This course is part of the Behavioural Science for Organisational Performance ExpertTrack
Identity & Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders (ExpertTrack)
Explore the psychology of team identity and learn to lead organisations with confidence.
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
3 hoursIncluded in an ExpertTrack
Course 3 of 3
Identity & Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders (ExpertTrack)
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Lead inclusively using behavioural science and identity-based strategies
Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all, but what the best leaders share is the ability to lead inclusively—with awareness, adaptability, and intention.
On this three-week course from Durham University, you’ll explore the psychology of identity and behaviour to understand how to lead effectively in diverse and international work environments.
Whether you’re new to leadership, preparing for a promotion, or managing a multicultural team, you’ll learn practical techniques to create shared team identities, navigate diversity-related anxieties, and improve organisational inclusion.
Understand how identity shapes behaviour in teams
You’ll begin by unpacking the personal versus social identities and why understanding this distinction is essential for effective leadership.
Reflecting on your own experiences (as a team member or a leader), you’ll grasp how social identity influences team behaviour and decision-making.
Apply behavioural strategies to shape inclusive team dynamics
Next, you’ll utilise behavioural insights to represent the team’s shared identity and reinforce inclusive leadership.
This course will also help you discover practical ways to build psychological safety, foster a sense of belonging, and elevate your team’s performance.
Navigate diversity-related anxiety and improve team resilience
Finally, you’ll explore the psychology behind diversity-related anxiety, such as stereotype threat and unconscious bias, and their impacts on productivity and well-being.
You’ll gain strategies to address these issues constructively and foster a more inclusive workplace culture.
By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped with identity-based tools to lead more effectively, support diverse teams, and drive meaningful inclusion in your organisation.
Syllabus
Week 1
Identities at Work
Welcome!
Ever wondered how identities might shape leadership in diverse teams? Join Karolina and Chuma’s 3-week course blending science and strategy to help you lead with insight and inclusion while boosting performance in diverse teams.
Who are you?
Who are you? Explore your identities and create your own identity map.
Personal and Social Identities
Now we will look at recognising the difference between personal and social identities.
Context, Salience and Dynamics
When and in what contexts do our personal and social identities matter in our daily work lives?
Summary
Well done on completing the first week of this course! Let's sum up the key take aways
References
A list of references from sources used in this week's learning materials
Week 2
Identity Leadership
Introduction
Let's take a deep dive into your team's shared social identity and explore behavioural strategies for you as a leader to shape and manage the shared social identity of your team.
Being one of us and doing it for us
Let's start with the first two dimensions that support your identity leadership: Being one of the team (Identity Prototypicality) and acting for the team (Identity Advancement)
Crafting a sense of us and making us matter
We now turn to the other two dimensions of identity leadership: Crafting a sense of 'us' within the team (Identity Entrepreneurship) and making the team matter (Identity Impresarioship).
Summary
Well done on completing the second week of this course! Let's sum up the key take aways
Key references
Dig deeper into the sources we have used to inform some of the materials
Week 3
Managing Diversity
Managing Diversity
Leading diverse teams means staying alert to hidden challenges that can undermine performance. As explained in the video, intergroup anxiety is one such barrier. Use the guided reflection task below to assess your understanding.
Summary and Further Resources
Ready to lead with impact? Join Karolina and Chuma one last time as they unpack the biggest takeaways from this course—revealing your science-backed playbook for leading diverse teams with confidence.
Concluding Quiz
Take a short quiz to test your leanings from the overall course "Identity and Inclusion: Behavioural Insights for Leaders"
Prove you're job ready
Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.
- Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
- Complete each course and pass assessments.
- Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
- Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
- Make your career dreams a reality.
Download a PDF
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Apply personal and social identities, and link them to behaviour
- Identity the importance of social identity for leadership
- Assess the values, behaviours, and aspirations of your team
- Apply behavioural strategies for managing your team's identity
- Identify hidden challenges that can undermine team performance
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for professionals at all leadership levels or those transitioning into leadership. If you help manage international teams or are behind your company’s inclusive strategies, this course is for you.
Who will you learn with?
Karolina Nieberle is Associate Professor in Social and Organisational Psychology at Durham University (UK). Her research focuses on leadership, identities and well-being at work and beyond.
Chuma Owuamalam is an Assistant Professor at Durham University. He researches and advises on behavioural science solutions tied to workplace challenges in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Who developed the course?
Durham University
Durham University is a collegiate university with long traditions and modern values, proud to be an international scholarly community which reflects the ambitions of cultures from around the world.
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Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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