Organizational Leadership
Organizational Leadership Career Overview
The field of organization leadership was developed to teach students the skills necessary to become effective leaders. Those interested in organizational leadership should like working with people and helping to solve interpersonal problems. They should be honest and fair. Organizational leaders must also use creative strategic planning skills to ensure that their organization is moving in the right direction.
Every successful company is based on its strong leaders and this is where a background on organizational leadership comes in handy. Organizational leaders are needed in a wide variety of sectors from non-profits to large corporations.
Those who work in organizational leadership may:
- Develop effective communication strategies for a company
- Ensure that the company is running as smoothly as possible
- Help employees to find the work that's most suitable for them
- Resolve interpersonal issues between employees
- Act as a leader and role model for all employees
In general, organizational leaders will work in office settings, though the level of formality can vary from place to place. They will regular business hours and rarely need to work overtime.
Organizational Leadership Training and Education
Degrees in organizational leadership are available at all levels, often as a specialization within a broader field like business or management. Entry-level roles often simply require a bachelor's degree in a related field, although to enter into senior positions a graduate degree is usually required.
While the aforementioned approach applies to those seeking to have careers directly related to organization leadership, an entirely different approach exists for those already with established careers. A certificate in organizational leadership can assist in obtaining a raise by enhancing managerial intelligence.
Organizational Leadership Career & Salary Outlook
The skills taught by organizational leadership programs are highly sought after by employers, especially those with larger workforces with extensive human resources needs. As mentioned above, a certificate in organizational leadership can also improve career prospects for those lacking managerial experience but wanting to advance to a leadership position.
Because its scope is rather narrow, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not produce data for organizational leadership as a field. Nevertheless, salary data should be in line with human resources. Those expecting a mid-career bump from a certificate in organizational leadership should consult with their employer to see if a tuition reimbursement program is offered, and to determine if the certificate will improve their prospects for promotion.
Career Fields/Specializations
Occupational Analyst Career
Occupational analysts study labor markets for private think tanks and university institutes, or for government agencies like the Department of Labor or the Federal Reserve. In general, these positions require, at the very least, an undergraduate degree related to labor economics. Senior positions at think tanks are often held by distinguished academics, and it's not uncommon for government positions to be filled via appointments handed out to university professors.
Benefits Managers Career
An employee benefits manager oversees the benefits packages of all employees. They ensure that the package provided is competitive within the current market. They give all new employees the information that they need about their package and answer any questions that they might have. Periodically, they will review the benefits that are available and see if changes need to be made.
Placement Manager Career
Placement managers are responsible for making sure that the right employees are hired for the right position. Their duties include advertising when positions in the company open up and handling the candidate interview process. Additionally, they will look within the company for exceptional employees who are good candidates for promotion.
Placement managers should be adept at understanding people, and should have a genuine desire to make a good match between a prospective employee and an available position. They should understand the current corporate culture and make sure that new employees being hired are a good fit.
Career Planner Career
A career planner helps people to realize what types of careers are best for them. They may do this through personality quizzes or simply talking with people. Once their clients have a general idea of where they would like to end up in life, a good career planner will map out all of the steps that they should take to get there.
Career planners should be skilled at long-term goal planning. They should like helping other people to set goals and follow through on them. Career planners should also have a good memory for people and personal details, as they may work with many different clients.
Training Manager Career
Training managers ensure that new employees are trained on all appropriate company programs and policies. When changes are made to current programs or procedures, they will make certain that everyone is brought up to speed. Additionally, they may institute training programs throughout the year to help the staff develop beneficial skills such as leadership or time management skills.
Training managers should have a knack for teaching and a strong desire to work with people. They should be organized and want to help people succeed.
OD Specialist Career
Organizational development specialists (OD specialists) work within an organization to improve company procedures. Using a combination of behavioral science and knowledge of group dynamics, OD specialists help an organization reach its goals. They may help a company and its employees become more comfortable with new technologies.
Change Management Career
A change management professional helps a company proceed through a planned change such as downsizing or acquisition, development and implementation of new technologies, and a shift in values. Such changes may be hard for some employees to deal with and change management specialists help people to make the changes. Change managers generally function as consultants, as their services are only needed in times of major corporate overhauls.
Staff Development Career
Staff development specialists help to make sure that employees are progressing on a path that makes sense for them. Many companies are recognizing that it is better to promote a person from within the company than it is to hire a new person. People in staff development help to prime current employees for promotion to higher positions. Staff development specialists should enjoy helping people to set and meet their goals. They should be organized and able to teach others how to be organized as well.
