At its core, being a leader can seem quite simple. In fact, in basic dictionary terms, a leader is a guide who has commanding authority or influence. But in today’s diverse and complex world, we know that leadership takes on many forms and requires many different skillsets to not only command authority or influence, but also to inspire those we are leading. Therefore, to become an effective leader, it’s important to fully understand the skills needed to inspire people, a department, an organization, and beyond.
A Master’s in Organizational Leadership (i.e. MSOL degree) provides the unique knowledge, skills, and perspective needed to become a successful leader across multiple industries and organizations. Goodwin College’s MSOL program, for example, specifically touches on the pertinent issues that modern day leaders encounter today. This program provides the insight on how to properly handle many different scenarios – from conflict response to operations management – through a tailored, advanced leadership curriculum.
Here are four advanced leadership courses offered at Goodwin College (online or on-campus) that can help propel you to the next level in a leadership or management position.
- Foundations of Leadership:
The first step in becoming a successful leader is making sure that you have the foundations of leadership down. This advanced leadership course explores essential leadership topics like problem-solving and conflict resolution, cross-cultural and generational challenges and opportunities, and different leadership styles across different industries and entities. Students will walk away from this course with a solid understanding of what leadership looks like in different environments and entities.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making for Executives:
In the data-driven world that we live in, we have so many tools and resources to assist us in measuring our successes, and also our failures, so that we can improve for the future. Analyzing and understanding the power of data can help leaders make sound decisions based on research, not solely on instinct or emotions. This is one of the most important advanced leadership courses you can take, because it explores how the use of metrics to guide decision-making is essential for growth and improvement. In today’s world, data is knowledge and knowledge is power. And understanding how to assert that power effectively is essential for any modern day leader or manager.
- Talent and Performance Management:
It’s no secret that as successful as an organization or business may be, it’s really only as good as its greatest asset – it’s people. The effectiveness and happiness of employees has a direct correlation with production and many times, an organization’s bottom-line. This is one of Goodwin’s advanced leadership courses that teaches relevant strategies for managing and developing a workforce through hiring, onboarding, and career development. This course will provide you with the tools to ensure that your employees are supported, productive, and happy.
- Leading Organizational Change:
This advanced leadership course touches on one of the only constants in this world – change. As time goes on, change is the one constant that is certain. This change happens at a global level, a societal level, an organizational level and even at an individual level. Change is inevitable, especially within an organization or business, which is why it is so important to understand the strategies to best manage the change within an organization to ensure smooth transitions are implemented. No matter how big or small the change your managing is, this course will give you the strategies to implement change successfully across your workforce.
The advanced leadership courses offered at Goodwin College prepare students to become leaders, but not just in the simple definition of the term. Rather, students are equipped to become dynamic leaders who inspire and motivate people – and organizations – in the ever-evolving world that we live in. If you are interested in becoming that impactful leader and growing in your career, contact Goodwin College today. Visit us online to learn more about our MSOL program, or call 800-889-3282.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.