Leadership Courses for All Roles at Duke

Enhance your skills in leadership with an L&OD course at Duke

Jeremy Boomhower uses a white board to track his to-do list. Photo by Jack Frederick.
Jeremy Boomhower uses a white board to track his to-do list. Photo by Jack Frederick.

Rev. Racquel Gill, minister of Intercultural Engagement at Duke University Chapel, often talks with her supervisor about the importance of leading at work from within.

When she discovered a course from Duke Learning & Organization Development (L&OD) called “Self-Leadership – Growing Your Career & Self Awareness,” she enrolled to seek growth as a leader, both personally and professionally. 

“You really have to learn to lead yourself and manage yourself,” Gill said.Offered next on June 28, the self-leadership course is among several L&OD offerings for individual contributors and managers who want to grow skills and stay relevant at any experience level. 

“Leadership is not something reserved for a position,” said Joy Birmingham, L&OD associate director. “If we can understand that, we can change Duke across the board.”

Here are several leadership courses offered by L&OD in 2023.

Critical Thinking

“Critical Thinking Skills: Strategies for Improving” was crucial for helping Jimmy Goodwin take on more responsibility as a foreman in the Engineering & Operations Carpentry Shop.

The course, offered next on Aug. 10, helped him learn strategies for how to analyze information, make decisions, and communicate – key skills for his work. Goodwin and nine carpenters make service calls across Duke University Hospital and clinical spaces to repair doors, flooring, and drywall.

“It helps you connect with everyone, and it makes your job easier,” said Goodwin, who joined Duke in 2020.
“The more you learn, the more it can help you communicate with everyone.”

Valuing Differences

Offered on June 22 and Sept. 27, “Valuing Differences” is a new course about nurturing intercultural competence as a framework for leveraging difference in workplace relationships.

Gina Rogers, course instructor and associate director of L&OD, said the course will help participants better understand respect and social identity, key aspects for fostering an inclusive workplace.

“Building upon the knowledge, skills and capacity for myself, improves my self-awareness and better positions me for engaging well with others,” Rogers said.

Managing Multiple Priorities

Staff assistant Jeremy Boomhower works on a small team that supports faculty in the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies.

Last year, he took “Managing Multiple Priorities” because he wanted to hone strategies for time management. The course, offered next on Sept. 19, helped Boomhower realize that he needed a formal to-do list. He installed a whiteboard by his desk, and it helps him set a daily schedule and priorities.

“When I walk in my office, I can look straight at it and scribble down what I need,” he said. “And then I can erase it as I go.”

Professional Development

Review L&OD courses and start your journey: hr.duke.edu/training

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