Full course description
1 hour
Self-Paced
Earn a Badge
Course Overview
Perspective taking is an essential skill for professionals who want to lead with empathy, communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships at work.
In this self-paced, online professional development course, you’ll discover how to recognize and step outside your own point of view to better understand others’ thoughts, feelings and motivations. Through reflection and practical techniques, you’ll explore how your identity and experiences shape your worldview—and how embracing multiple perspectives can enhance your ability to connect, collaborate and lead.
Whether you're managing a team, working with clients, or navigating challenging dynamics, this course will help you “de-center” your perspective to build trust, reduce conflict and foster a more thoughtful, inclusive workplace culture.
Who Should Enroll
This noncredit course is ideal for:
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- Mid-career professionals in HR, learning and development or people-operations roles
- Emerging leaders and managers shaping workplace culture
- Healthcare, nonprofit and education professionals engaging with diverse communities
- Career changers seeking to strengthen interpersonal and inclusive leadership skills
No prior training is required. This is a welcoming course for learners from all backgrounds.
Course Instructor
Becky Nickerson, Ed.D.
Senior Director of Belonging and Inclusion Programming
Creighton University
Becky Nickerson is a seasoned facilitator and educator with over 20 years of experience. Her expertise lies in helping individuals and organizations build inclusive cultures through intentional reflection, storytelling and action.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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- Define perspective taking and explain how it supports empathy and communication
- Reflect on how your identity and experiences shape how you see others
- Apply basic techniques to consider multiple points of view in real-life situations
- Strengthen your ability to connect, listen, and collaborate more effectively
- Define perspective taking and explain how it supports empathy and communication
Course Outcomes
You’ll gain practical tools to reduce misunderstandings, build stronger relationships, and navigate workplace dynamics with greater confidence and empathy. These skills enhance your effectiveness in leadership, client-facing roles, and team collaboration—and count toward the Inclusion and Belonging Certificate.
FAQs
What are the benefits of completing this course?
Understanding different perspectives leads to better decision-making, more respectful conversations, and stronger teams. You'll also earn credit toward the Inclusion and Belonging Certificate to strengthen your professional credentials.
What is the career outlook for individuals who complete this program?
Completing this course equips professionals with in-demand communication and emotional intelligence skills that are highly valued across industries—giving you a competitive edge in today’s relationship-driven workplace.
How long does it take to complete?
This course is self-paced, allowing you to learn at your convenience. Most people complete this course in one hour, but you can take as much time as needed to fit your schedule.
How is the course structured?
This course is 100% online and self-paced. You can start anytime and progress on your own schedule—ideal for working professionals.
Does this course count toward the Inclusion and Belonging Certificate?
Yes, this course is part of the Inclusion and Belonging Certificate program. Complete all ten courses to earn the full Inclusion and Belonging Certificate from Creighton University.
Does this course offer continuing education credit?
Creighton University is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. This program is valid for 1.0 PDCs for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification.
Do you offer tuition assistance?
We do not offer tuition assistance for lifelong learning courses or certificates. However, Creighton alumni, faculty, staff and eligible partner employees, along with their spouses and dependents, may qualify for a 15% discount. One discount per offering. Other restrictions may apply. Learn more.