Becoming an organizational leader means achieving your career goals and securing a fulfilling and exciting future in the private sector, government, non-profit, or elsewhere! Choosing a widely applicable master’s degree such as a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) will increase your chances of being hired for advanced titles such as human resource manager, health services manager, director positions, superintendent, warehouse operations manager, commissioner, or even roles in the C-suite.

With an MSOL degree from Goodwin University, your career opportunities are endless. Check out how some of our recent MSOL graduates have applied what they’ve learned in class to drive their professional success!

Organizational leaders with a master’s degree reap cash returns as well. For example, people who pursue a business master’s degree benefit from a 51 percent differential in salary, compared to those with a bachelor’s degree, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2021 Salary Survey. Imagine studying for just 20 months part-time, with the  flexibility  of a hybrid format, and potentially increasing your salary by tens of thousands of dollars.

As you can see, the salary alone makes a master’s degree well-worth it. But you may be wondering, what will I learn in an organizational leadership graduate program? The organizational leadership classes you’ll need to meet the MSOL degree requirements and educational needs of this discipline are included below. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to take these engaging MSOL classes:

1. Data-Driven Decision-Making for Executives

In today’s connected world, data is more precious than gold, and more valuable than oil. Even ten years ago, the National Science Foundation brought together the White House, U.S. science industries, and hundreds of government and science partners from all around the globe to agree that data and data sharing are key to modern humanity. For mid-level managers tasked with making strategic decisions, metrics are indeed golden. The ability to interpret data in a professional capacity is an enormous asset that other organizational leaders are likely to require and value. According to  Forbes, data keeps leaders honest about performance, since it reflects actual numbers and does not support bias influenced by emotion or assumption. Plus, there’s no need to be concerned about data fueling what can feel like a takeover by artificial intelligence. It is currently not possible for AI to adopt the full scope of human reasoning when crunching data points, making the business leader’s job of interpreting data increasingly necessary. This MSOL class is vital for emerging leaders, and teaches them how to interpret and explain complicated metrics.

2. Leading Organizational Change

Change management  offers organizational leaders the chance to pioneer what can be a make-or-break moment for an enterprise. Change is often met with resistance, plagued by communication problems, and suffers timeline issues and resource management challenges. Leading organizational change is both a science and an art. Some examples of complicated organizational change include mergers and acquisitions, staff reduction shifts such as downsizing, or chartering a mission to outsource operations. These tough topics impact many if not all employees at an organization. Successful leaders trained in change implementation are prepared to lead through change rollout plans, including creating a messaging rollout plan to inform staff and other organizational stakeholders. These dynamics are delicate and sensitive. An MSOL program prepares leaders for the art of leading change.

3. Negotiating & Conflict Response

Not many people enjoy putting themselves into the line of conflict fire. For many, negotiating and conflict response is a learned skill. This MSOL class focuses on strategies uncovered through reading, discussion, and assessment, and practices both theory and functional responses. Included in this course is a deep dive into each person’s relationship to conflict and helps each person develop a negotiation style that makes sense for their expressive capabilities.

4. Leadership Practices in Organizational Communications

Communication is not so much a skill as is making your message heard. Applying “stickiness” to your point, no matter what it may be, is a test in persuasion, and incorporating respect, ethics, and clarity into your writing, speaking, and presenting is truly a skill. This can be especially challenging when fellow leadership has a conflicting perspective. At Goodwin University, MSOL students practice forming the skills required to deliver news – good and bad – to all kinds of stakeholders, such as board members, employees, shareholders, clients, members, or other concerned parties. This course will provide examples of do’s and do-not’s when it comes to breaking news about bonuses and bankruptcy alike. Leaders with communication prowess can motivate teams under all circumstances.

5. Talent and Performance Management

How do you take a brand-new employee and shape their potential? Talent and Performance Management equips organizational leaders with a compass to guide employees towards excellent performance, and a map to scope out pathways for employees with all kinds of aspirations. Learn how to set expectations, collaborate with staff, and obtain resources for your employees, while creating individualized career development plans that dovetail with the needs of the organization. Coaching, mentoring, and shadowing are techniques MSOL students will be exposed to and learn how to implement employee development that is positive for both the individual and the organization.

6. Leadership Training and Development

In this meta-leadership course, graduate students learn how to create leadership training programs. Here, developing leaders put their knowledge to the test by trying on teachers’ shoes for size. Leadership training is a vital investment for organizations both large and small. The Center for Creative Leadership explains that leadership development helps organizations achieve four main goals: to improve bottom-line financial performance, drive strategic execution, attract and retain talent, and increase success in change-making endeavors. In short, providing on-the-job up-skilling has numerous benefits for both the organization and its individuals. In this MSOL course, students take on the powerful work of partnering with a community organization to analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a leadership training program.

Hopefully, this taste of Goodwin University’s MSOL course offerings is an inspiring peek into what your career as an organizational leader will include! Improving your leadership skills gives you a professional boost, whether you intend to take on new responsibilities in your current role, shift your industry, or shoot for a brand new job title and department. Growth is not possible by remaining still.

Take control of your potential by investing in your career, with Goodwin University’s MSOL program, and become the leader you are meant to be! Give us a call at 800-889-3282 with any questions, or request more information online, today.