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Unlock Your Leadership Potential with Leadership Skills Clinics
Leadership Skills Clinics are action-oriented, short-term classes that build your confidence and capabilities in engineering teamwork and leadership. Each clinic comprises two or three interactive workshops separated by action intervals in which you will experiment with new skills and analyze the results. In addition to learning a new skill, each clinic will carry a 0.5 credit and a digital microcredential.
Complete six of them and earn a digital Engineering Leadership Foundations Badge to demonstrate your mastery on your resume, LinkedIn, and social media pages.
Total time commitment is 10-12 hours over 3-4 weeks. Each semester, clinics on several topics will be offered. These clinics are in-person only.
Engineering Leadership Skills Clinics Offered in Fall 2025
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ENGRG 4815 – Performance & Accountability
This is the course you didn’t know you needed. You’re juggling a million things, but guess what? If you can’t get your team to actually do things without constant drama or finger-pointing, you’re wasting precious time.
This course will teach you how to hold your peers accountable, without the whole “awkward silence after someone drops the ball” thing. Spoiler: your group project will finally work like a well-oiled machine.
Plus, you’ll learn how to actually follow through on your own commitments (don’t act like you’ve never said “I’ll do it later” before).
And no, you’re not just sitting there reading case studies like a boring lecture—you’ll apply everything to real-life situations.
The final workshop? It’s all about sharing your “Aha!” moments, setting fresh goals, and keeping your skills sharp. This is your chance to level up. Don’t miss it.
- Thursdays, Nov 6, 13, 20 | 8 a.m.–9:55 a.m.
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ENGRG 4820 – Difficult Conversations
Difficult Conversations is for helping you survive those awkward, uncomfortable moments that are actually crucial to team success.
Whether it’s giving feedback, addressing conflict, or navigating sensitive topics, this workshop will give you the tools and language you need to communicate confidently, even in challenging situations.
You’ll get hands-on experience during the action intervals, applying these skills to real-world scenarios and reflecting on how you handled them.
By the end of this course, you’ll feel more comfortable tackling difficult conversations and have a practical plan for continuous improvement—skills that will make you an even stronger leader and teammate.
Plus, this is an excellent addition to your resume, showing you have the communication skills employers look for.
Sign up today and get ready to take on any conversation with confidence!
- Tuesdays, Nov 4, 11, 18 | 8 a.m.–9:55 a.m.
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ENGRG 4835 – Receiving Feedback
Receiving feedback is a skill that can set you apart in any team environment, both now and throughout your career.
In this course you’ll learn how to shift your mindset from seeing feedback as something to fear to viewing it as a powerful tool for growth. You’ll discover strategies for asking for feedback effectively, managing your emotional reactions to criticism, and thoughtfully analyzing the input you receive to continuously improve your performance.
You’ll have the opportunity to apply these skills in a real-world situation, gaining firsthand experience in turning feedback into action.
Whether you’re working on group projects, internships, or preparing for future professional teams, mastering the art of receiving feedback will help you stand out, strengthen your collaboration skills, and accelerate your personal and professional growth.
- Wednesdays, Nov 5, 12, 19 | 2:30–4:25 p.m.
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ENGRG 4845 – Leading from Strengths
Leading from Strengths offers a personalized and research-based approach to leadership development, grounded in the CliftonStrengths framework.
Through this interactive workshop, you’ll identify your core talents and learn how to leverage them to lead with authenticity, clarity, and impact. Designed for students committed to personal growth and meaningful leadership, this course blends theory with application.
You’ll explore how individual strengths shape leadership styles, enhance team dynamics, and drive collaboration.
Throughout the program, you’ll engage in reflective exercises, case-based discussions, and hands-on activities that translate insight into action.
The final session culminates in the creation of a tailored leadership development plan—one that aligns your strengths with your goals, and equips you to lead confidently in academic, professional, and community settings.
- Fridays, Nov 7 & 21 | 11:15 a.m.–2:15 p.m.
Clinic Expectations
Although these clinics are low-commitment courses, don’t assume they’ll be an easy A. Before registering for a clinic, familiarize yourself with the expectations.
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Commit to Attending Class
These clinics are fast-paced, skills-based experiences. Missing just one class is like missing half a semester in a typical course. To earn credit, you must attend every session.
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Be Fully Present
Sure, we know you have a million things on your plate. You’re probably already thinking about dinner, the next assignment, or wondering, “Why did I sign up for this again?”
Here’s the thing: If you’re serious about getting the most out of these clinics, you’ll need to show up — not just physically, but mentally.
It’s tempting to sit back and coast, but trust us: Active participation if your best bet. You’ll not only learn faster, but you’ll also make the whole experience a lot more engaging. And just so you know, we’re not fans of being the “sage on the stage” either, so your involvement keeps the class dynamic.
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Engage. Leave Your Tech in Your Bag.
We’re all for tech — who isn’t? But while we might ask you to use your devices for quick pre-class activities (think surveys or interactive prep), we ask that you leave them aside during the clinic itself. Focus and presence matter here.
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Practice for Mastery
Attending class is just the beginning. To truly master these skills, you’ll need to put in the work outside the classroom. Think of it like a challenge — one that’s far more rewarding than your usual TikTok scroll. We promise, the effort you put in will pay off.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information, email us at engineering_leaders@cornell.edu.
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What is a clinic?
A “clinic” is an intensive, hands-on, skills-based workshop designed to provide you with practical leadership tools and experiences. Unlike traditional lectures, a clinic is typically short (two or three classes) and focused on developing specific competencies that are essential for effective leadership. The format emphasizes active participation, real-world applications, and personal growth.
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What if I get sick and miss a class? Or I have an interview and have to miss class? Or miss my bus back from NYC and can’t make it in time? Or…?
These clinics are fast-paced, skills-based experiences—missing just one class is like missing half a semester in a typical course. To earn credit, you must attend every session. If you are not able to make it to all of the classes (and you have been contributing up to that point) you will receive an Incomplete on your transcript and will need to retake the class at a future offering to remove the Incomplete.
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Do you offer Leadership Skills Clinics during the wintermester or summer?
At this time, we do not offer Leadership Skills Clinics during the wintermester or summer breaks.