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Running and managing a team for the first time, let alone a whole department, can be daunting, especially if you've come from a role in which you managed just yourself or one project or programme. 

This course is offered by Rotterdam School of Management b.v.. For more information about the legal structure of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, visit this page.

Learning goals

After this programme, you can add these strengths to your knowledge and skill set. 

  • An understanding of how leading a team differs from leading individuals.  
  • The ability to deal with difficult team members before they affect the entire team.  
  • Maximising team members’ knowledge and insights for collective decisions.  
  • Creating a strong and cohesive team identity using effective leaderships tools.  
  • Developing and communicating a vision that inspires and motivates a team.  
  • Implementing processes and systems for team success, independent of your efforts.  

Curriculum

Complete four modules and your Applied Research Project

Team Leadership is a module of RSM’s Diploma Programme in General Management (DPGM), but can also be followed separately. The diploma programme is designed so you can tailor it to your personal and professional development needs.

For whom

Explore if this course is for you

Your roles
  • (Junior) manager with some experience in managing teams
  • Manager who is interested in team dynamics
  • Project manager who indirectly leads teams
Your responsibilities
  • Lead teams effectively
  • Release the potential of your team
  • Get the most out of your team members
Your challenges
  • Struggling with team leadership challenges and issues
  • Boosting your skills to manage your team towards collective excellences

Interested in a programme for your entire team?

Discover our options for customised and in-company programmes tailor-made for your organisation.

Your expert faculty

During the Team Leadership Programme you will learn from Dr Julija Mell, Dr Inga Hoever, Dr Sofya Isaakyan, Dr Rebecca Hewett and Dr Tina Davidson. Occasionally we may substitute other faculty members according to the content of the programme and their availability.

Dr Julija Mell

Julija Mell, assistant professor of organisational behaviour at RSM, is academic director of the Cologne-Rotterdam Executive MBA. Her research focuses on cross-boundary collaboration: bridging cognitive, geographical and cultural boundaries within diverse teams; and bridging structural boundaries within complex social systems and networks. Her award-winning work has been published in leading academic journals. Julija teaches topics that focus on organisational behaviour, teams, leadership and social networks at all levels at RSM. Her PhD in organisational behaviour is from Erasmus University Rotterdam and her diploma in psychology is from the Humboldt University Berlin (Germany).

Dr Inga Hoever

Inga Hoever is an assistant professor in RSM’s department of organisation and personnel management. She specialises in studying workplace creativity, team excellence, and their intersection. Put simply, she is interested in explaining how teams can bring out the best in each other – and why they so often do not. Her research addresses questions of individual and team creativity, diversity, perspective taking, and communication in teams. She teaches on a variety of issues regarding organisational behaviour, human resource management, and team management to students and executives.

Dr Sofya Isaakyan

Sofya Isaakyan is an assistant professor of organisational behaviour at RSM. Her research focuses on understanding employees' upward expression of ideas and concerns about work-related issues such as voice behaviour, and the corresponding reactions by managers and team members. In her work, she also explores factors affecting leadership development and leader identity. Sofya is actively involved in MBA teaching, and also delivers customised executive development programmes. She received her PhD in organisational behaviour from Maastricht University in 2018. Before entering academia, Sofya worked in human resource management and in consulting.

Dr Rebecca Hewett

Rebecca Hewett is an associate professor of human resource management at RSM. Her research focuses on individuals’ experiences of people management at work, examining how people management can best be implemented to enhance performance and well-being. She is academic director of RSM’s MSc in Human Resource Management (People, Organisations and Change) and teaches courses to executives at all levels and helps organisations to apply research to practice. She completed her PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London. Before that she worked as an HR professional for 10 years, most recently as head of HR operations for the UK’s communications regulator, where she gained wide experience as a team leader.

Dr Tina Davidson

Tina Davidson is an assistant professor in the department of organisation and personnel management at RSM. She is interested in how organisations, leaders and employees can build a level playing field to better benefit from the full spectrum of diversity at work. In particular, her work focuses on the dynamics of upward constructive voice, leadership and followership, and leadership development in culturally diverse contexts. Prior to joining RSM, she was active in research at Vlerick Business School and a visiting scholar at Michigan State University. Tina earned her PhD from Ghent University, and speaks English, French and Chinese.

Read what previous participants say about this programme

Edina Struhar

Recruitment manager at Adams Multilingual Recruitment

I highly recommend RSM’s Team Leadership programme to future team leaders. The theory was clearly connected to practice, some of the exercises put you out of your comfort zone, and all the advice can easily be implemented in day-to-day managerial activities. The trainers were young and dynamic, always open to answer any questions. They all had a very inclusive, inspiring and insightful approach. As an Erasmus alumna, RSM was an obvious choice and the quality of the programme was high, as can be expected.

Gianmaria Foschini

Data Intelligence Manager at Royal Philips NV

Overall, my experience with the team leadership programme at RSM is extremely positive, from the dedicated and attentive faculty, the lively debates we engaged in during class, the valuable learnings collected, to the smooth programme organisation and logistics: in short, a positive return on investment for me.

Dr Adrian Cohen

Senior scientific policy advisor at Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam

I chose RSM because of its international status as a top business and management school. The programme was a compact, logical and balanced mix of theory, interactive group exercises and time for reflection. The course pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Shane McMahon

Lead Consultant and Organisational Resilience at Horizonscan Ltd

The three days at RSM have given me new meaning and ideas in my role as a manager. I encourage my team to think differently every day, and I now feel equipped to take this to the next level. It was just what I needed to be the best I can be as a Manager and Consultant. I learned as much about myself as a person as I did about leadership theory and concepts. So it was useful for several aspects of my role.

Rohini Persad-Bhaggoe

Marketing Manager at REISinformatiegroep|9292

As a first-time manager I wanted to learn how to create a strong and efficient team, and empower team members to grow, develop themselves and work confidently. RSM really exceeded my expectations. The professors did a really good job balancing theory with practice, and I learned a lot from the other participants’ diverse experiences and backgrounds.

Koen Daamen

Team co-ordinator life sciences and health at Invest in Holland

This programme gave me a good insight in myself, the way I am perceived by others, and how I would like to act as a team leader. I know I’m an action-oriented person, and I think I jump to conclusions too soon. The level of education at RSM is high, and there’s a lot of high-quality interaction among participants. This combination and the programme content will help me in my role to ask open questions, listen more carefully, and include the valuable input of my team members more to increase the quality of my decisions.

Jody Leewes

Teamlead Content at LexisNexis IP

To be honest, I did not recognise the three-letter acronym ‘RSM’ when a colleague at LexisNexis IP suggested I do a leadership course there. I quickly learned first-hand why it has such a solid reputation. The one thing I valued most in the course is that I was pulled outside my comfort zone. Right from the start I was hearing new information, doing unfamiliar things and practising difficult situations; those were the exact moments when the actual learning happened.

More information

Programme dates

17 - 19 March 2025

23 - 25 June 2025

Waiting List

14 October

This date is fully booked. Missed out on a spot? Contact our Programme Advisor, Erika Kataveli to be placed on the waiting list. 

Programme fee

€ 3,900 (excl. 21% VAT) including course materials, lunches, and snacks. This fee does not include hotel accommodation.

 

15% discount for alumni from Erasmus University Rotterdam and RSM.

Schedule your own development track

To receive your diploma programme, you need to complete four courses. You must complete The Applied Research Project module in order to gain your diploma.

Frequently asked questions

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) offers a dynamic learning environment for professionals looking to learn new skills and gain more knowledge in business and management education.

Here’s why you should choose RSM: 

  • We are consistently ranked among Europe’s top business schools. 
  • You are taught by world-class professors and globally oriented faculty who deliver knowledge with an innovative mind-set to you as a business leader. 
  • We hold the prestigious Triple Crown accreditation, which puts RSM among the top 1% of business schools worldwide. 
  • We provide you with the latest tools to put your new skills and knowledge directly into practice, enabling you to make a real impact. 
  • You have the opportunity to discuss your specific business challenges during your programme courses.  
  • You can connect with a lively network of peers: extend your network, share experiences and become inspired by your fellow participants.

This programme takes place in Bayle building on the Woudestein Campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam, just 15 minutes by public transport from Rotterdam city centre. Our modern and lively campus has innovative study facilities, sustainable design, and calming green spaces.

Most programmes start at 09:00. Finishing times are different for each programme. There’s also an approximate schedule in each programme’s brochure and on its webpages. When you register for a programme you will be given access to Canvas, our online learning system, and the full schedule is in Canvas. Your programme manager will hand out a detailed schedule on the first day of your programme.

Class sizes are usually between 12 to 24 people, but it does depend on the programme. We aim for a balance between allowing capacity to guarantee individual attention, and achieving a good group dynamic and networking opportunities.

Yes. Alumni from RSM and Erasmus University Rotterdam receive a 15% discount.  

RSM alumni are students who have completed either a bachelor of science, master of science, PhD or one executive education programme of more than 40 credit hours. Additionally, companies which sponsor several participants may also be offered a special price. 

Participants of open programmes of less than 40 credit hours will not receive a discount. 

Programme fees include tuition, programme materials, access to the RSM study facilities and dynamic learning environment. This also includes lunch and refreshments throughout the programme.  

Hotel accommodation is not included, so please make individual arrangements for your stay in Rotterdam. See more information in the Transportation, directions and accommodation section below. 

If you require hotel accommodation during your stay in Rotterdam, we recommend a few hotels:  

  • Novotel Rotterdam Brainpark is a five-minute walk from our campus and offers RSM participant discounts. You will receive more information about this approximately four weeks before the programme starts. If you require this information earlier, please contact your specified programme manager. You may also contact Novotel directly at +31 (0)10 253 2500.   
  • Additional recommendations include: Bilderberg Parkhotel and Eden Savoy.  

Please contact the hotels directly to make and secure your own reservations.  

Note: We recommend that you select the flexible booking option when reserving a room.

Our general terms and conditions apply when you register for an open programme. Please review them to learn more about our policies for cancellation, deferral and substitution.

If you have more general questions, we recommend you explore our more in-depth FAQs page. If you are looking for personal advice, then please contact one of our advisors using the contact form below.

Erika Kataveli

Programme advisor

It's my priority to help you identify how you can meet your professional objectives, so reach out and let's make a plan for your personal development.

Interested in exploring our full offering of leadership courses?