Leaders Learn: Why a Leadership Course is Worth it

Being a leader means you know your industry. But it also means you know how to inspire and motivate, think ahead and be community-conscious.

When people think about what makes a good leader, several attributes come to mind: good communication skills, problem solving skills, honest and integrity, the ability to build relationships. You may excel at some aspects of being a leader, but isn’t there always something you could do better?

Leadership courses are abundant, and they aren’t only a good opportunity to develop your skills, they are an opportunity to show your team that you think continual development is important and that everyone has something to learn.

But it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all model. There are free and online paid courses and tutorials, all kinds of leadership development programs, and classes at local universities. You can earn degrees or certifications; put the course on your CV or point it out at a performance review; or simply use what you learned in the course to improve the trajectory of your career.

Besides all of typical leadership courses most institutions offer, there are also some really interesting courses that are a bit outside the box. Here are our favorites:

Strategic thinking

One of the most valued traits in someone on the leadership team is someone who can think strategically. These are people that are constantly innovating, and know how to drive change within an organization. They have ability to use objective analysis to approach both problem solving and long range planning goals. This talent doesn’t always come naturally, but it can be developed.

Ethical practices

As a leader, you’ve likely been presented at some time a code of ethics for your workplace. Unfortunately, it’s not something people typically think about – or even take seriously – until there is a crisis. But ethical behavior can make, or damage, your reputation. Studying business ethics from several angles, including conflict of interest concerns, dealing with misconduct, defining values, and developing performance metrics based on behavior.

Communications

Without stellar communications skills, it is difficult to be an effective leader. There are all kinds of courses focused on all aspects of communications, including how to most effectively motivate your team, negotiate, respond to problems, engage employees, implement change, relay strategy, build relationships, influence people, and much more.

Increasing your EQ

Emotional intelligence (often called EQ) is a powerful key to successful leadership. Increasing your EQ by recognizing the emotions of yourself and those around you is absolutely something that can be taught. Having a high EQ contributes to your ability to manage groups and individuals, enhance resilience, handle difficult situations, and build awareness in your team.

Adding a course into your busy schedule might seem overwhelming, but the skills you gain will likely prove invaluable. You’ll be able to clarify your vision and nail down your most effective leadership style, feel empowered to succeed, and improve career prospects. But most importantly, it sets a good example for your team about the importance of learning and growth by showing them that investing in yourself and your career is an important leadership skill anyone can take advantage of.

Check out our live and on-demand expert-led classes to improve your leadership skills