Digital Reading Room 2.0 -- EDSF 620: Developing Skills for the Future of Work

EDSF 620: Developing Skills for the Future of Work Report a Broken Link

EDSF 620 is designed to help you develop leadership skills for the future of work. In your past work experiences, numerous factors have contributed to where you are now, including your education, skills, interpersonal relationships, and the opportunities you embraced. This course is about self-leadership, development, and growth, based on a growth mindset. You are at the centre.

Lesson 1

Peter, S., Riemer, K., & Norman, P. (2025, September 4). The 2026 Skills Horizon: What leaders need to know next. Sydney Executive Plus, University of Sydney. https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/handle/2123/34269/2026-skills-horizon.pdf

The 2026 Skills Horizon is also useful as a supplement to the other nine lessons in this course.

Lesson 2

Chen, S. (2018). Give yourself a break: The power of self-compassion. Harvard Business Review, 96(5), 117–123. https://hbr.org/2018/09/give-yourself-a-break-the-power-of-self-compassion

Canada Life Assurance Company. (2024, April 16). Conversation starters for psychological health and safety. Workplace Strategies for Mental Health. https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/conversation-starters-for-psychological-health-and-safety

Edmondson, A. C., & Bransby, D. P. (2023). Psychological safety comes of age: Observed themes in an established literature. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10, 55–78. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-120920-055217

Lesson 3

Frei, F. (2018, April). How to build (and rebuild) trust [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/frances_frei_how_to_build_and_rebuild_trust

Gray, B., & Purdy, J. (2018). The rise of partnerships: From local to global. In Collaborating for our future: Multistakeholder partnerships for solving complex problems (pp. 1–13). Oxford University Press.

TEDx Talks. (2015, May 26). Cultivating collaboration: Don’t be so defensive! | Jim Tamm | TEDxSantaCruz [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjSTNv4gyMM

Zenger J., & Folkman, J. (2019, February 5). The three elements of trust. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/02/the-3-elements-of-trust

Lesson 4

Azevedo, A., & Jugdev, K. (2022, Winter). Applying cultural intelligence to develop adaptive leadership. Organization Development Journal, 40(4), 56–70.

Compatible. (2024, September 17). Cultural intelligence in action: Real-world examples [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rIT6B-BwQs

Livermore, D. (2024). What is cultural Intelligence? In Leading with cultural intelligence: The real secret to success (3rd ed., pp. 25–46). HarperCollins Leadership.

TN-China Network. (2015, October 27). HSBC ad about Chinese dinner etiquette [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip21wSyx16E

Lesson 5

See Lesson 4.

See Lesson 4.

Lesson 6

Azevedo, A. (2026). Learning agility and project-based learning. In Learning agility in projects: Building cultural intelligence skills in workplace teams [Manuscript in preparation]. Faculty of Business, Athabasca University.

Grant, A. (2023). Creatures of discomfort. In Hidden potential: The science of achieving greater things (pp. 23–41). Viking.

Lesson 7

See Lesson 6.

Lesson 8

Gilley, J. W., Shelton, P. M., & Gilley, A. (2011). Developmental leadership: A new perspective for human resource development. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 13(3), 386–405. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/gfsb/12/

Skulmoski, G. (2025). Quantum literacy: A roadmap to disruption and opportunities in the new era [White paper]. Bond University.

Lesson 9

Gilli, K., Lettner, N., & Guettel, W. (2024). The future of leadership: New digital skills or old analog virtues? Journal of Business Strategy, 45(1), 10–16. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBS-06-2022-0093

Gleeson, B. (2025, February 18). Great leadership is still the answer, with or without AI. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brentgleeson/2025/02/18/great-leadership-is-still-the-answer-with-or-without-ai/

Harvard Business Impact. (2024). Time to transform: 2024 global leadership development study. Harvard Business Publishing. https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/2024-global-leadership-development-study-time-to-transform-download/

Lesson 10

There are no required readings this week.

Supplementary Readings

Lesson 2: Norman, P., Peter, S., Riemer, K., Garbuio, M., & Sullivan, R. (2024, January 31). Reach for the STARS: A framework for unlearning management wisdoms. Sydney Executive Plus, University of Sydney. https://doi.org/10.25910/KJHP-TP15