Menu
Log in
Forgot password
Log in
The Legacee Academy

Upcoming Short Courses and Full Classes
  • Upcoming Online Courses

See What's Coming up


Walters Art Mueseum, Sappho and Alcaeus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912)

 



These programs is designed by Murray Johannsen, a business owner and a professor at both Korea University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Mr. Johannsen has an MBA from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in Psychology from Harvard University. Feel free to contact him through LinkedIn or by email. 

 

Develop Expertise Useful in the Real World

  • Vices and Virtues: Getting Good To Be Great (Concentration: Transformational Mind-set)

    • 10-Sep-2018
    • 12-Nov-2018
    • A 4-module Online Program. Offered as SELF-PACED Learning For 4-Weeks (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop) OR As a SHORT COURSE Over 8-Weeks (Level II Learning: Skill Building)
    Register


    Image from the ceiling from the Sistine Chapel. Painting by Michelangelo

    A Program For You, Your Children and Grandchildren — Learn It Yourself — Teach It To Them

     

    Finding flaws matter. After all, your strengths get you hired, your weaknesses get you fired. Yet most people would not know how many flaws they have let alone whether they have a fatal flaw. 

    There is nothing worse then finding out you can't advance due to factors you control.

    Those who wish to lead and live an ethical life understand the importance of building habits known as virtues to counteract the tendency for us do bad things. It's like an ethical vaccine preventing descent into the abyss of bad habits, negative emotions and unproductive states.

    Those with the moral authority to lead, have virtues followers identify with.  More importantly, they Take Action to practice and install these in day-to-day activities that make up work and life. After all, it’s a poor sort of ethical system if you can't use it to guide daily decisions and actions.  

    By taking this class you will learn:

    • Why humans are good and bad: but you can choose the good
    • how to reveal your flaws and search for the elusive fatal flaw
    • A powerful way to evolve yourself by defining your virtues
    • About installing your virtues —it’s about making yourself better

    Module 1: You’re Good and You’re Bad: The Paradox of Your Mind

    "Everybody has good and bad forces working with them, against them, and within them.” ― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

    “The insufferable arrogance of human beings to think that Nature was made solely for their benefit, as if it was conceivable that the sun had been set afire merely to ripen men's apples and head their cabbages.” — Cyrano De Bergerac


    Antonio Canova (1757–1822) Justice. Image by: Fondazione Cariplo

    Module Description

    The Ego, as the primary part of the mind that deals with realty, also has some characteristics that prevent it from achieving happiness. This session looks at a number of these limitations.

    Freud was the first Western psychologist to point out the Ego was wrapped in a cocoon of largely unconscious mechanisms that protect—the way a blanket protects a baby. However, in adults, these Ego defense mechanisms filter and distort realty in ways that prevent the Ego from dealing with anxiety and dangerous truths. And so the Ego stays immature--often entering a state of arrested development.

    Learning Objectives

    Level I: Knowledge and Understanding

    • Understand the major flaws associated with human nature.
    • Know the common model used in Western psychology for the nature of of your mind.


    Level II: Skills Development

    • Develop the insight to discover your flaws and search for the Fatal Flaw
    • Document your flaws as they exist.
    • Develop the insight to know what will make you virtuous
    • Develop the self-discipline to be able to develop a virtue.

    Key Concepts

    • Morality and Ethics
    • The Ego and The Unconscious
    • Jung" Shadow
    • Karma
    • Postive
    • Negative
    • Self-deception and Cognitive bias
    • Ego (Neurotic) Ego Defense Mechanisms


    Module 2: The Search For The Fatal Flaw

     “A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most.”  ― George Bernard Shaw

    Hieronymus Bosch The Seven Deadly Sins

    Hieronymus Bosch- The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things

    Module Description

    If each of us that the potential to do good and bad, we should understand the nature of the bad in hopes that we can prevent this from occurring. In other words, assuming free will (a big assumption), you will choose what path you travel down. Just as important, is your ability to recognize pathologies in others. In this case, we are going to focus on traits and behaviors, the kind of thing you can observe in yourself and see in others.

    In this module, you will do what very few people do — document your flaws. For example, if you ask the average person what their top ten weaknesses are, they would look confused, the offended before going into denial that they have any flaws at all. Or perhaps they will give you a fake one—the kind of thing that you would do if you were in an interview.

    The search for the fatal flaw is a characteristics that will cause you no end of grief if you do not take care of it.

    "Power Corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." — Lord Acton. Said in 1887, these words still ring true today. But you should also understand that, money corrupts just as much as power.

    Learning Objectives

    Level I: Knowledge and Understanding

    • Identify the definitions of the seven deadly sins.
    •  Understand how Allport defined the different category of personality traits.
    •  Discover the Big Five personality traits

    Level II: Skill Development

    • Capture your "bad" personality traits..
    • Document your top sins and explain why these are a problem.
    • Document insights into emotions/states of mind that are considered to be weaknesses.

    Key Concepts

    • The Seven Deadly Sins
    • Negative emotions
    • Harmful states of mind
    • Personality Traits
    • Cardinal
    • Central
    • Secondary
    • The Fatal Flaw


    Module 3: Evolve Your self — Define Your Virtues

    “The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.” ― Elizabeth Taylor

    “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” ― George Washington

    Module Description

    Most people, that vast majority I belief, never ask themselves what they should be, what they should become by the time they check out of life. Sure, everyone focus on money and having lots of it, but very few focus on this issues of the character. Do you want be kind? Or is this unimportant. How about creative? Or resilient? or Optimistic? It seems strange that we would spend more time on our taxes in a year than we would what kind of person we should be. In this section, you will put together a profile for your "Ideal Self."

    Learning Objectives

    Level I: Knowledge and Understanding

    • Understand the nature of the ideal self.
    • Know the nature of moral virtues as defined by the Catholic Church
    • Know that there are competitive traits helpful in sports
    • Identify traits commonly associated with great leadership

    Level II: Skill Development

    • Define a set of future roles you would like to play on the stage of life.
    • Evaluate what set of virtues will help you to play your next to rooms.

    “Virtues are too difficult,” I told him, shaking my head. “Look how old you are and you’ve hardly made a dent in them. I’ll admit, you seem to have zeal nailed, as well as faith and temperance. Self control? I’ve got my doubts based on your recent actions. I’m not seeing the kindness, love or generosity, either. That humility thing seems to be pretty far beyond your reach, too. Really, really far. I’m sorry to tell you this, but from what I can see, the sin of pride is a major component of your character. Dude, you’re old. You should have these things pretty well ticked off your shopping list by now. I’m seriously disappointed. Seriously.”

    ― Debra Dunbar, A Demon Bound

    Module 4: Take Action

    "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle

    “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor, 121-180 AD. 

    Image taken by: Murray Johannsen

    “Where we stand in times of controversy is a measure of our character,” said the Rev.  Jesse Jackson, an Apple shareholder who attended the meeting. “Some leaders only follow opinion polls. Others stand up for their principles, refuse to compromise, and mold opinion. We have such a leader of Apple, Tim Cook.” Benner, (2016) Apple Shareholders Show Their Support for Tim Cook, New York Times, Feb 25..

    Module Description

    Once you know your starting point and your destination, you still have to get from here to there. And this frankly, is the hard part. It's easy to come up with the map, it's hard to walk down the path. For what you are striving to do is reduce your bad behaviors, flaws and sins and substitute a better set of behaviors which we call the virtues.

    Unfortunately, this is not like taking a class, which you will only due once. You will have to practice many times. And you will find that sometimes you take a step forward, you will take a step back and it seems like you are standing in place. Don't worry about it. 

    Learning Objectives

    Level I: Knowledge and Understanding

    • Understand the nature of procrastination
    • Understand why few have strong self-control and will-power to resist temptations
    • Discover how Ben Franklin was able to develop his virtues

    Level II: Skills Development

    • Practice using the same technique as Ben Franklin Technique to develop your virtues.
    • Develop a combination of techniques to mentally practice developing one virtue that is not being used.

    Other Skills To Develop

    • Reflection
    • Insight
    • Self-Control

    “Don't make another's pain the source of your own happiness.” ― Mark Frost, The Paladin Prophecy

     Your Learning Options                                   Polices and Procedures

    Show details

  • TOUGH AS NAILS: Enhancing Resilience, Persistence and Mental Toughness (Concentration: Transformational Mindset)

    • 17-Sep-2018
    • 28-Oct-2018
    • A 6-module Online Program. Available as a FULL CLASS with an Instructor Over 6-weeks. (Level I Learning: Expertise Developmnt)
    Register

    “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” — Kennedy Family Motto

     

    This class is about developing more insight into the kind of success required to deal to deal with difficult times and challenging situations. 

     For example, to be resilient in the face of adversity is one of the most important elements of successful entrepreneurs.

    Learn, Practice and Improve of psychological pillars that help you to overcome adversity.


    "Remember, anything worth doing, is going to be difficult." — M. Johannsen, Advice to future entrepreneurs

    Want More Info?

                  Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

    Show details

  • Skill-Based Expertise: What You Must Know to Build Skills Faster (Concentration: Skill-Based Learning)

    • 17-Sep-2018
    • 29-Oct-2018
    • A 4-Module On-Line Program. A 4-module Online Program. Offered as SELF-PACED Learning For 4-Weeks (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop) OR As a SHORT COURSE Over 8-Weeks (Level II Learning: Skill Building)
    Picture by neurovelho, Sheet Music is the essential theory underlying the creation of all music.

    A FULL CLASS IN THE SKILL-BASED LEARNING CONCENTRATION

    “Our knowledge can only be finite while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.” -- Karl Popper, Austrian philosopher

    Course Overview

    In the 21st Century, each of us must continually upgrade knowledge and skills. To not do so means we risk unemployment, under employment and a life of stagnant wages. While we live in an Information Age, few schools and universities bother to teach us how to convert theory into skills. Few understand the steps–the processundefinedof how to build skills. The goal of this class is to accelerate someone going from the novice stage to the mastery stage.

    This course presents many insights useful in:

    Defining Skill-based Theory. Not all theory is can be turned into a skill. Discover how to tell what works and what does not.

    Module 1. Must Know Theories For Learning New Behaviors

    “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -- Leo Tolstoy

    Image by: Luxmart Art

    Knowing how to get the most out of learning a new behavior means we have to step back and know what understand motivates it. There are three of behavioral theories: classical conditioning, operant conditioning and vicarious learning. You will discover the role each plays, the importance of knowing how to use this ourselves., and ways to apply it.

    Module 2. The Major Cognitive Learning Models

    “You tend to become what you think about.” -- Earl Nightengale: The Greatest Secret


    Roden: The Thinker: Image by: Yair Haklai

    Module Description

    The second major school of learning in psychology relates to cognition. Here the focus is on the black box of the mind, not on observable behavior. Inside the black box, there are many processesundefinedprocesses that run outside of conscious awareness. For example, listening is an extremely important mental process that has few observable elements.

    To learn how to listen, we must go in inside the black box and make changes. This module first looks at general theories of learning then it focuses on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory as one of the more important models affecting our ability to learn.

    3. Discovering Skill-Based Theory 

    “It AIN’T so much the things we don’t know that get us into trouble. It’s the things we know that just ain’t so.” undefined Mark Twain


    Page from book illustration fungi (or mycology) of different species. Woodcut and text. Done in 1581.

    Sound theory one can turn into a skill is surprisingly hard to find. Chefs know that no matter how one cooks the food, bad ingredients still produce tasteless food. It’s a variation of garbage in and garbage out —bad theory produces crummy results. Discover guidelines on how to evaluate the content, determine appropriate context and judge the “experts” to reduce the possibility of trying to build a flawed skill based on bad theory.

    One should take a look at theory from a couple of different aspects. The first is validity; i.e. do you think the method will actually work. There are many theories and models invented by professors which really aren’t valid, despite what the statistical models say.

    The second framework of analysis on how detailed the method is. Does it give you enough information to be able to mentally or physically practice.

    Module 4. The Legacee Skill Model

    “Fire! Ready! Aim!” undefined American saying

    Before on goes on a journey, it’s good to have a map. Before one builds a skill, it’s important to have a Content Learning Guide. The guide helps to flesh out the thinking process. to clearly define theory, process, outcomes and a methodology for learning.

    Goal setting is an important part of the process. Many of us have been exposed to goal setting at work. However, the process that we use in this class is different that what is done in business or government. The first part of goal setting is to use language to draft on a piece of paper what types of results one is looking for. The second phase of the process is to change the words in to images. Many would argue the the images are more important than the words. This is our view as well.

    Show details

  • The Quest of Heroes (Concentration: The Transformational Mindset)

    • 29-Oct-2018
    • A Single Module Online Program. Offered Self-Paced for 30-days (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop)
    Register


    Painting of Joan of Arc

    If you act to change the existing order of things, you are on the Quest of Heroes. This gives you a great and noble purpose, to fundamentally make your world a better place. For in the structure the hero's journey, we see our own struggles to achieve. 

    The story of the hero is ancient, yet still alive today. Many of our greatest works of literature and our most popular movies have as their fundamental focus the Quest of the Hero. 

    And in the story of the hero, we see our own story—or what might be your own story. For it is true today as it was in the past, that doing anything great is going to be difficult. 

    Yet, we can earn from those who have gone before, and make our own road easier, the journey quicker, the path less likely to end up in failure.

     

      Learning Objectives
      Level I: Knowledge and Understanding
        • Identify the essential elements needed to move from average to great.
        • Delve into the power of myth to understand the challenges you will face.
        • Get inspiration from the Hero archetype in the great stories from the past 
        • Understand the Four Core Competencies of Transformational Leaders
        • Know why transformational leaders and Great Founders need to act less like managers and more like heroes.
        Level II: Skills Development
        • Assess where you are on your Quest
        • Choose your path, construct your vision for what you will do next
        • Find two heroes that will serve as an example and source of inspiration
        • Delve into identifying flaws limiting your success

        We all face a choice, to strive to do something great or to die forgotten. Don't become just a name on a stone — unremembered after the children and grandchildren are gone. 

        For Heroes do great things, not mundane things. And because they do great things, they will not die forgotten.


        Pallas Athena statue, in front of the building of the Parliament in Vienna, Austria. Image by: Zebulon

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • The Breakfast of Champions: Changing Others With Feedback (Concentration Communication Skills)

        • 29-Oct-2018
        • A Single Module Online Program. Offered Self-Paced for 30-days (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop)
        Register


        There is no 



        Show details

      • WORD MAGIC — 6 Must Have Interpersonal Communication Skills (Concentration: Verbal Communication)

        • 05-Nov-2018
        • 16-Dec-2018
        • A 6-module Online Program. Offered as SELF-PACED Learning For 6-Weeks (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop) OR As a SHORT COURSE Over 12-Weeks (Level II Learning: Skill Building) (Also in Concentration: Leadership Foundations)
        Register

         "Just because you have two ears and a mouth, doesn't mean you know how to communicate." -- A Mother's Advice To Her Son.

        7

        Despite it importance, few people spend the time to really understand it or to improve the component skills of interpersonal communication. So you might way, the competition is weak.

        Still, at some point in climbing the organizational latter, your skills in this area will either make you or break you. Make the  investment in interpersonal communication skills, it will pay off many times over.

        What Employers Want When Hiring


         Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers 2018 Job Outlook Survey

        Still, at some point in climbing the organizational latter, your skills in this area will either make you or break you. Make the  investment in interpersonal communication skills, it will pay off many times over.

         

        LEARN THESE 6 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
        • TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION: Using the Full-Duplex Method to drastically reduce miscommunication
        • LISTENING Skills: Six types of listening: Five that improve listening and one that doesn't
        • NONVERBAL Communication: How to better read face and hear the meaning in tones and intonation
        • The Use of QUESTIONS: Eight types of questions that shape a conversation
        • Your RELATIONSHIPS: How to generate positive impressions, increase trust, & be better liked
        • INTERVIEWING: Most people don't spend the time needed to polish their communication skills before the interview. And so, they lose the job. Don't let this happen to you.

        Module Descriptions












                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • SKILL MAPPING: How To Refine Expertise & Skills (Concentration: Skill Mapping)

        • 05-Nov-2018
        • 16-Dec-2018
        • A 6-module Online Program. Offered as SELF-PACED Learning For 6-Weeks (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop) OR As a SHORT COURSE Over 12-Weeks (Level II Learning: Skill Building)
        Register

        "A competitive world has two possibilities for you. You can lose. If you want to win, you can change." — Lester Thurow, former Dean, MIT Sloan School.

        Standing pat on existing competencies is a recipe for disaster; for skills today are not the one's you’ll need tomorrow.

        The path to success has been compared to climbing a mountain. The greater the achievement, the tougher the climb. To succeed, you will need climbing skills. But first, you need a map. For it doesn't pay to be lost and confused, uncertain of direction, full of doubt over what roles you want to play, what mountain you want to climb. 

        There is a solution, a method called Skill Mapping. It's a set of practical techniques that allow you to decide the work role(s) wanted, the skills needed and the actions required. So first come up with a map you can follow then build the skills you need. There are six modules in this course presented as steps on a journey.

        Steps You Must Take To Map Your Future

        1. Define Your Current and Future Roles

        2. Continually Scan the Environment

        3. Document Opportunities and Threats

        3. Know Thyself

        5. Define Strengths and Weaknesses

        6. Take Action

        Take as an on-line class or with your own Master Instructor for individualized mentoring and coaching on the Dual Track

         

        Step 1: Visualize Current and Future Roles

        "The door of opportunity frequently opens for those best prepared to walk through it." — Murray Johannsen


        Roles aren't just played in Hollywood and Bollywood. On the stage of work, you can be a bit player or a star. Imagine your future roles a future you define — not your boss, not your parents, not your university — you.

        Now you will be looking at three roles, your current one, the next one and your aspirational role. After all, if you don't have a destination on the journey of life, you are forever lost. 

        Step 2: Continuously Scan the Environment


        Sure, you can surround yourself with a zone of complacency and now understand what's going on. But the world is stronger than your security blanket. You might as well know as to be ignorant.    

        Step 3: Decide on Your Threats and Opportunities

        "Luck is what you call it when preparation meets opportunity." — Gen. David Petraeous, Frequent Saying, Washington Post, June 23, 2010


        You’ll be in the career slow lane if you can’t sense opportunity. Worse, you can lose what you have if you don’t deal with primary threats. Be a strategist — of your own career. 

        Globalization is not all peace, love and happiness. The evolving global economic structure has created a number of real threats and possible threats that will have to be dealt with and planned for. This section will look at existing threats and highly probable ones impacting global business.

        It was once said that opportunity is often masked as an insurmountable problem. Since there are no lack of problems in the world, we all must be surrounded by opportunity.

        Unfortunately, very few people know what opportunity is let alone sense it. To paraphrase a Winston Churchill hill saying, "The average man trips over opportunity, but quickly stands up and keeps going."

        Step 4:  Assess Your Core 5 Competencies

        “You get hired because of your strengths, fired because your weaknesses.” — Murray Johannsen


        Image by: AnonMoos

        You can't easily change your traits, but you can build your skills. Some skills are always in demand and always pay well. Paradoxically, these are often skills not taught in the universities.  

        In the Core Five model, every role has a unique set of five competencies. They are:

        • Technical. 

        • Leadership. 

        • Management. 

        • Strategy and Tactics, and 

        • Self-Mastery. 

        Be smart — build what the universities don't teach you but corporations want — and what your desired roles require  

        Step 5:  Determine Your Own Strengths and Weaknesses

        “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

        “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ― Abraham Lincoln

        As Legacee’s founder likes to say, “Your strengths get you hired, your weaknesses get you fired." There’s nothing worse than being blind-sided; you can’t fix what you don’t know was broken. 

        And remember, no great dream is every achieved with the strengths you now have. Iif you see yourself as an unfinished work, as someone who doesn’t want the same job for 30 years, as a person who wants to move up the ladder of success, you better work on those weaknesses.

        Step 6: Take Action


        Mapping. On the journey of life, you better have a map or you will always be lost. That's the purpose for the first six steps. 

        Once map has given you the layout and your destination, but one must choose from among different paths to get there. For example, skills needed must be built and ignorance diminished.   

        This is the Routing. Choosing the best path is not so easy when you have lots of alternatives to sort through.

        One has to figure out how this has to be done. Understand that there are others who can do your job and machines might as well so forever build skills. Don't stop  

        This is where assessments, a mentor, or a coach comes in handy — it’s vital to get feedback from an expert. They can provide specific details only someone who really mastered a skill is capable of knowing.

        And to make the course more enjoyable, there are:

        • Memorable Quotes. Lots of them from the famous and the wise.

        • Beautiful Images. Numerous paintings from the old masters. After all, eyes were not made to see in black and white.

        Want More Information?

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures


        Show details

      • LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS: What You Must Know About Leadership (Concentration: Leadership Foundations)

        • 12-Nov-2018
        • 30-Dec-2018
        • A Six-Week On-Line Class (Concentration: Leadership Foundations). Ends: Dec. 17.
        Register


            

        "There are no dead-end jobs. There are only dead-end people." -- Thomas Sowell, writer

        Just as a house cannot stand without a strong foundation, so it is with leadership. To lead, one must study leadership. 

        A common failing of the business schools is to clearly distinguish between the role of manager and leader. Typically, professors teach that leadership is a small subset of management, all you have to do is "mange" people. Ya, sure. .

        It implies that all managers need to do is act like an orchestra director, wave the wand, and beautiful music will come forth. And of course, they assume that people want to be "managed."

        The truth is, people want someone who will lead them, someone they can follow. Instead, they suffer under managers who boss them around and manage them the same way they manage the work.

        Module 1: The Nature of Being a Manager and a Leader


        One of the sources of confusion even in the minds of the business professors, is the difference between functioning as a manager and acting like a leader. Both are critically important roles for those going into business and government. So while there are no lack of educational programs to teach management, there are fewer that focus on leadership.

        Module 2: Choosing the Right Leadership Style

        Image by Majorly

        A style differs from a trait in a very fundamental way. For while traits are difficult (some say impossible) in the short run to change, the choice of a style should be based on the situation (context). Of course, many leaders lack behavioral flexibility, they cannot change their style based on the situation. For example, autocratic leaders are typically stuck, it is the only style they know so they keep using it even when it doesn't make sense. The style one choose in a crisis is different than the one exercises in times of less stress. Knowing what style to choose and when to choose it is an extremely important aspect of leadership.

        Module 3: The Best Leadership Traits

        Edmund Leighton (1853–1922): Duty

        The focus here is on the focus on Expectancy Theory: how what the leader expects and what the followers expect become dominant factors. The focus in on both the expectations and the nature of the situation. Some aspects of this include: defining goals, clarifying the path, removing obstacles and providing support.

        Module 4: Leadership Skills — What to Develop and How to Development Them

        Image by Cruz

        The accounting profession has it work, people are not expenses on the income statement, they are really assets on the balance sheet. And assets appreciate or depreciate. If you want an human assets to appreciate, it's all about growing knowledge and skills. This session looks at the skills and knowledge leaders must build.

        Module 5: What Leaders Must Know About Power and Influence

        Image by: Mgiganteus

        For leaders to be effective, they must exert power, they must know how to influence. There are many different types of influence, and it is a smart leader who knows what type of influence to use in what situation. Learn about personal and positional power, selfish and social influence and nine different types of influence that you can cultivate and develop.

        Module 6: Why Followers Follow

        Image: Ali Mansuri

        Leaders don't operate in a vacuum, to understand leaders, you have to focus on followers. They have certain needs that leaders should be aware of, they can even cause a leader to do stupid things. Some followers choose leaders with virtues, others choose those with pathologies. It's important to understand why one is attracted to a certain type of leader since it tells you a great deal about yourself—both your good points and your bad ones. 


        Show details

      • The Psychology of Leadership (Concentration: Leadership Foundations)

        • 12-Nov-2018
        • 30-Dec-2018
        • A Six-Module On-Line Full Class
        Register


        Portrait of Ben Franklin



         



        This is due to the fact that leadership is influence, and we don't influence things, we influence people. And the more you understand about how cognition affects behavior, the better you will understand what you see.



        Module 1: How To Emerge as a Leader


        Edmund Leighton (1853–1922) God Speed


        Assume you have just been given a position with a new title—you are in charge of a group of strangers. The title and the position help, but you still have a challenge, you must emerge as there leader.



        Module 2: What Makes a Group a Group and a Team a Team


        Shea Smith drops back to pass. Image by BrokenSphere


        Another type of leader in demand in today's world is the one you can build teams. A team leader is difficult, much tougher than being a supervisor of a group. However, teams are worth going after since teams out perform groups. And companies that know how to develop teams and their leaders typically out perform those who don't.



        Module 3: Avoiding The Bad Leader


        Stalin, Lenin, Kalinin in 1919. Image by: E rulez


        We tend to focus on the good, but we also need to understand the bad. Bad leadership has two aspects to it: the first is the person who is not effective as a leader, who has little influence or who has to rely almost exclusively on authority. A second dimension is the person who has a great deal of influence who can cause people who can engage in unethical or immoral actions.


        Module 4: Personality Traits 




        Traits are characteristics, patterns of behavior and thinking that are consist over time. They are also strong tendencies to act in a similar way across many different types of situations. For example, an introvert consistently will not say much, while the extrovert is continuously uses the voice. For leaders, traits are valuable in two ways. First, by identifying traits in another, one can predict how that person will act in the future. Secondly, it is reasonable to assume that certain traits associated with the being a leader and others associated with being a follower.


        Module 5: The Psychology of Success


        Viribus Unitis. Image by Tsui


        Success as a leader begins with understanding what goes on inside. For example, an entrepreneur must possess both management ability and leadership skills if the business is to grow. Learn what the psychologist's have identified some of the common aspects important in success.


        Module 6: Social Psychology — Understanding Organizational Culture


        Three Backfeet Chiefs, Image by MatGTAM

        Sad to say, one can succeed as a leader in one culture and miserably fail in another. It's important to understand the key organizational and national differences that impact leader influence. Rather than look at all national cultures, the focus is on East and West.


        Want More Details?              Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • Unlock the Power of REFLECTION: How To Learn From Experience

        • 19-Nov-2018
        • 16-Dec-2018
        • A 4-Module On-Line Program (Mastery Practices Concentration)
        Register


        “People Don't Learn From Experience” — J. Edward Deming

        That 15 years of experience on a resume? it's mostly one-year of experience repeated 15 times. It's true, most people don't learn from experience. Despite it's importance, reflection is rarely taught. And because it is not taught, we:

        a.  Keep making similar mistakes over and over again,

        b. Don't learn from practice

        c. Keep doing the same thing the same way, but always expect a better result. 

        But you can  learn a better way, a way of evaluating experience and behaviors to determine what's working and what's not. 

        "Life teaches but only if your are willing to learn." — Anonymous

        Learning Outcomes


        Level I: Knowledge and Understanding
        • Identify the causes for not learning from experience
        • Know the 4 major types of reflection
        • The 3 different ways it can be used
        • Discover the questions that can be answered with reflection
        Level II: Skills Development
        • Practice using reflection in difference situations.
        • Practice using it as a means of examining automatic behaviors.
        Learning Methodologies
        • 2 Videos and 10 Readings
        • 2 of Exercises and 2 of Assignments

        Special Bonus: Get a free Chapter from the ebook, "The Methods of Masters: How to Build the Skill of Building Skills."

        Remember: You have a Money—Back Guarantee 

        "Those who succeed learn from their mistakes. The really successful learn from other peoples mistakes." — Murray Johannsen


        Show details

      • Develop Top Drawer Relationships: Proven Techniques That Work (Concentration: Verbal Communication)

        • 03-Dec-2018
        • A 4-Week On-Line Self-Paced Course in the Verbal Communication Concentration (Level I Learning)
        Register


        Image by fazen

        The old saying, "It's not what you know but who you know has a great deal of truth. This module focuses on a key factor of success — your personal and professional relationships. Plus it expands your social capital. 

        Knowing how to relationships present many benefits. To sum up: 

        • Employees all want to work with someone they like, 

        • They only listen to those they trust, 

        They know how to convey a positive first impression,

        • They want to work for someone who has credibility, and 

        • They prefer to work with someone who has the empathic skills to deal with their less desirable emotions.

        And of course, one cannot exercise influence if the relationship is not sound. This is one thing, we never get too good at. 

        Not sure yet? Find Out More

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • Face To Face: Enhance Your Interpersonal Communication (Concentration: Verbal Communication)

        • 03-Dec-2018
        • A 4-Week On-Line Self-Paced Course in the Verbal Communication Concentration (Level I Learning)
        Register


        "How well we communicate is determined not by how well we say things, but by how well we are understood." Andrew Grove, CEO, Intel Corp., One-on-One With Andy Grove, (G. P. Putnam's and Sons, 1987)

        Module Description

        Enhancing the ability to communicate starts with understanding each of the components of the communication process. It means looking at the many sources of misunderstanding that can exist between you and another and taking appropriate action.


        Topics Covered

        • Communication In The Real World

        • Communication Models

        • Sender/Receiver Model

        • One and Two-Way Communication

        • The Full-Duplex Method 


        Want More Information?

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • Meditation: Learn It, Practice It, Experience It (Concentration: The Mastery Practices)

        • 03-Dec-2018
        • A 4-Week On-Line Full Class. A 4-module Online Program. Offered as SELF-PACED Learning For 4-Weeks (Level I Learning: Expertise Develop) OR As a SHORT COURSE Over 8-Weeks (Level II Learning: Skill Building)
        Register


        A Methods of Masters Practice Class

         “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -- Leo Tolstoy

        This Class is Designed For:

        • Those who are new to mediation.
        • Those who abandoned the technique but want to start again,
        • Those want to use it as a tool for skill building.

        Learn The Knowledge

        This is designed as an introductory class, presenting a fundamental understanding of why it is important to learn how to relax and meditate to prevent adverse psychological and physiological problems associated with stress.  

        Develop The Skill

        Inside the class there are a number of audios and videos providing samples of how one should practice. And there are exercises to go through and assignments to complete. The class also contains discussion forums and methods to get feedback from the instructor and class participants.

        One Will Learn:

        • How stress affects the mind and body,
        • Why meditation positively impacts the mind and body.
        • To use the breath as a means of relaxing,
        • To relax the voluntary muscles using the mind,
        • To choose an object for meditation and concentrate on this.

            

        Module 1: How Stress Affects the Mind-Body

        Image by: Uoaei1 Das Kreuz am Blassenstein bei Scheibbs (Niederösterreich), darunter dichter Nebel im Erlauf- und Donautal.

        Description

        Many people with rotten stress management techniques end up needing professional help. In some cases, this cry for help comes for the ravages of acute stress; in other cases, the health professional is seeing the impact of chronic stress.

        Chronic stress is a contributing factor to conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), ulcers, and atherosclerosis (closing of the arteries, typically around the heart.) While acute stress generates anxiety, worry and is associated nasty emotions such as anger.

        The module helps you understand the distress associated with stress.

        Learning Objectives

        • Discover the impact of acute and chronic stress on the body.
        • Know how stress impacts the normal functioning of the mind.
        • Know the relationship between stress, illness and immune suppression.
        • Understand how increasing stress levels impact work performance.

        Application Assignment

        • Produce a personal profile documenting your intellectual, emotional, behavioral, contextual and physiological stress symptoms.

        Module 2: Using the Breath To Relax

        Image Source; National Cancer Institute. Anatomy of the respiratory system, showing the trachea and both lungs, diaphram, and their lobes and airways.

        Description:

        For many, there is a vague understanding that when anxious, one breathes faster and shallower. At extreme levels of stress, some start breathing “like a dog” and will even hyperventilate.

        However, the reverse is also true, breathing slowly and deeply relaxes the mind and the body. However, few people understand how to use the breath to relax.

        This module will show you how to use the deep breath technique to quickly relax.

        Learning Objectives:

        • Discover the relationship between the breath and feeling anxious or feeling relaxed.
        • Experiment with slow breathing to control and reduce stress.
        • Practice using the deep breath technique to reduce anxiety.

        Application Assignment

        • Practice using the different variations of the Deep Breath Technique to reduce the impact of stressors in our life.

        Module 3: Mastering the Fine Art of Progressive Relaxation

        Source: Welcome Trust. Muscles Man’, Pseudo-Galen, Anathomia

        Description:

        Stress is associated with a physiological mechanism known as the “fight or flight” response; meditation is associated with the exact opposite mechanism, the relaxation response. So while stress results in anxiety and worry, meditation generates peace and serenity.

        Meditation has been used for thousands of years in the East, but it is relatively new to the West. Since it is relatively new, most people don’t understand its benefits. This module explains the primary benefits for learning meditation. Benefits that include but are not limited to reduction of stress and anxiety.

        Learning Objectives:

        • Understand the physical and psychological benefits associated with the regular practice of meditation.
        • Discover the positive aspect of meditation on the mind and body.
        • Learn the access steps necessary to enter a meditative state.

        Application Assignments

        • Practice accessing the meditative state. While meditating, choose between several different types of meditation objects. Explore how to better this special state of mind.

        Module 4: Learning How to Mediate

        A Mandala made available as a post on Google+ by the Dalai Lama

        Description:

        Stress is associated with a physiological mechanism known as the “fight or flight” response; meditation is associated with the exact opposite mechanism, the relaxation response. So while stress results in anxiety and worry, meditation generates peace and serenity.

        Meditation has been used for thousands of years in the East, but it is relatively new to the West. Since it is relatively new, most people don’t understand its benefits. This module explains the primary benefits for learning meditation. Benefits that include but are not limited to reduction of stress and anxiety.

        Learning Objectives:

        • Understand the physical and psychological benefits associated with the regular practice of meditation.
        • Discover the positive aspect of meditation on the mind and body.
        • Learn the access steps necessary to enter a meditative state.

        Application Assignments

        • Practice accessing the meditative state. While meditating, choose between several different types of meditation objects. Explore how to better this special state of mind.

        About the Instructor

        With degrees in Pharmacy, a MBA and a M.A. in Psychology, Murray Johannsen (bio) has a unique perspective in knowing how to use mediation to reduce the ravages of numerous stressors on both mind and body. He possesses deep knowledge and extensive experience on both the theory and practice of meditation and is skilled using and teaching mastery practices such as self-talk and visualization to jump start personal change and promote self-development. Questions? Feel free to contact him.

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • Leadership Communication Skills: What You Must Know to Influence a Group (Concentration: Verbal Communication)

        • 07-Jan-2019
        • 17-Feb-2019
        • A Six-Module Full Class On-Line
        • 10
        Register


         

        "When managers and other responsible persons in business organizations are asked how much of the work day is spent in communicating, the replies range from 85 to 99 percent." -- Harold Zelko and Frank Dance (1965)



        This course focuses on six essential leadership communication skills—the kind of skills that lead to increased levels of responsibility and increased pay. 

        After all, one cannot be effective as a leader if one doesn't posses stellar communication skills. 

        And really, you can never get too good at the art of communication.

        Modules include:










        Want More Information?

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details

      • POWERFUL THOUGHTS: Improving Your Performance With Self-Talk (Concentration: The Mastery Practices)

        • 14-Jan-2019
        • 17-Feb-2019
        • A 4-Module On-Line Class
        Register

        Charles Lennox-Wright (1876-1932): Catching a Dream

        Description

        "Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think." -- British Statesman, Benjamin Disraeli


        Our thoughts are a major reason we fail to get desired results. Yet, few individuals know how to improve the functioning of their most important asset -- the way their mind thinks. They never learned the long known self-talk techniques from psychology and Buddhism that improve thought and individual performance.

        Your mind is like a garden. But rather than growing beautiful flowers, the winds of thought instead carry the seeds of weeds. Rather than seeing something beautiful, you have a tangled mess. But you can clear the weeds by using self-talk. 

        This class focuses on how to better use your self-talk to cultivate thought patterns that produce better results.


        Module 1: How To Benefit From the Proper Use of Self-Talk

        Image by: Pilsmo: Skism

        It's unfortunate that the right and proper self-talk is not commonly known. It's like having a powerful engine in a high performance vehicle and then not putting any gas in the tank. 

        Knowledge and Understanding

        • Understand the nature and importance of self-talk.
        • Identify the downside of negative thinking and the upside of positive thinking.
        • Discover how to better monitor your self-talk.


        Module 2: Reducing the Impact of Negative Self-Talk

        "Those who have emotional problems engage in negative self-talk about 50 percent of the time." -- R. M. Schwartz


        Evelyn De Morgan: Hope in the Prison of Despair


        Pull The Weeds In the Garden of Your Mind. Periodically, all of us must engage in “weed pulling” to diminish the impact of negative thoughts and thinking. 

        Knowledge and Understanding

        • Identify the major limiting beliefs that keep you from being more successful
        • Recognize the different types of negative self-talk
        • Know how you can diminish the impact of limiting beliefs

        Skill Building Practice

        • Practice four methods designed to decrease negative self-talk.

        Module 3: Making Powerful Thoughts More Powerful

        Painting by Alexandre Antigna (1817–1878) Le Feu (The Fire)

        Painting by: Alexandre Antigna (1817–1878): Le Feu (The Fire

        Cultivate the Flowers. Besides cleaning out the weeds in your mental garden, it’s important to nurture the flowers. These are the empowering beliefs and thoughts that we need to have positive expectations of the future. And to do that, we must understand and practice positive self-talk. This includes learning how to think positively and constructing helpful affirmations.

        Knowledge and Understanding

        • Discover a set of affirmations own that you can employ.
        • Find out which makes for a good phrase and what makes for bad one.
        • Discover a set of positive beliefs that form your core based on critical incidents that happened in your life. 

        Skill Building Practice

        • Develop your own affirmations
        • Know how to mentally strengthen a given affirmation while practicing them.
        Module 4: Cognitive Restructuring: Advanced Techniques



        Both psychology and Buddhism have many methods one can use employ effective thinking. Not all of these are easily learned.

        Knowledge and Understanding

        • Expectations: The Pygmalion and the Galatea Effect
        • The Mystery of Setting Good Intentions
        • The major cognitive bias many fail to detect
        • Ego Defense Mechanisms: Which ones are likely to trip you up
        • What cures depression can cure cognitive bias: Key takeaways from cognitive-behavioral therapy

        Show details

      • Seeing With the Minds Eye: How to Construct Potent Imagery

        • 28-Jan-2019
        • 24-Feb-2019
        • A 4-Module On-Line Program (Concentration: The Mastery Practices)
        Register

        A Full Class in the Methods of Masters Concentration

        “The best way to learn something is by harnessing your imagination.” --  M. Johannsen

        University researchers in this area have long known that high performers in sports use a combination of real and mental practice.  Both produce better results than either used alone. These high performers know what the rest of us don’t -- how to use guided image as a tool of mental practice. STILL, most of us don't know who to use imagery to improve application skills 

        Module 1: Vision to Dreams: 10 Types of Imagery Used by the Mind

        “You face a choice in life. You can do what the system wants or you can define a vision for yourself.” -- Murray Johannsen

        Charles Allston Collins (1828–1873): Convent Thoughts
        Besides mind is a image processor. It uses imagery in many ways, often in ways we are not conscious of. Imagery has certain characteristics -- one needs to understand these elements to 

        • The Best Times to Use Imagery. Some times work better than others -- find out what they are.
        • Ten Types of Imagery you can use
        • Accessing Receptive Imagery. How to allow more unconscious content to surface.
        • Improve the up and down channels use of imagery is a much better way to presenting to the unconscious what you want.

        Module 2: How To Construct Powerful Goal Imagery


        You have to act like a writer who is putting together a script of the movie. The more detail, the better the movie. But it all starts with goals. One has to be clear 

        • Constructing Proper Goal Images. If the unconscious doesn't know what you want, it can't help you get there. 


        Module 3: How to Practice Using Process Imagery 

        "Only perfect practice makes perfect." -- Murray Johannsen

        Image by: SD Dirk: High Jump Triton Invitational 2011

        To really make it  In this ph

        • The Theater of the Mind. This is one powerful visualization method to see what comes next and to get it right.
        • Editing Your Movie. BeThere are a number of techniques 
        • Practicing Dissociated and Associated. Such a simple technique but one that really gets the job done.
        • Shifting From Director to Actor. 

        Module 4: Reflection
        Image by: Martin Basmajians

        Now comes the fun part undefined creating, changing and finessing your imagery. You can chose a number of different applications but the important thing is to practice. Practice and evolving the imagery that is being used. 

        • Fine-tune Reflection. Evaluate your practices and experiences with
        • Practice on a set of skills of your own choosing

        Want More Information?

                      Consult Our Guide                         Academy Polices and Procedures

        Show details



      Walters Art Mueseum, Sappho and Alcaeus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912) 
      • Upcoming Online Courses
      Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software