Reflective leadership for successful teams
A 10 credit (5 ECTS) module taught by the Sheffield University Management School as part of the Sheffield International Summer School 2026.
Module overview
This module aims to develop students into effective and valuable team players and leaders through practical exercises and self-reflection. It provides a strong foundation in leadership and teamwork theories, an understanding of factors that contribute to effective leadership and teamwork. Students strengthen their self-awareness for their behaviour as leaders and team members, ultimately leading to an improvement of skills in both areas.
Module prerequisites
Applicants must be registered at another university and be achieving an equivalent of UK 2:2 (50%) or US GPA 2.7. Current first year students who do not yet have grades should provide a transcript confirming the modules they're enrolled on and an academic reference.
Students not from a majority English speaking country must be able to provide evidence of having English language at the following level: IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.
Learning outcomes
Students joining this module will learn how:
- To critical evaluate leadership and teamwork theories, and apply them to cases while considering influencing factors
- To critically discuss the principles of leader development and their implications for practice
- To draw on theories of leadership and teamwork to evaluate their own practice and team working skills
- To use increased self-awareness of own leadership behaviours to develop own leadership and team working skills.
Assessment details
The core of this module is your development, both as a leader and as a team member. Assessment is designed to support your learning journey, encouraging you to apply theory, develop self-awareness, and reflect on your growth throughout the course. Assessment consists of the following components:
Knowledge Checks (Formative) - Short mini-assessments will take place during practical seminars to help you test your understanding of key concepts. These activities are designed to support your progress and encourage reflection on your learning and self-development.
Group Case Study and Presentation (70%) - You will work in diverse teams to analyse a real-world leadership and teamwork case study. Your group will identify the key challenges faced by the organisation and propose evidence-based recommendations, applying the theories and frameworks covered in the module. Each group will present its analysis to the lecturers and receive structured feedback. This assessment evaluates both your conceptual understanding and your ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting.
Individual Self-Development Plan (30%) - You will produce a short reflective development plan focusing on either leadership or teamwork (800-1,000 words). In this piece, you will evaluate your strengths and development areas and outline concrete steps to enhance your effectiveness. Students are encouraged to draw on their reflections and self-assessments from the knowledge check activities completed during the seminars.
Programme details
Teaching on this module consists of a range of interactive lecture sessions and field trips on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from Monday 20 July to Friday 31 July covering the following themes:
- 1. Leadership Basics
In this session, we explore the foundations of leadership. You will examine key leadership traits such as personality, intelligence, and emotional intelligence, and reflect on your own strengths and development areas. We also analyse leadership behaviours and the role of context in shaping effectiveness. By the end of the session, you will critically reflect on how classical leadership theories apply to your own leadership development.
- 2. Inspiring and Influencing Others
In this session, we examine how leaders motivate, inspire, and build strong relationships. You will learn about transformational leadership and why high-quality leader-follower relationships drive engagement and performance. We also explore ineffective and destructive leadership styles, helping you recognise both positive and negative patterns. By the end of the session, you will begin shaping your own reflective and evidence-based leadership approach.
- 3. How Teams Really Work
In this session, we explore the psychology of teams. You will learn how groups develop, why conflict emerges, and how norms and conformity influence behaviour. We examine the role of personality and social identity in teamwork. By the end of the session, you will be able to reflect on your own team experiences and apply psychological insights to improve collaboration.
- 4. Building Effective Teams
In this session, we explore what drives team performance. Using the Input-Process-Output model, you will learn how team design, skills, diversity, and roles influence outcomes. We analyse communication, decision-making, psychological safety, and the role of emotions in teams. By the end of the session, you will be able to critically evaluate team effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
- 5. Leading Diverse Teams
In this session, we examine how diversity shapes modern leadership. You will explore how stereotypes and bias influence performance, and learn about stereotype threat and inclusive leadership. We also consider how culture shapes leadership expectations in global organisations. By the end of the session, you will understand how to reflect on your own assumptions and turn diversity into a strategic advantage.
- 6. Diagnosing and Improving Teams
In this session, we focus on understanding and improving team performance. You will identify common team dysfunctions and explore practical, evidence-based strategies to strengthen trust, accountability, and collaboration. We examine key leadership and teamwork skills such as communication, influence, emotional intelligence, and coaching. By the end of the session, you will be able to reflect on team challenges and apply tools to enhance performance.
- 7. Leading in a Digital World
In this session, we explore leadership in remote and hybrid environments. You will analyse the opportunities and challenges of virtual teamwork, including communication barriers, trust building, and work-life boundaries. We examine strategies for leading virtual teams effectively and consider how artificial intelligence is reshaping collaboration and decision-making. By the end of the session, you will understand why future leaders need both digital fluency and strong human-centred capabilities.
Teaching staff
Dr Cristian A. Vasquez is a Lecturer in Leadership at the Institute of Work Psychology, Sheffield University Management School. His research examines the role of emotions in leadership and team dynamics, focusing on how leaders and team members influence performance through emotion regulation. He also studies workplace interventions aimed at improving employee wellbeing, exploring how they are implemented at individual, team, and organisational levels and why they succeed in different contexts.
Dr Vasquez teaches leadership and organisational psychology to a diverse international student community, helping students connect research with real-world leadership challenges. His work has been published in leading journals including the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, and the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology.
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