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Leadership Foundations

Beginner 1 hours English Course Certificate
SkillsLeadershipLeadership behavioursInfluenceSelf-awarenessPeople management

Is this course right for you?

Our take
Dr Shirley Davis's LinkedIn Learning course for people stepping into leadership for the first time — or formalising skills they've been using informally.

Good for: A first grounding in the core qualities of effective leadership.

Skip if: You are an experienced leader or want advanced strategy.

It covers the core qualities and behaviours of effective leaders in a clear, encouraging way, which makes it a solid first grounding and, by the same token, too basic for experienced leaders or anyone wanting advanced strategy. It comes with a LinkedIn Learning subscription (usually a free trial first; free through many libraries), leaving a completion certificate on your profile as a learning record. The fundamentals of leading people don't date (as of 2026).

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About this course

Leadership Foundations is built for people stepping into leadership for the first time (or wanting to formalize skills they're already using informally). Dr. Shirley Davis covers the core qualities and behaviors of effective leaders without assuming you've managed anyone before.

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Instructor

SD
Shirley Davis
LinkedIn Learning instructor

Dr. Shirley Davis is a leadership and workplace culture expert teaching foundational management courses on LinkedIn Learning.

Frequently asked questions

Aspiring and current leaders wanting a grounding in what leadership involves — the difference between managing and leading, setting direction, motivating people, and building trust. It assumes no senior role or prior leadership training, so it suits people stepping toward leadership or wanting to solidify the fundamentals. It is foundational, so experienced leaders may find it basic; its strength is an accessible starting point.

No — it is a foundations course, covering the core principles of leadership at an introductory level rather than advanced or specialised territory. That gives you a solid overview and vocabulary, which is plenty to start, but it will not go deep into specific areas like leading through change or executive strategy. Treat it as the grounding; those topics have their own dedicated courses.

It is short — typically an hour or two — as a focused LinkedIn Learning course. That makes it an efficient way to build a grounding in leadership fundamentals without a large time commitment, and you can follow it with more specific leadership courses once you have the overview in place. The real growth comes from applying the ideas as you lead.

Not by default — it runs on LinkedIn Learning, which is subscription-based — but a free trial is common, and many public libraries and universities give members full access at no cost. Check whether a library card or an institution you belong to already provides LinkedIn Learning before paying, since that quietly unlocks this course and the whole catalogue.

Yes, you earn a LinkedIn Learning completion certificate for your profile. Treat it as a signal of professional development rather than a formal qualification — leadership is judged by how you actually lead. The real value is the grounding in leadership fundamentals, which shows up in your practice with a team far more than in the certificate.
Paid
LinkedIn Learning subscription
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