Leadership Foundations

VALUES-CENTERED. PEOPLE-FIRST.

At M2, we believe that leadership is about creating the conditions for those around you to thrive. It is through this value-centered, people-first lens that we will create fully human workplaces where people thrive while doing great things together.

Our Leadership Foundations are modular workshops that can be offered as stand alone courses or, even more ideally, offered collectively as a comprehensive approach to leader development. The eight Leadership Foundations Courses fall into three primary categories: Lead Yourself First, Leading Others With a Growth Mindset, and Leading Inclusive and High-Performing Teams. We partner with you to design an implementation approach that best meets your needs.

While these foundational courses are perfect for first-time managers, we know that leaders at every level benefit from going back-to-basics, and bringing more intention to how they show up every day. We can partner with you to tailor these offerings to more senior levels, or to develop strategies for involving senior leaders to support the learning of newer managers as participants or mentors. Read more below or DOWNLOAD THE INFO PACKET.

01

Lead Yourself First

THE LEADERSHIP MINDSET

In this foundational course, leaders will deepen their understanding of their role as "people leaders" and codify their unique leadership values. The outcomes of this work will provide managers with anchor points for future learning and lenses through which to view their choices and actions as leaders.

MANAGING YOURSELF: SELF AWARENESS AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

In order to lead others we must first learn to lead ourselves so that we show up with intention and purpose. In this course, participants will explore the importance of emotional intelligence and emotional regulation as managers. They will walk away better equipped to foster healthy relationships and get the most out of others.

UNCONSCIOUS BIAS FOR MANAGERS

Inclusive leadership is now the only kind of leadership. In this course, we will learn science of unconscious bias and how each person's unique lens on the world impacts their management style. Participants will learn concrete tools for recognizing and mitigating bias in their day-to-day actions across the employee life cycle.

02

Leading others with a growth mindset

THE LEADER AS COACH

The best leaders are great coaches. In this course, participants will learn how to develop, engage and empower others through the critical skillset of coaching. We combine science-backed learning about the power of growth and autonomy in human motivation and then provide tools and practice necessary to develop real-world coaching skills.

GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK

Feedback is a critical tool for developing ourselves and others, but it is inherently difficult to both give and receive. In this course, participants build the skills, confidence, and vocabulary to take the fear out of tough conversations and deliver feedback that is rooted in empathy and a growth mindset.

INVESTING IN CAREER GROWTH

Help them grow, or watch them go. The most engaged employees are those who believe their work is contributing to their individual aspirations and interests. In this course, participants will first define the difference between development and career progression. They will then learn concrete tools for engaging employees by developing authentic developmental relationships and have opportunity to practice practice putting those tools to use.

03

LEADING INCLUSIVE AND HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMS

LEADING THROUGH SHARED PURPOSE AND MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Work is increasingly done by teams, but rarely do we engage managers in thinking about how to lead their teams as collective units that can achieve more together. In this course, participants will learn the science behind team effectiveness, as well as how to engage team members through shared purpose and ways of working. Whether they manage one person or ten, leaders will walk away with proven tools and frameworks that they can implement immediately.

INCLUSIVE + INNOVATIVE TEAMS

Engaged, innovative, human workplaces are workplaces where people feel they truly belong and where they can bring their best, boldest ideas without fear of negative repercussions. To create these environments, leaders at every level must be purposeful about creating psychologically safe and inclusive teams that welcome each individuals's unique experiences, identity, and working style. In this fun and interactive class, participants will explore the science of psychological safety and belonging at work and acquire practical tools for bringing out the best in others through purposeful action.