Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Innovation Essentials

Innovation Essentials

Gain in-demand skills through a series of highly concentrated Innovation Essentials courses

You’ll learn:

  • Innovation foundations, including innovation requirements and avoiding common pitfalls
  • Creative and critical thinking
  • How to build a problem-solving toolkit
  • How to implement strategies that will generate new ideas and solutions
  • How to explore and expand possibilities using an innovative mindset
  • How to enhance and improve your emotional intelligence
  • How to influence others with confidence and success

Explore course options below and register today!

View Schedule

Course Options

Students must register at least one week before the start date to allow time for an online assessment to be completed prior to the course start date.

ESS 797
The Art of Active Listening

(Currently Not Available)

ESS 862
Creative & Critical Thinking

(Currently Not Available)

Course Schedule

This schedule table displays courses planned to be offered this year and is a guide to planning your courses for the academic year. Please note: Spring term registration opens mid-March and Fall/Winter term registration opens mid-July. 

For more information about our learning formats and to choose a format that works best for you, please visit our Learning Formats page.

Essentials Schedule
Course Name (Course Code) Cost Days Fall 2025 Winter 2026 Spring/Summer 2026
The Art of Active Listening (ESS 797) $310.00 0.5 Fri, Oct 31

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

TBD 0.5 Fri, Jun 12

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Future-Focused: Navigating Complexity with Strategic Planning (ESS 804) $468.00 1 Wed & Thu, Nov 26 - Nov 27

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

TBD 1 Tue & Wed, Jun 9 - Jun 10

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Cultivate Belonging with Personality Dimensions™ (ESS 807) $520.00 1 Mon & Tue, Dec 1 - Dec 2

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Personal Leadership: Building From Our Strength (ESS 813) $520.00 1 Thu & Fri, Nov 13 - Nov 14

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Strengthening Communications through Storytelling (ESS 817) $468.00 1 Thu & Fri, Dec 4 - Dec 5

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

TBD 1 Thu & Fri, Jun 18 - Jun 19

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Creative & Critical Thinking (ESS 862) - - Currently Not Available
Navigating Workplace Conflict: Building Stronger Teams through Resolution (ESS 899) $468.00 1 Wed & Thu, Nov 19 - Nov 20

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

TBD 1 Tue & Wed, May 12 - May 13

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Managing in a Unionized Environment (ESS 903) $520.00 1 Wed & Thu, Apr 22 - Apr 23

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Influencing Others with Confidence and Success (ESS 904) $310.00 0.5 Thu, Jan 22

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Remote Work - Strategies for Efficiency (ESS 905) TBD 0.5 Thu, Jun 18

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

How to Pick Up the Pieces - Leadership, Motivation and Gratitude in Action (ESS 906) $310.00 0.5 Wed, Apr 22

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Effective Prioritization to Improve Decision Making, Manage Workload and Improve Well-being (ESS 907) $310.00 0.5 Thu, Apr 9

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Unconscious Bias: Moving from Bystander to Advocate (ESS 908) - - Currently Not Available
Developing Your Social Media Brand with Style and Confidence (ESS 909) $310.00 0.5 Wed, Jan 21

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Best Practices for Sustainable Living (ESS 910) TBD 0.5 Tue, Jun 16

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Your Energy Currency: Enhancing and Improving Your Emotional Self-Awareness (ESS 912) $310.00 0.5 Fri, Nov 7

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Flexible Work as a Catalyst for Organizational Agility & Well-being (ESS 913) $310.00 0.5 Thu, Feb 5

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Tactical Humour: Leveraging the funny to build connections, camaraderie, and community (ESS 914) TBD 0.5 Tue, May 12

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Scared Scriptless: Improv Bootcamp Presentation Skills Training (ESS 915) TBD 0.5 Tue, May 26

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

Time Maximization: Unleashing Peak Productivity and Prof Efficiency through Effective Time Mgmt (ESS 916) $310.00 0.5 Thu, Oct 2

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom

TBD 0.5 Thu, May 14

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Format: Virtual Classroom