If you set out on the hunt for good leadership courses, you can quickly end up in what feels like a jungle of different offerings, formats and themes. We can understand that feeling, as the range of courses is vast and varied. That's why we're writing this article to hopefully help you pick and choose between the many different leadership courses. In leadership, feedback is one of the elements that can be considered important. Many of the different leadership courses have a number of common features and characteristics, but which is better than another? Many participants or few? Short or long duration? Virtual or physical attendance? Preparation materials or none? Admission requirements or open access?
Before we get started, perhaps we should look at a definition for the purposes of this article - What exactly are leadership training courses?
Leadership coursesare shorter courses, from a few days to longer training programs that can span several years. Leadership courses aim to strengthen participants' leadership skills in a range of topics from technical skills, communication, management, leadership, collaboration, process and analytical skills.
Let's start this guide by looking at how leadership courses can strengthen your leadership in different ways.
How can leadership training strengthen your leadership?
The elements of a leadership course that contribute to strengthening your leadership can vary greatly. For some, it will be the specific professional input they are presented with during the course. For others, it's more the community and reflection space created by the group of teachers and participants. Below we have listed a number of elements that may have helped strengthen your leadership after attending a leadership course.
- Governance models and processes
- Methods for handling dilemmas or conflicts
- Mental tools
- Personal experiences through working on final projects or exams
- Knowledge sharing with your fellow students or teachers
- Increased professional insight that enables you to challenge your specialized employees
- Hands-on experience gained through training exercises during the course
- Resources, guides, documents that you can find support in your daily work, which the course provides access to
- Increased self-awareness, gained through mirroring, feedback and reflection on the course
The list could go on, and as you can see from the list here, there are many different benefits you can gain from leadership courses. Some benefits you will have to consciously work to achieve, while others will arise as an unconscious by-product of your participation.
However, before choosing between the many leadership courses, it's a good idea to ask yourself the following questions:
- What situations in my everyday life would I like to be better at handling?
- If I were to be a better manager for my employees - what would I need to improve?
- How specifically do I expect my leadership to be strengthened through this particular leadership course?
- What will it take for me to get the full benefits?
- What makes this course right for me?
- Where are my strengths as a leader and how can I better leverage them?
So, it can be very different what inputs you are looking for to strengthen your leadership. Therefore, it can be a great idea to consider the form and content of the course to see if it matches the benefits you want from a leadership course.
You can read about personal leadership here
Do you believe thatknowledge sharing and reflection will be the primary ways to strengthen your leadership? Then make sure there are other curious and active participants that you can relate to, as well as opportunities for reflection, either in the form of time, facilitated shared reflection or perhaps through the addition of individual coaching. You may want to look for open leadership courses that span a longer period of time.
Do you needconcrete knowledge and language in a specific subject area so you can more easily keep up with your specialists? Perhaps it's an intensive one-day course, a certification program in project management or the Scrum method. Alternatively, an individual online course that presents concepts, perspectives and offers individual training assignments.
Do youneed a training ground where you can practice without necessarily being watched by your colleagues back at the organization? Then maybe you should focus on finding practice-oriented leadership courses that focus on training exercises, role-playing, case or project work. This could be smaller courses in presentation skills, feedback, change communication, media training or perhaps coding.
Leadership courses need to be able to offer you exactly what you're looking for in the quest to strengthen your leadership, so pay extra attention to whether you think it can offer you just that.
Let's take a look at the target audience for leadership training, who are your fellow participants and when does leadership training become relevant to you?
Who are leadership courses relevant for?
Leadership courses are particularly relevant and targeted at either managers or employees who want to take on leadership responsibilities in the future.
Most leadership courses work in terms of exercises, content and participant group based on the idea that all participants have a role in an organization that involves daily management responsibility for either employees, projects or functions. Most leadership courses are targeted at managers with personnel responsibilities, with the exception of professional certifications and process-focused courses.
However, there are a number of different reasons why a leadership course is relevant for a manager, such as
- If you switch from being an employee to a manager
- If you're moving from middle to senior management
- If you're transitioning to lead a new type of organization
- If you're switching to managing specialists with a different skill set - industry change
- If you're switching from operations management to development management - or vice versa
- If your primary management task changes
- If your employees express new needs
- If there are significant changes in your management team
- If the nature of the management task changes in any other way
While the reasons for finding leadership courses can be many, the common thread is that leadership courses are most effective when the leader attending the course is motivated to learn new things and can see the need to strengthen their own leadership skills.
What types of leadership courses are there and what content should you look for?
Leadership courses come in a variety of forms, but let's look at the following 6 types; Certifications, Day courses, Formal training courses, Leadership training courses, On-demand online courses and Internal leadership training courses. They are each different in their own way, let's look at how.
Certifications
Within different working methods and approaches, there are a number of certifications. In some cases, certifications are also available in multiple levels (beginner, practitioner, level III, etc.) Typically, these certification courses range from 5+ days up to several months. Depending on the level and scope of the certified skill. Examples include project management methods (Six-Sigma, Prince II etc.), software development methods (Scrum, SAFe, Agile etc.) coaching skills (ICF etc.), software certifications (Google Adwords, Microsoft Azure, SAP etc.). Common to these types of courses is that they end with a certification, typically in the form of tests, exams, supervision, etc.
Considerations:
Whenit comes to certifications, consider whether you're taking them because you want to gain new skills or simply to have "something to put on your resume". Certifications are appealing in terms of their, well, certificates and credentials. That said, many certification courses are well-structured because they are repeated and refined over and over again.
Day courses
There is a huge range of one-day courses in "narrower" properties. These courses are typically good introductions or work with knowledge and properties within a very specific application. Here you can find 1- or 2-day courses on a wide range of topics. Situational leadership, meeting facilitation, the difficult conversation, Microsoft Outlook, presentation skills, feedback. These one-day courses are often open courses with registration and are run by large course providers. The various management courses that run over a few days have very different formats, teaching methods, class sizes, control methods and the like. However, they rarely end with a major assignment or project.
Considerations :
Theshort duration of day courses represents a learning risk, which can be made visible through the questions: "Can you change habits and workflows by attending a day course?" and "Can you take much more than good inspiration from day courses?". In some cases, the answer to both questions will be "Yes". But be aware of what habits, competencies and skills you are aiming to gain from a day course and ask yourself; "Can I really acquire these in 2 days?"
Formal training programs
MBA, HD, Master of Management, Diploma in Management, Academy of Management are all examples of formal (and longer) education programs that have in common that they are typically modular and that each module ends with an exam. The exams can be either oral, written assignments, project-based, supervision or other forms. In the category of "leadership courses", these will be the largest and most comprehensive. Typically, these formal education programs are anchored at educational institutions, based on a theoretical curriculum and accredited with ECTS credits at a given level. These courses typically span time horizons from 6 months to 4 years, and are all characterized by requirements for participant prerequisites through either experience or previous education.
Considerations:
Theselong and theoretical training programs can be a great journey that can provide strong skills, but if you want a big payoff, a lot of effort is also required. Therefore, it may be worth considering your overall life situation before signing up for a longer course. This group of programs is nicknamed "divorce studies". This is probably due to the extra pressure and workload that students take on during the duration of their studies. Therefore, ask yourself; "Are you ready to put in the necessary effort?" and "Do you, right now, have the resources to get the results you want from your education?"
Leadership training courses
In addition to theoretical formalized education, certifications and day courses, there is also a range of - what we call - leadership training courses that stand out in different ways. Some of these connect to different development theories or methods (personal development, different self-awareness approaches, spirituality, military methods, etc.), or perhaps take place in another significantly different environment (outdoors, abroad, etc.), all to stimulate in different and more powerful ways. Some of these courses are open enrollment and are held a certain number of times a year, with participants divided into teams. Leadership courses in this category typically stimulate through a different kind of experience that can't be achieved in an auditorium with your nose in a thick book. There are a variety of private providers offering different concepts.
Considerations:
Beforesigning up for a leadership training program, it may be a good idea to consider what you find attractive about this particular program. You could weigh up "How much is it the experience that attracts me?" and "To what extent do I believe I can develop as a leader through this course?"
On-demand online courses
The number of leadership courses that take place online, through a series of videos, is growing rapidly these days. "On-demand" means that you have 100% flexibility to take the course lessons at your convenience, because they consist of either video, audio or assignment material that has been prepared in advance. There are some great portals with a wide variety of courses in both Danish and English. To name a few of these:
At Feedwork, we have created two different on-demand online courses in collaboration with GoLearn. One is aimed at managers and the other is aimed at employees and teams. Both courses contain tools, a workbook and introductions to exercises. They take about 60 minutes. Watch the trailers here:
Read about charimatic leadership here.
Find the courses here: 3 great tools for better feedback and Feedback for managers
On-demandonline courses are typically much cheaper than in-person courses. Available in a wider range of content, scope and form. It's also typically easier to find a trainer you can trust.
Considerations:
Especiallyin relation to leadership courses and management, a relevant question is whether the necessary leadership skills can be obtained by watching videos in front of a computer screen? "Is it possible to become better at applying situational leadership by watching 17 videos on the topic?" or "Are you willing to do all the extra exercises, reflections and training needed to achieve the competencies you want (and that the course promises)?
Internal management training programs
Much like open enrollment management training courses, these courses can often be arranged as internal courses for a group of managers in the same organization. This way, companies can ensure a sense of community and a stronger imprint on the managers' leadership skills than if individual managers attend different courses around the organization. The advantage of holding leadership courses internally is that it will allow the courses to be better adapted to the organizational context that is relevant to all managers in that particular organization.
Internal management training courses have the advantage that it can be easier to motivate participants to engage in a more social form of learning, because they can already bring their experiences and stories from the organization into play. It will also be easier to use their management colleagues as support and sparring partners throughout the course. Both inside and outside the classroom.
At Feedwork, we prefer to work with internal leadership training programs, because we believe it gives the best results in relation to feedback and inclusive leadership. Here you can see how we have built our internal leadership training program: Feedback Masterclass.
Considerations:
Whenall leaders in an organization are lumped together, some participants will naturally be more motivated than others. There's no way around it. Therefore, it may be a good idea to consider which topics should be covered in the leadership training course - as the topics should be broad enough that everyone can relate and find motivation within the framework of the course. Alternatively, there is a risk of 3-5 participants sitting in the corner with their arms crossed. This affects the atmosphere and everyone's desire to learn.
What elements of leadership courses are central to your learning?
When you take a leadership course (or any other learning activity), there are a number of elements that affect how much you will learn. We've created a list below that provides an overview of a wide range of factors. It can be difficult to know exactly which factors are at play, and the impact of each element on your learning will vary from person to person.
- The time you spend on the drug
- Your knowledge of the material prior to participation
- Your opportunity for practical application of the material
- Your motivation for gaining the competencies
- Your trust in the trainer
- Your trust in the other participants
- Your use of reflection options (self-reflection, group reflection, etc.)
- Your use of instructor support or resources
- Your blood sugar
- Your sleep status
- Your overall stress level
- Oxygen saturation in the classroom
- How actively you participate, engage and focus during the course
- Your ability to combine the material with your existing knowledge
- The teaching method
- To what extent your strengths and skills match the course content
- To what degree you think the material makes sense
- The degree of freedom in the course (can you do it your own way?)
The list is long and only a selection of the elements are under the influence of the course providers, you also have quite an impact on your learning outcomes.
Different elements affect learning. So far so good. But where does learning actually take place when we go to work? Research has an answer, or rather 3 answers. Learn which ones in the next section.
What does the format of leadership courses mean for your learning?
In addition to the factors we've already mentioned, course content, duration and learning-enhancing elements, there's one more factor we can look at. Namely, where in the workplace does learning happen best? Here we have some research to draw on.
In a study conducted by Training Industry in 2018, learning arenas are divided into 3 types: OSF - 1) On-the-job, 2 ) Social and 3) Formal learning. Below you will find a brief description of each of the types.
On-the-job
The learning that happens through the daily life, tasks and challenges that an employee encounters in their role.
Social
All learning that happens through sparring, reflection, feedback, coaching and observation of other colleagues, customers or employees in the organization.
Formal learning
Leadership courses fall into this category of formal learning activities. It can be courses, programs, workshops or online courses - all the organized learning spaces and activities.
Within each category, the researchers find that employee learning is distributed as follows in the 3 different parameters:
- On-the-job - 55
- Social - 25%.
- Formal Learning - 20%.
Okay, what can you do with this knowledge, you might be thinking? Well, you can compare this knowledge to your own learning process around the leadership courses you're considering taking. Relevant questions to ask yourself in this regard could be:
- What framework does the leadership course offer in relation to the different parameters?
- How can you apply this knowledge to your learning journey?
- Which learning arenas do you tend to overlook?
- How should you use your time when you're part of a learning program?
- How will you ensure social learning? With other course participants? Your colleagues?
- How can you make clear connections between the formal learning space of the course and your own everyday life?
With this knowledge, you have another perspective to evaluate one leadership course over another.
The natural flow of your work is a major contributor to your learning. So how do you ensure you make a connection between your chosen leadership course and your day-to-day work? We'll take a look at that now.
How do you create interaction between the leadership course and your everyday life?
Part of the criticism directed at the whole leadership development wave and the leadership training industry is: "How do we ensure that the expensive courses for leaders are not just a waste of time?" and "How do we ensure that leaders and the organization get value out of the course?" And it's a valid criticism, as many organizations have experienced that "leadership courses are a waste of time". However, there are a number of things you can do to highlight the value that your course will bring to yourself and your organization. Here are a few ideas.
Clarify expectations with your line manager
Make sure you have an agreement and aligned expectations with your manager. This way, your manager can remind you to use your skills or support you in how you can challenge yourself based on your new knowledge. In many organizations, there is an expectation that you collaborate with your manager on your own development, so it is of course relevant to bring your newly acquired course experience into this context.
Plan how to apply what you've learned and set goals
On the more individual front, there are also many things you can do to ensure the leadership course content is applied in your everyday life. For example, you can use intention planning or goal setting as a tactic to motivate and drive your own development. This way, you can build habits for yourself that you want to incorporate into your daily management. If you don't, chances are you'll forget most of the good ideas from the course when you get back to the daily grind. We've all been there.
A very simple structure for intention planning is called "When/So". It involves formulating your intentions in this way:
When [Insert time/situation in everyday life]
So [Insert habit/action you want to do]
When I have a performance review with my employees
So plan and customize the conversation based on their personality types
When I start a new project and set up a project team
Then I do it according to the phases described in the PRINCE II methodology
It'sall about setting a "trigger" and then an "action". You can try it yourself for one of the good habits you want to master. This simple exercise alone won't get you all the way there, but it's a good little start.
Involve employees/colleagues/coaches
Support is super important when it comes to driving effective learning. Occasionally, you'll encounter situations and experiences that you don't know how to deal with, or that you want confirmation on before you take the plunge. This is where a buddy/buddy/coach/mentor can be a great support. In this role, you can have a management colleague, an employee, your own manager, an HR partner or perhaps an external coach.
We work a lot with this mechanism in particular at Feedwork, both by setting up buddy systems, but also by supporting managers on internal leadership training programs with individual coaching as part of the overall program. We do this because managers tell us that the coaching makes a big difference, rather than just attending workshops and group sessions.
How long should a leadership course take?
In this article, we've looked at leadership courses that take between 1 day and up to 4 years of part-time study and everything in between. How long a leadership course takes depends entirely on what you want to learn and how you want the leadership course to support your learning.
Another metaphor that might be worth considering here could be the metaphor of your time in driving school when you were around 18 years old. Of course, the lessons and driving lessons should enable you to pass your driving test, but the real routine and valuable experience only comes when you start driving on a daily basis.
So, you should consider whether the time spent on the management course is a particularly relevant factor for your learning (just look at the OSF factors again). However, the time and resources it takes to attend a course is often relevant when negotiating with employers about what support you can get. So in that sense, it makes sense to look at the time spent.
What leadership courses do we offer at Feedwork?
Here at Feedwork, we offer a variety of leadership courses and training programs. Our most popular course, which is aimed at managers, is called the Digital Team Course . The course is designed to strengthen both psychological safety and feedback. It's all video-based, so it consists of 2 video workshops of 2 hours each for the whole team plus 3 short videos for the team leader. These equip the team leader to run the team sessions and support the team in learning.
Read more about the content, customer recommendations and benefits of the digital team course.
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