Think Design Lead Curriculum

December 3, 2025

Think Design Lead Curriculum

Jeffrey W. Ganthner | 2021

Abstract

Failing people and organizations is often a direct result of not understanding one’s purpose, mission, and talents both on an individual and organizational level. The goal of individuals and organizations should be to serve others. This is done through leadership. However, prior to leadership both people and organizations need to understand their faith, beliefs, values, how to think, and how to design (identify and solve issues and problems).

Think Design Lead (TDL) is curriculum focused on developing the skills, mastering techniques, and utilizing tools for individuals to more effectively think, design, and ultimately lead others. Acting on assumptions often leads to the delivery of ineffective solutions. The TDL process has three distinct stages where it moves an individual or team from the “thinking” stage through design and then to implementation and leading.

Regardless of the complexity of the task or the leadership challenge, all three stages of the process are to be delivered sequentially to achieve success. While the importance of beliefs, values, and faith are referenced throughout the curriculum, the focus is primarily understanding and applying how to think, design, and ultimately lead.

Four courses comprise TDL. The first course, TDL 101 – Fundamentals of Thinking and Design, introduces individuals to the concept of thinking and design as a process to first identify and then solve problems. The second course, TDL 102 – Thinking and Design Applications, applies knowledge gleaned from TDL 101 to four individual problems to generate solutions. The third course, TDL 201 – Fundamentals of Leadership, introduces different types of leadership and leadership characteristics with a special emphasis on authentic leadership, servant leadership, situational leadership, and transformational leadership theories. The fourth course, TDL 202 – Leadership Applications, studies different case studies to identify problems, develop solutions, and provide leadership directives for implementation. All four courses work together and seek to develop both understanding and skills needed today for leaders to be successful.

Think Design Lead process diagram showing three sequential stages: Stage 1 highlights THINK (Identifying + Assessing), Stage 2 highlights DESIGN (Creating + Solving), and Stage 3 highlights LEAD (Implementing + Leading), connected by arrows showing progression through the process.

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