What is the Leadership Principles prework?

Leadership Principles begins with a two-week prework period in which you’ll be asked to complete a self-assessment and invite colleagues, such as managers, peers, and direct reports, to complete a survey rating you on dimensions of emotional and social intelligence. The prework will take approximately one hour of your time and roughly 30 minutes for each colleague who participates. Your colleagues’ ratings will be kept confidential and anonymous. The goal of this 360° assessment—and one of Leadership Principles’ primary learning objectives—is to help you gain greater self-awareness and insight into how peers and direct reports experience you along certain dimensions and how to adjust behavior along those dimensions for desired outcomes. The 360° assessment is called the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI), and it is administered by Korn Ferry. The assessment provides insight into core interpersonal competencies that can be observed and assessed by others, and has been taken by more than 160,000 executives. These competencies can be developed and enhanced with practice, coaching, and feedback. Please note that Korn Ferry does not provide services to individuals in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria. If you take Leadership Principles from any of these countries, you won't be able to complete the ESCI or Personal Values Questionnaire. However, you'll still be eligible to complete the course successfully. Please contact the HBS Online Support Team for more information. Upon successful completion of the prework—which requires obtaining ratings from at least two colleagues in addition to the self-assessment—you’ll receive a detailed report that provides insight into your emotional intelligence and how you’re perceived by others. Emotional intelligence is a central theme of the Leadership Principles course, and successfully completing the prework will greatly enhance your knowledge of both the course materials and your personal leadership. Upon enrolling in Leadership Principles, we will provide more information on the prework process.

When does the Leadership Principles prework period begin?

The two-week prework period begins on the first day of the course. You don’t need to do anything to prepare prior to then, but you may wish to begin thinking about which colleagues you’ll ask to participate in the assessment. When you log in for the first time, you will be provided with the prework instructions.

How much time should I expect to spend on Leadership Principles?

The course begins with a two-week prework period in which you’ll be asked to complete a self-assessment and invite colleagues to rate you on dimensions of emotional and social intelligence. The prework will take approximately one hour of your time and roughly 30 minutes for each colleague who participates. The course content is delivered over a four-week period after the prework concludes. You should expect to spend approximately seven to nine hours per week on the course content during the last four weeks of the program.

What are the learning requirements, and how are grades assigned?

Participants in Leadership Principles are eligible for a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Business School Online. Participants are expected to fully complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely manner. This means completing each course module and fully answering questions posed therein by the required deadline. This course also features recommended weekly deadlines to help ensure participants proceed through the course at a similar pace and can take full advantage of social learning opportunities. In addition to module and assignment completion, we expect you to offer feedback on others’ reflections and contribute to conversations on the platform. Participants who fail to complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course. More detailed information on course requirements will be communicated at the start of the course. No grades are assigned for Leadership Principles. Participants will either be evaluated as complete or not complete.

What is required for the video upload exercises?

At several points in Leadership Principles, you'll be presented with scenarios and asked to video record yourself reacting to various leadership challenges. These exercises have been developed to let you step into the shoes of decision-makers, gain insight into your leadership style, and practice techniques taught in the course. In these exercises, you'll have an opportunity to watch and reflect on your approach. For some of these exercises, you'll also participate in peer assessment, which will enable you to see how two fellow learners approached the same challenge and how two others viewed your leadership style. You can record yourself on a phone, computer, or other video recording device and will be asked to upload the video to the course.

What materials will I have access to after the course?

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final deadline in the program.

How should I list my certificate on my resume?

Once you've earned your Certificate of Completion, list it on your resume along with the date of completion: Harvard Business School Online Certificate in Leadership Principles [Cohort Start Month and Year] List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" with the language from the Credential Verification page: School: Harvard Business School Online Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program] Degree: Other; Certificate in Leadership Principles Field of Study: Leave blank Grade: Complete Activities and Societies: Leave blank For the program description on LinkedIn, please use the following: Leadership Principles is a 6-week, 25-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. Leadership Principles is designed to help individuals thrive as leaders, unleash the capabilities of others, and cultivate high-performing teams. This course leverages self-assessments, 360° feedback from colleagues, and the perspectives of fellow learners to enable participants to build greater self-awareness and enhance the versatility of their leadership style and approach. The program was developed by leading Harvard Business School faculty and is delivered in an active learning environment based on the HBS signature case-based learning model.

Leadership & Management

Leadership Principles

Build the confidence, self-awareness, and leadership approach to motivate teams and drive performance.

Time
35-40 hrs, 7-9 hrs/week
Calendar
Nov 4, 2026 Weekly calendar
Price
$1,949
Pay by
Nov 2, 2026

Request Info

Key Concepts

Understand your motivational drivers, emotional intelligence, and communication methods to establish a personal leadership style
Apply or adapt your leadership style to meet specific challenges
Manage the conditions that drive team performance
Coach colleagues and share feedback in ways that enable them to develop and deliver
Take charge of your professional development as you navigate the challenges of transitioning from an individual contributor to a leader

Who Will Benefit

Prepare for leadership roles after working as an individual contributor or functional specialist.

I found the content to be extremely informative and applicable to the real challenges of being a leader. I loved the frameworks and the case study model, and I thought the course was very manageable on top of a full-time job.
Abby Katz; Senior Marketing Manager at Mavrck

92%

of learners said they developed increased confidence after completing an HBS Online course

11x

return on investment, with 24% of learners reporting an average $20,466 salary increase

82%

Felt more confident leading initiatives at work

What You'll Earn

Learn More

**Certificate of Completion**
Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online
Earn by: completing this course

**Certificate of Specialization**
Prove your mastery of leadership and management
Earn by: completing any three courses within this subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization

Course Syllabus

4 Modules, 35-40 Hours

Download full syllabus (pdf)

Prework

360° Emotional and Social Competency Inventory

1 Hour

In the first two weeks after the course start date, complete a self-assessment and ask colleagues, managers, and/or direct reports to rate you on dimensions of emotional and social intelligence.

Module 1

Taking Charge

7-9 Hours

Appreciate how a leader’s self-perception and mindset must change to bring out the best in others and the importance of emotional intelligence in transitioning to a leadership position.

Highlights

1:15

Gonzalo's Story

0:53

Mia in Latin America

Module 2

Leading Your Team

7-9 Hours

Learn how to manage the conditions that drive team performance through team purpose, composition, processes, and launch.

Highlights

1:03

Yvonne Chen

0:38

Model of Team Effectiveness

Module 3

Unleashing Potential in Yourself and Others

7-9 Hours

Understand the dimensions, functions, and drivers of your leadership style and how to apply or expand them to meet specific challenges and motivate your team.

Highlights

1:11

Mia Leadership Imprint

1:15

Motivating Your Team with Yvonne Chen

Module 4

Your Network

7-9 Hours

Learn techniques for coaching and delivering feedback and how to influence with and without authority. Leverage strategic, operational, and developmental networks, and explore ways to expand and develop them.

Highlights

0:59

Derby Foods: A Leader Delivering Feedback

Concepts

Your Network
Managing Up and Down
Managing Your Direct Reports (Coaching)
Adversity and Stress
Rising to Leadership Responsibility

Featured Exercises

Video upload: Practice giving feedback and coaching, and apply dimensions of your leadership style to evaluate effectiveness
Create a diagram of your professional network in order to visualize, reflect on, and better utilize professional relationships
Reflect on what you’ve learned throughout the course, and consider your personal leadership development plan

Upcoming Cohorts

Start Date	Pay by	Price	Time	Calendar
Nov 4, 2026	Nov 2, 2026	$1,949	35-40 hrs, 7-9 hrs/week	Nov 4, 2026 Calendar
Jan 13, 2027	Jan 11, 2027	$1,949	35-40 hrs, 7-9 hrs/week	Jan 13, 2027 Calendar
Mar 17, 2027	Mar 15, 2027	$1,949	35-40 hrs, 7-9 hrs/week	Mar 17, 2027 Calendar

Prices shown are in USD and do not include applicable international taxes.

Led by World-Renowned HBS Faculty

HBS Online courses are taught by Harvard Business School faculty, bringing the renowned HBS classroom experience directly to you.

Experience

Immersive Learning

Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes, including self-assessments and 360-degree feedback from colleagues and peers.

HBS Online courses allow you to immerse yourself in a
dynamic, interactive learning experience. You’ll engage in a new activity every
three to five minutes and apply your knowledge through polls, quizzes, and
problem-solving exercises designed to accelerate and reinforce your learning.

Real-World Connections

Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after your course. Learners who successfully complete an HBS Online program will be added to the HBS Online Community's Official Networking Group and gain exclusive access to events and other networking opportunities.

See how the HBS Online course platform engages you in social learning. You exchange ideas, offer input, and seek out viewpoints from a community of learners gathered from around the globe. In the process, you learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives, and leave the program with a broader outlook on the world.

Real-World Cases

Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like Amadeus North America, Udemy for Business, and M33 Growth

Our courses allow you to apply your learning through
real-world examples and experience Harvard Business School’s signature case
method. Business leaders will share challenges they’ve faced. As the story
unfolds, you’ll leverage course concepts, vital tools and frameworks, and the
diversity of your peers’ perspectives to analyze the problem and determine a
path forward.

Real-World Outcomes