If your goal is to lead a company, a department, or even a small team, you may want to consider pursuing an organizational leadership degree to prepare for opportunities in this diverse and rewarding field. Organizational leadership is the discipline of managing by inspiring others to do what’s right for themselves and for their organization. If you’re planning to work toward this career track, look into organizational leadership degrees with concentrations or related areas of study that may help you find your own and others’ strengths, influence your company’s culture for the better, and motivate others to achieve in the workplace and beyond.
What kinds of organizational leadership degrees are there?
If you’re planning to earn an undergraduate organizational leadership degree, you can typically choose from a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) and B.A. (Bachelor of Arts). At the graduate level, an M.A. (Master of Arts) or M.S. (Master of Science) may prepare you to pursue new opportunities or enhance in a current career track. MBA and DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) programs sometimes offer a concentration in organizational leadership; these tend to be more career-focused than an M.A. or M.S. Finally, an Ed.D. or PhD in organizational leadership, while typically not required for a business leadership career track, may be a good next step for those who wish to pursue careers leading an educational facility, conducting research in the field of organizational leadership, or teaching this subject at the postsecondary level.
Many campus-based schools offer excellent programs in this discipline. You can even pursue organizational leadership degrees online, an option for students hoping to earn a degree while remaining employed.
What kinds of specialties could I pursue in the field of organizational leadership?
This complex and ever-changing field has room for a variety of specialties. Those hoping to lead employee development initiatives may opt to concentrate in Human Resources or Training and Development, while students planning to aim toward heading up a college or university one day might choose Higher Education leadership. A concentration in Public Administration or Nonprofit Leadership may benefit those preparing to pursue employment opportunities in these sectors. Available concentrations vary by program, so be sure to consider your interests and professional goals when evaluating degrees in organizational leadership.
What are areas of study similar to organizational leadership?
If you’re looking for an alternative to an organizational leadership degree, you have a variety of options; business administration, applied management, and human resources are career areas that share a lot in common with this field. If you’re interested in the emotional and behavioral aspects of managing an organization, a degree in psychology with a concentration in organizational psychology may be a good choice.
Even if serving as the CEO for a Fortune 500 company is not for you, there may still be ways to turn your interest in organizational leadership into a potential career path. Managers, education professionals, small business owners and entrepreneurs, business and management consultants, career counselors, and other professionals use organizational leadership concepts and strategies every day, whether they realize it or not! Keep in mind that this or a related field could be applicable to many rewarding professional roles calling for savvy decision-making, creative problem-solving, and leadership that inspires employees to be their best.