No matter its size or industry, every workplace needs capable leaders. At the University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF), our Master of Management (MMgt) program equips students with both the technical knowledge and fundamental business management principles to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Read on to learn more about the valuable leadership skills you’ll learn as an MMgt student.
What are leadership skills?
Leadership and management skills are talked about a lot, especially in professional settings. But what exactly are they? Simply put, they’re the abilities that managers rely on to help them supervise workplace processes, implement new initiatives, support employees, and make decisions regarding a company’s goals and vision.
The importance of developing leadership skills
Strong leadership skills are important for developing business strategies and putting them into action through goal setting and task delegation. Managers also use them to maintain positive, collaborative organizational cultures where employees feel motivated and appreciated for their contributions.
10 leadership skills you’ll develop in an MMgt program
Let’s dive deeper into the top 10 leadership skills you’ll gain as an MMgt student:
1. Visionary leadership
When looking ahead to the future, good managers always keep their company’s larger vision in mind. An MMgt education will show you how to set goals and inspire your team members to achieve them, which will ultimately lead to long-term business growth.
2. Emotional intelligence
Employees do their best work when they feel comfortable and respected. Because of this, managers need strong emotional intelligence, which involves good social skills, self-awareness, empathy for other people’s emotions, and regulating one’s own emotional responses. In an MMgt program, you’ll learn how emotional intelligence can help you better relate to others, address challenging situations, and understand the impact of company culture on employee behaviour.
3. Effective communication
Good communication between managers and team members helps establish trust and clear expectations. MMgt courses, such as UNF’s Introduction to Management course, cover the benefits of communication skills for interpersonal interactions, public speaking, and written correspondence.
4. Collaboration and team building
Motivating employees to work together on a shared goal is one of a manager’s biggest responsibilities. An MMgt program will show you how to form collaborative, high-performing teams through one-on-one communication, increased employee agency, and continuous coaching.
5. Conflict resolution
Where there are people, there’s going to be occasional conflict. An MMgt program will equip with the knowledge and capabilities needed for conflict resolution, including negotiation, active listening, constructive dialogue, and neutrality.
6. Decision-making and problem-solving
Daily, managers must make informed decisions and come up with solutions when their intended outcomes don’t go as planned. As an MMgt graduate, you’ll be equipped with the critical thinking and analysis skills to handle any scenario that arises.
7. Adaptability and resilience
Like anything else, leadership skills improve through time and experience. Your MMgt studies will give you tools for self-reflection, managing stress, and recovering from setbacks.
8. Ethical leadership
While achieving success does matter for managers and other business leaders, it’s most important that they do so in a morally sound way. A focus of MMgt programs is how honesty, integrity, and accountability play vital roles in ethical organizational practices.
9. Relationship building
A loyal team is a successful team. MMgt programs highlight the importance of forming authentic team bonds through determining goals, celebrating successes, providing training opportunities, and respecting work-life balance.
10. Time management and prioritization
Managers are consistently juggling their own tasks and the needs of their team. MMgt graduates can navigate this complex terrain through strategies such as utilizing productivity tools and being adaptable to shifting priorities.
How to develop your leadership skills
Outside of the classroom, here are some additional steps you can take to develop your leadership skills:
Find a mentor
Connect with a professor or another professional in your chosen field to gain feedback on your leadership development and how you’re progressing towards your goals.
Join a student club or organization
Getting involved with a student club or group is an opportunity to practice your communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills while enjoying a cause or hobby that you’re passionate about.
Conclusion
Ready to chart your path as a future leader? Start your MMgt application today. If you have any questions, a UNF student advisor will be happy to answer them at your convenience. We can’t wait to start learning with you!
