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Unlock Your Leadership Potential with Leadership Skills Clinics
Leadership Skills Clinics are action-oriented, short-term classes that build your confidence and capabilities in engineering teamwork and leadership. Each clinic comprises two or three interactive workshops separated by action intervals in which you will experiment with new skills and analyze the results. In addition to learning a new skill, each clinic will carry a 0.5 credit and a digital microcredential.
Complete six of them and earn a digital Engineering Leadership Foundations Badge to demonstrate your mastery on your resume, LinkedIn, and social media pages.
Total time commitment is 10-12 hours over 3-4 weeks. Each semester, clinics on several topics will be offered. These clinics are in-person only.
Engineering Leadership Skills Clinics Offered in Spring 2025
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ENGRG 4800 – Listening Skills
Listening Skills for Leaders teaches the foundational skill of transformational leadership.
You’ll learn a simple method for getting better information, creating empathy, and building better relationships through intentional listening.
During the action interval, you will apply these skills in real-world situations and reflect on your experience.
The final workshop is dedicated to sharing your ‘lessons learned’ and forming a plan to continue to develop leader listening skills.
- Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 8 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
- Thursday, April 15, 2025, 8 a.m. – 9:55 p.m.
- Thursday, April 22, 2024, 8 a.m. – 9:55 p.m.
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ENGRG 4810 – Inclusive Teams
Leading Inclusive Teams equips you with the skills to build stronger, more unified teams by embracing different perspectives and experiences.
In this course, you’ll learn how to create an environment where every team member—regardless of background or identity—feels valued and motivated. You’ll explore how welcoming a variety of viewpoints drives team performance, creativity, and collaboration.
Through hands-on application in real-world settings, you’ll practice these strategies and reflect on your experiences as both a leader and a team member. The final workshop is a chance to share your insights, set goals for your ongoing development, and leave with a concrete plan for fostering a culture of respect and connection wherever you lead.
Whether you’re leading a group project or preparing for future leadership roles, this course will help you harness the full potential of a team with varied strengths and perspectives.
- Thursday, March 13, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
- Thursday, March 20, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
- Thursday, March 27, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
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ENGRG 4830 – Giving Feedback
Giving Feedback develops the tools and language needed to offer feedback that drives growth and success—without the discomfort.
In this course, you’ll learn a proven framework for giving constructive feedback that’s clear, supportive, and motivating, helping both you and your peers perform at your best.
Whether it’s offering praise or addressing areas for improvement, you’ll gain the confidence to provide feedback that fuels team progress and individual development. Through real-world practice and reflection, you’ll refine your approach. In the final workshop, you’ll share insights, discuss challenges, and create a personalized plan to continue honing this essential leadership skill.
This course will equip you with a key tool for fostering trust, collaboration, and high performance—skills that will set you apart in any future leadership role.
- Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
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ENGRG 4840 – Effective Followership
Effective Followership, or Leading without Title, will redefine how you think about leadership—and your role in it.
In this course, you’ll discover that great leaders are also exceptional followers. You’ll learn the mindset and behaviors that allow you to add value to a team, influence outcomes, and contribute meaningfully—whether or not you hold the title.
By mastering the art of active followership, you’ll understand how to support your leaders, shape team dynamics, and drive success from any position. Through real-world application and reflection, you’ll develop these skills in practical situations.
The final workshop is your opportunity to share your key takeaways, reflect on your growth, and create a plan to continue cultivating this essential skill. This course will help you become a more effective, impactful team member—preparing you to excel in any future leadership role.
- Monday, April 7, 2025, 1:25 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
- Monday, April 21 2025, 1:25 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
Clinic Expectations
Although these clinics are low-commitment courses, don’t assume they’ll be an easy A. Before registering for a clinic, familiarize yourself with the expectations.
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Commit to Attending Class
These clinics are fast-paced, skills-based experiences. Missing just one class is like missing half a semester in a typical course. To earn credit, you must attend every session.
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Be Fully Present
Sure, we know you have a million things on your plate. You’re probably already thinking about dinner, the next assignment, or wondering, “Why did I sign up for this again?”
Here’s the thing: If you’re serious about getting the most out of these clinics, you’ll need to show up — not just physically, but mentally.
It’s tempting to sit back and coast, but trust us: Active participation if your best bet. You’ll not only learn faster, but you’ll also make the whole experience a lot more engaging. And just so you know, we’re not fans of being the “sage on the stage” either, so your involvement keeps the class dynamic.
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Engage. Leave Your Tech in Your Bag.
We’re all for tech — who isn’t? But while we might ask you to use your devices for quick pre-class activities (think surveys or interactive prep), we ask that you leave them aside during the clinic itself. Focus and presence matter here.
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Practice for Mastery
Attending class is just the beginning . To truly master these skills, you’ll need to put in the work outside the classroom. Think of it like a challenge — one that’s far more rewarding than your usual TikTok scroll. We promise, the effort you put in will pay off.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information, email us at engineering_leaders@cornell.edu.
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What is a clinic?
A “clinic” is an intensive, hands-on, skills-based workshop designed to provide you with practical leadership tools and experiences. Unlike traditional lectures, a clinic is typically short (two or three classes) and focused on developing specific competencies that are essential for effective leadership. The format emphasizes active participation, real-world applications, and personal growth.
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What if I get sick and miss a class? Or I have an interview and have to miss class? Or miss my bus back from NYC and can’t make it in time? Or…?
These clinics are fast-paced, skills-based experiences—missing just one class is like missing half a semester in a typical course. To earn credit, you must attend every session. If you are not able to make it to all of the classes (and you have been contributing up to that point) you will receive an Incomplete on your transcript and will need to retake the class at a future offering to remove the Incomplete.
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Do you offer Leadership Skills Clinics during the wintermester or summer?
At this time, we do not offer Leadership Skills Clinics during the wintermester or summer breaks.