leadership to help students develop into effective, authentic leaders. Taking a practical approach, this course will help students become more self-aware of their natural leadership style, how their personal leadership impacts others, and what they can do to become more effective and authentic leaders.

• The text for this course, True North, Emerging Leader Edition by Bill George (ISBN: 978-1119886105) is available from many book retailers for less than $25.
• MGMT 6250 Authentic Leadership Articles - Fall 2026. Harvard Course Pack
• MGMT 6250 Authentic Leadership Case Studies - Harvard Course Pack

1. 1. Theoretical Understanding: Discuss the core theories and concepts of authentic leadership and their impact on creating a high-performing organization, including the role of the principles from True North by Bill George.
2. 2. Practical Application: Apply the appropriate theories and concepts of authentic leadership to diagnose organizational issues and develop practical and effective solutions to real-world problems faced by managers.
3. 3. Personal Development: Develop your personal authentic leadership potential through the practical application of authentic leadership theory as well as learning from the insights and experiences of classmates.
4. 4. Ethical Implications: Consider the importance of good ethical behavior in leading and managing organizations as you develop your authentic leadership potential.

Course Assessment Table

Assignment Outline

Quizzes (80 Points / 11% of total grade)

There will be eight required quizzes, seven quizzes on the module reading assignments (10 points each) plus one quiz on the course syllabus (10 points). All quizzes will count towards your final grade.

All quizzes consist of multiple choice and True or False questions and are open-book. There is no time limit and you get one opportunity to take the quiz before the due date (no multiple attempts except for the syllabus quiz). The deadlines to submit the weekly reading quizzes are listed on Canvas.

Quiz questions are taken from the readings and videos (lecture and non-lecture videos). It is a good idea to watch the videos and complete the assigned reading and while doing so, take notes so you not only have them available for the quizzes but the assignments and discussions as well.

Written Case Study Analysis Assignments (400 points / 51% of total grade)

To enhance your understanding of the principles we are studying and their application in real-life scenarios, a Written Case Study Analysis Assignment is required to be submitted for each case study assigned. Guidelines and a rubric are provided for the Written Case Study Analysis Assignments in the respective Canvas modules.

There will be six Written Case Study Analysis Assignments, each worth 80 points. As explained in the rubric, each assignment should be at least 750 words and no more than 1,000 words long. Please include the word count with each submission. Additional details are provided on the assignment grading rubric, so please review the rubric carefully before each assignment.

Please note that the Written Case Study Analysis Assignments make up 49% of the grade in this course. Successful students dedicate sufficient time and energy to ensure that these are well-written, meaningful assignments that thoroughly meet the criteria set out in the assignment rubric.

Written Case Study Analysis Assignments can be submitted up to one week late and still receive up to 50% credit. The lowest grade on the Written Case Analysis Assignments is dropped and reflected throughout the semester.

Personal Reflections (120 Points / 15% of total grade)

To help you in your leadership development, you will be required to complete a personal reflection assignment during modules 2 through 4. This assignment will consist of you responding to a series of questions that apply the principles/theories discussed during the module to your own experience. AI assistance is allowed and encouraged for specific parts of this assignment. Check the assignment instructions carefully before you begin to see what is permitted.

Each personal reflection assignment will be worth up to a total of 40 points and should be at least 500 words long and 850 words max. Be as clear and concise as possible. The number of points awarded will be dependent on the quality of the essay and the ability of the student to convey their responses in a manner that integrates the principles addressed during the associated module. Submissions that do not meet the minimum 500-word requirement and/or do not apply the principles from the reading and video assignments will receive 0 points.

The deadlines to submit the personal reflection assignments are listed on Canvas and assignments can be submitted up to one week late and still receive 50% credit.

Authentic Leadership Development Plan (180 points / 23% of total grade)

In this final assignment, you will describe the purpose of your leadership and the principles and values that will guide and inform your leadership. Discuss the areas of your development as an authentic leader that you plan to focus on in the years ahead, and the steps you plan to take to become a more effective and authentic leader. In completing this assignment, you should integrate all of the previous exercises you have completed in the course. Be sure that you begin this process well in advance so that you will have adequate time to think it through and make changes as appropriate. Be as thorough and complete as possible in developing your plan, even if this requires some speculation on your part about the future.

See the date The Authentic Leadership Development Plan (ALDP) is due in the modules. Late papers will not be accepted and will receive no credit.

The ALDP should be at least 1,000 words, but no more than 2,000 words, in length. The quality of the content will be more important than the number of words, but your submission must meet the minimum word requirement to receive credit. Papers of less than 1,000 words will receive no credit. Please include the word count as part of your submission.

Your ALDP should consist of six sections. The first section is an introduction and assessment based on your life story. Section two should apply the concepts related to Losing Your Way and Crucibles, Section 3 should apply the concepts related to Self-Awareness, Section 4 should apply the concepts related to Your Values and Your Sweet Spot, Section 5 should apply the concepts related to The Support Team and Integrating Your Life, and Section 6 should wrap it up with how you plan to apply the concepts of Leading with Purpose and Empowering Others. In each section, you should apply the principles to your own situation and should clearly state a course of action for personal leadership development. A detailed discussion with instructions, guidance, and expectations is outlined in the “APDLP– FINAL PAPER” assignment in Module 7 on Canvas.

The grading rubric for this assignment is also broken down into specific assessments for each one of these areas. Please carefully review the grading rubric as you complete this assignment.

Extra Credit Professor's Corner Discussions (Up to 5 Points per Discussion)

Professor's Corner is an opportunity to participate at a deeper level in the class. In these meetings, we review the case studies, articles, and videos of the past week and the current week. You will be better prepared as a result of that week's assignments. There are four optional Professor's Corner discussions that you can participate in.

After participating live or watching the recording of Professor's Corner, you are required to post one substantial, well-constructed contribution to the discussion that demonstrates clearly that you watched it and were engaged. There is no word length. The quality of the content is more important than the number of words, but a minimum of 200 words and a maximum of 300 words is a good guide to follow. Following your initial post, you are asked to make at least two meaningful replies (not to exceed 150 words each) to other students’ responses.

Please see instructions in the Modules and Rubric for more specific instructions and information.

Important: Since active participation is critical to the online discussion, no credit is given for late submissions.

Grade Scheme

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

Student Responsibilities

Grading Philosophy

Many of you may be balancing multiple, competing demands in your life – career, education, family, etc. I understand that unexpected situations might arise during the semester. For this reason, I have included some flexibility in the design of the course and will drop the lowest grade in certain assignments as described above.

Rounding Up Grades

I don't round grades up - ever, so please don't ask. I have found that rounding grades causes too many issues and isn't fair. Let me explain. If I round your grade up then I have to round everyone's grade up and where do I draw the line? No matter where I draw it someone will think it is unfair. My hands are unfortunately tied. Many in the class will be on the "cusp" of an A, A-, B+, etc. at the end of the term. If I allow you to do extra credit to round your grade up, then I have to open that up to every student in the class to make it fair. That doesn't make it better because I will have a whole new group of students just on the cusp asking what they can do to get an A, A-, B+, etc. I understand this can be frustrating, but my philosophy with grading is that is your responsibility, not the professor's. Sorry to be so direct, but this seems to be a recurring problem every term. I will provide you with every opportunity during the semester to succeed, but at the end of the day, it is your responsibility to get the grade you want :-)

Grading Rubrics

In the interest of fairness, consistency, and transparency, assignments are evaluated using grading rubrics that provide the assessment criteria. You will earn points based on the extent to which you achieve the objectives defined in the assessment criteria. Please carefully study the grading rubric before beginning each assignment and allow it to guide your work.

Discussion of Grades

Your academic coach or I will discuss grades on individual assignments up to one week after the grade is given. If you can make a clear, logical, and convincing argument in favor of increasing a grade, I will consider it. After that point, I will not alter grades for any reason. Also, unless you honestly believe I erred in computing your final grade, please do not email me after grades are posted and ask for a higher grade. The answer will be no.

Course Summary

Instructor's Response Time & Feedback

Online classes provide unique challenges for interaction. For messages sent to me or our Academic Coaches, please expect a response within one business day. My responses may be slower on the weekends.

Feedback is an important part of learning. Please carefully review the feedback that we provide on your assignments. For assistance in finding feedback on assignments, please refer to this tutorial: How do I view assignment comments from my Instructor (https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Student-Guide/How-do-I-view-assignment-comments-from-my-instructor/ta-p/283) ?

It is our goal to:

• Respond to student messages within 1-2 business days (normally within 24 hours)
• Provide grades and feedback within 3-5 business days from the due date (business days don't include weekends)

Late Work Policy

Deadlines are established for each assignment, group discussion, and quiz. Written case study analysis assignments, and reflection assignments can be turned in up to one week late and still receive 50% credit. No credit will be given for late submissions of the discussion assignments because preparation and active participation are critical to the case study discussions. Additionally, since the Authentic Leadership Development Plan is the final assignment of the course, late submissions will not be accepted and will be assigned a grade of zero. Please note that all times for due dates are Mountain/Mountain Standard Time (Utah time). Exceptions may be considered for serious illness or a family emergency. Excuses must be documented. I will make the final decision as to what constitutes an emergency.

Program and Course Fees: https://www.suu.edu/registrar/course-fees.html

This course is taught online and asynchronously, meaning that there are no regularly scheduled class meetings.