Leadership is an important skill in every area of life, whether you’re leading a team at work, managing a project, or motivating others.
But being a good leader isn’t just about being in charge; it’s about understanding people, making smart decisions, and leading in a way that makes others want to follow. Leadership courses can teach you how to be a good leader. They’ll give you the information and tools you need to become a leader that people trust and respect.
Today, it’s important for managers to keep learning and improving. Good leadership training programs can help you become a better leader, no matter how much experience you have. These courses can teach you how to be a strong manager, communicate well, and handle any problems that might come up.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the top leadership courses in 2024. We’ll cover options for various needs and experience levels so you can find the right course for you.
Whether you prefer online learning or in-person classes, the courses we’ve highlighted can help you become a better leader.
Key Takeaways
- Leadership is an essential skill in every area of life, whether someone is leading a team, managing a project, or motivating others.
- The right leadership course can significantly enhance your decision-making, communication, and team management skills, setting you up for career advancement.
- Whether you’re a novice or an experienced leader, top-rated leadership programs offer flexible learning options to suit various professional needs.
- Some of the best leadership courses to consider include: MIT’s Leadership & Innovation; Stanford’s Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power; and Harvard Business School’s Leadership Principles.
Six Best Leadership Courses
Here are some of the best executive leadership courses to help you become the leader you want to be.
Course | Provider | Length | Cost | Certificate of Completion |
---|---|---|---|---|
Leadership Principles | Harvard Business School Online
|
Six weeks, seven to nine hours per week (four modules)
|
$1,850 | Yes |
Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power | Stanford University | One week | $16,000 | Yes |
Leadership & Innovation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Eight weeks | $3,200 | Yes |
Leadership and Management Certificate Program | Wharton Online | Four courses, four to six weeks per course (two-four hours per week)
|
$3,600 ($995 per individual course)
|
Yes |
High Performance Leadership | International Institute for Management Development | Six days plus post-program coaching
|
17,578 (Lausanne); $16,018 (Singapore)
|
Can apply for the IMD Certificate of Lifelong Executive Learning after completing four programs
|
Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization | University of Illinois | Two months at 10 hours per week
|
$49 per month | Yes |
6. Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization by the University of Illinois
The Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization offered by the University of Illinois on Coursera is a series of seven online courses that aim to help you improve your leadership and management skills.
In this program, you’ll learn how to make effective decisions, manage teams, and solve common problems leaders face. The courses include practical exercises to help you apply what you learn. By the end of the program, you’ll be good at leading and managing different business situations.
You’ll earn a certificate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign showing that you’ve completed the specialization, which can boost your resume.
5. High Performance Leadership by the International Institute for Management Development
The in-person High Performance Leadership course is a leadership development training program offered by the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Singapore.
This program teaches you how to better motivate and guide your team. And it also teaches you practical ways to boost your influence and help your organization perform better.
You’ll learn how to handle challenges, make better decisions, and motivate your team.
The course includes lectures, real-life examples, and activities to give you hands-on experience and tools you can use immediately.
You can apply for the IMD Certificate of Lifelong Executive Learning after completing four programs.
4. Leadership and Management Certificate Program by Wharton Online
The Leadership & Management Certificate Program offered online by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School aims to teach executives how to keep employees motivated, manage their performance, build strong teams, and make good decisions.
This four-course program offers leadership training for managers who want to improve their leadership skills and advance their careers. As you take these four classes, you’ll learn from top business leaders, and you’ll get the skills you need to be a successful manager.
When you finish the program, you’ll get a certificate from Wharton that shows you’ve learned these key skills.
3. Leadership & Innovation by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The online Leadership & Innovation course from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology teaches you how to build teams that are full of ideas, create plans that help your company grow, and become a better leader yourself.
It’s a mix of learning about leadership theory and doing practical exercises.
The course is divided into different sections, each focusing on important parts of leadership and innovation, including different ways to lead and how to manage different kinds of teams.
When you finish the course you’ll receive an MIT Professional Education Certificate of Completion.
2. Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power by Stanford University
The Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power is an in-person course offered by Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Another of the best leadership training courses, it’s for people who are already leaders and want to learn how to be even better at managing their teams.
This program will also help you bring positive changes to your company. You’ll practice solving real problems to learn how to manage tricky situations and build good relationships with your coworkers. The course teaches you how to communicate more effectively and make better decisions.
When you finish the program, you will receive a certificate of completion from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
1. Leadership Principles by Harvard Business School Online
The Leadership Principles course course from Harvard Business School is one of the best leadership courses online for learning key leadership skills.
It teaches you how to make good decisions, understand the bigger picture, and communicate clearly. You’ll also study real-life examples and talk with other students to practice what you learn.
When you’re done, you’ll know more about how to lead teams, inspire people, and help your company succeed.
This course is helpful for new and experienced leaders who want to learn more about leadership.
You’ll earn a leadership certification from the Harvard Business School Online when you finish the course.
Benefits of Leadership Courses
There are a number of benefits to taking leadership courses. For example, leadership courses help you:
- Learn to talk and listen more effectively
- Feel more confident when leading others
- Get better at making well-informed decisions
- Learn how to help your team work well together
- Become better at fixing problems
- Meet and learn from other leaders
- Improve your chances of getting better jobs
The Bottom Line
Investing in one or more top leadership training courses can make a big difference in your career.
Whether you want to improve your skills, move up in your job, or take on new challenges, these leadership classes offer useful knowledge and practical tools. Choosing the right program can help you get the job you want and become a better leader.
FAQs
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References
- Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization [7 courses] (UIUC) | Coursera (Coursera)
- High Performance Leadership – Leadership Development Program (Imd)
- Leadership and Management Certificate Program Online – Wharton (Online.wharton.upenn)
- Leadership & Innovation (Online.professionalprogramsmit)
- Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power – Stanford Graduate School of Business (Grow.stanford)
- Online Leadership Principles Course | HBS Online (Online.hbs)