Business degrees come in all shapes and sizes, but they all emphasize leadership skills. Long considered “soft” skills and deemed secondary to quantitative competencies like financial reporting, leadership and related skills are now among the skills top employers value most, according to GMAC’s 2023 Corporate Recruiters Survey. Leadership is one of the most in-demand skills among Master of Business Administration (MBA) students, and for good reason.
Many companies learn the hard way that — even with the most talented employees — a company can fail without the right leadership. MBA students who develop excellent leadership skills will become valuable employees for any company and hold a number of roles like business operations director, human resources director, business operations consultant, chief executive officer and more.
Effective leaders know how to create a positive work environment that is conducive to superior performance, inspiring everyone to contribute and work toward shared goals. Leaders understand the importance of a collaborative atmosphere and culture, where creativity, trust and inclusivity are essential to the big picture. Being able to build and lead productive, cohesive teams is one of the most valuable skills a manager can have. An online MBA in Management from Lamar University can help career professionals develop these valuable skills.
What Is an MBA in Management?
This MBA specialization prepares students to be highly effective leaders who direct not only individuals and teams but also entire companies.
The evolving corporate environment emphasizes workplace qualities like aligned values, ethics, diversity, inclusivity, positive company culture and the employee experience — in addition to the bottom line. Employees — especially the growing cohort of Gen Zers — want to work in an environment that complements their values, maximizes their potential and supports a healthy work-life balance.
Companies benefit when their employees find job satisfaction because they will be more efficient and productive. An MBA in Management provides professionals with the comprehensive business leadership knowledge and skills needed to engender the job satisfaction, motivation, goal-alignment, creativity and collaboration that drive today’s successful, innovative businesses.
What Will I Study in an MBA in Management?
An MBA focused on management teaches not only human resources skills but also awareness of different personality styles and how they interact in the workplace. Leadership classes teach how to manage people with a broad range of behaviors and backgrounds, encouraging creativity and diversity in ideas and perspectives in order to maximize collaboration, innovation and performance.
For instance, Lamar University’s online MBA in Management includes courses devoted to both personal leadership and team leadership, drawing from the FranklinCovey principles of leadership. Personal leadership studies emphasize personal and professional growth, healthy relationship development and the work-life balance. Team leadership studies focus on trust, team development, collective purpose and goal alignment and supporting employee growth. In both personal and team leadership studies, Lamar University focuses on the values-based leadership culture that today’s top talent demands.
This values-centered approach to management incorporates traditional management models, as well. By addressing employee wants and needs in a workplace, business leaders can foster organizational success in more ways than one. The ability to lead organizational change in today’s dynamic business environment is just one of the reasons why management is a top MBA concentration.
Learn more about the Lamar University online MBA in Management program.
