My Top 11 Leadership Courses and Development Programs to Take Your Results and Career to the Next Level (Recommended for Aspiring or Experienced Leaders)
Looking for the ultimate list of leadership training programs, courses and classes, both online and in-house?
If you’re new to management or are an experienced leader wanting to expand your skills, fill knowledge gaps, keep up with leadership trends and grow your income, this article has it all.
The training programs and courses I’ve outlined have been created and/or are being delivered by some of the best leadership trainers and experts from all walks of life.
Former executives, business owners and managers who figured out the top leadership strategies that get results and are now sharing their expertise.
Some are offered by top leadership training companies as well as highly renowned universities.
With research by Zippia revealing that:
Only 5% of businesses have implemented leadership development at all levels, and
For every year a company delays leadership development, it costs 7% of their total annual sales.
…now is the best time to take control of your leadership role, either as an individual or as a company.
So whether you’re seeking leadership training for yourself, your managers or your organization, I’ll be listing various options, from short courses through to extensive leadership development training programs, from 11 to 1.
Leadership Expert
Before you jump in and sign up to one of the following leadership training courses, here’s how to assess the value of the courses I’ve outlined in this article…
6 Ways To Assess a Leadership Program’s Value BEFORE You Buy
Finding and signing up to a leadership course is only about 5% of the equation… the value comes from not starting a course, but getting the most from every module so that you retain the information and learnings.
And most importantly, following through to the end and completing the course in full.
Here are some considerations in deciding on the best leadership training and completing it in full…
1. Course Duration
Problem: Some leadership and management courses are too long or too short… and it’s hard to stay engaged when courses just ‘drag on’ or don’t give you enough.
Solution: You may find that the sweet spot for a complete leadership and management training is between 15-25 hours of lectures blended with self-study, partner sharing, workbooks, assessments and coaching.
2. Level Of Support Offered
Problem: Most leadership training online are “you’re on your own” type courses where you sign-up, sign-in and get started with the course by yourself.
The problem is we’re all human and we all get distracted with life responsibilities such as work, family life, socializing and a million other responsibilities and tasks
Solution: If you’d like to increase the probability that you’ll follow through and get the most out of the course, consider leadership development courses that offer the training with one-to-one support of some kind, whether it’s email support, group coaching, or 1-to-1 coaching
3, Time
Problem: Time is often the biggest reason many people don’t finish online leadership courses.
Busy work schedules and general life busyness often stops us from ‘getting back to’ that online course we fell in love with three months ago.
Solution: Either consider taking shorter courses with bite-sized lessons or take one that offers guided support so that you have set meet times either with other participants or with the leadership trainer themselves.
4, Accountability
Problem: If it’s just ourselves we’re accountable to, it’s too easy to justify why we didn’t follow through on that online leadership training, whether it’s a time excuse, lack of motivation or otherwise..
Solution: Consider having external accountability by having an intact team go through the training together. A partner, cohort or team to whom we are accountable to can make a big difference.
Whether we follow through to ‘not let them down’ or to have a sounding board... completing a program becomes easier when you have someone by your side to talk through key point, brainstorm or practice key learnings.
5, The Trainer/Instructor
Problem: Some leadership instructors don’t know how to keep their audience engaged. Their voice may be monotone or they “talk at” students leading to material being tuned out.
Solution: Sample a section of the course, find some YouTube videos, podcast interviews or social media examples of the instructor speaking to see if you resonate with their style.
6, Self-Motivation And Self-Discipline
Problem: Do you struggle with self-motivation and self-discipline at times? You’re not alone.
This is why it can be difficult to complete leadership and management courses online, especially if they’re longer than a few hours of content.
Solution: Internal motivation can be boosted by choosing a course-plus-coaching model.
A certified coach also offers guidance and customization of modules and material to your specific challenges, making it more relevant to you personally… which can significantly influence your motivation to continue.
Now that we’ve identified several deciding factors to consider, let’s now dive into my list of the top 11 leadership courses…
This executive leadership course is for senior leaders at all levels led by a renowned business school that helps you develop and evolve as a leader.
As far as senior leadership development programs go, it offers a unique approach to professional leadership while simultaneously promoting and supporting personal development.
Course Topics Include:
Leadership in Extraordinary Times
Accountability Creates Results
Metamorphic Experience
Holistic Diversity
Living Knowledge
Pros: There are in-person leadership trainings and hybrid course options and of course Stanford is a respected business school
Cons: The start date is just twice annually. Its $78,000 course fee may be out of reach or out of the question for many individuals and organizations.
Anna Wintour delivers creative leadership training and shares insights into creative leadership for leaders wanting to learn how to keep your product/service relevant to your market.
Course Topics Include:
How to build and manage a team
How to give constructive feedback
Interviewing do's and don'ts to hire right
How to find your voice to stay authentic and unique to build your team or organization
How to work with mentors to get the most out of each relationship
How to lead with a clear vision
How to deal with criticism
How to make effective decisions
Pros: An affordable creative leadership course you can start immediately, pay a low monthly fee ($15 p/mth) and learn from an icon in fashion and leadership. This course is hosted by masterclass.com which gives you access to other masterclasses.
Cons: The fashion examples may lack relevance to your specific situation. No support or direct contact is offered with the trainer.
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This transformational leader training program is a practical and interactive experience, where executives, managers, entrepreneurs and students in the public sector can uncover their own personal leadership strengths.
They will discover how they build and make effective connections with others through this transformational leadership course as well as how to resolve conflict and help followers to develop their own leadership potential.
Course Topics Include:
Exercises to build your "mindfulness muscle"
Discover and explore your personal authority, boundaries and purpose at a deeper level
Deep dive into the roles, scripts and routines you’re currently using and learn positive alternatives
Uncover new approaches to your leadership style in a unique way that other executive leadership courses fail to offer
Learn about the various dynamics of teams, groups and organizations and the challenges and opportunities they offer to your leadership.
Learn about your own patterns and behaviors within groups
Discover how situational leadership training can improve your ability to read people and intervene with effective dialogue
Inspire your team to self-transform through dialogue, planning and action
Find out about inner-transformation and put yourself in greater control over your destiny and that of your organization’s.
Pros: This unique leadership training and development course is highly recognized and helps take each leader through their own transformational journey.
Cons: The duration of this course is 55 hours of live virtual training with 25 hours of asynchronous learning. This time requirement may be too much for many leaders. The $17,083 program fee is a big commitment too.
#8. Oxford Home Study Center: Leadership & Management (Short Course)
This is a strategic leadership training for new and aspiring managers and helps you bridge the gap between hard skills and soft skills required for effective leadership.
For leadership soft skills training, this is a solid introductory course to leadership as well as a reminder for managers and leaders who would like to revisit foundational leadership qualities and skills.
Course topics include:
Leadership styles
Managing performance
Hiring right
Strategies to influence
Pros: Well it’s free for starters. It’s also led by academics and seasoned industry veterans and you can start immediately.
Cons: As far as leadership short course go, this may feel too basic for seasoned leaders. You may feel left-alone to your own devices with 20 hours of content to get through.
This advanced leadership training is a 'beyond the basics' course for existing managers and leaders to help you discover advanced strategies for real-world leadership.
Course topics include:
Strategic Thinking and Organizational Purpose
Decision-Making Skills
Manager as Change Agent
Developing Others
Creating High-Performing Teams
Adapting to Today’s Demands
Pros: The cost of $349 for this management development training makes it an affordable option. The multi option live training makes it flexible enough to start at any time.
Cons: Two days may feel like drinking from a firehose with no time to digest, practice or retain the information over time. It may also be too advanced and overwhelming for new managers.
In this organizational leadership training you’ll discover how to lead an organization using key strategies that create change.
Develop clarity of purpose and how to collaborate effectively through building, motivating and engaging team members.
It’s one of the few leadership training courses online where you can learn storytelling, consumer behavior and innovation in leadership.
Course topics include:
High Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork, and Negotiation
Leadership Communication for Maximum Impact: Storytelling
Leadership Through Social Influence
Leadership Through Marketing
Leadership Through Design Innovation
Pros: Northwestern is a credible university and provides leadership classes online to go at your own pace. The free option allows for easy access.
Cons: Free access is to view the course content only with an option to upgrade for additional resources. The 7 month duration may lead to low finish rate and implementation. In terms of leadership in training, there’s no coaching or live aspect to help you work through everyday challenges and as a result compliance may be low.
If you’re searching for leadership training programs for managers, this course is for managers and individuals whose success depends on managing people successfully through clear communication, a cooperative attitude and commitment to shared goals.
The best leadership courses should have training on how to motivate every member of your team—even if they don’t share your values.
Use positive and corrective feedback to turn problem employees around and maximize productivity
Course topics include:
The Experience of Being a Manager in Today’s Organization
Values, Ethical Leadership and Organizational Culture
Personal Styles: DiSC
Motivating Those You Manage
Communication Skills for Managers
Emotional Intelligence
Pros: You’ll get to practice your style using case studies and receive personal feedback from instructors and peers. You’ll also receive pre and post seminar assessments and additional resources to maximize your training goals.
Cons: This leadership skills course is delivered online over 2 days or 4 online lessons. Does not offer individual coaching to sustain development. Price may range ($2,200-$2,600) depending on membership level.
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Before enrolling in one of the many leadership development classes a quick self-analysis can be useful to assess where you’re at and where you want to go.
Many leaders who are promoted to mid- to senior-level leadership roles often struggle to achieve the next level of results.
What worked for them as individual contributors will not work for them as they achieve results with and through others.
Getting started with the best leadership development program for where you’re at currently can help you align your position, your knowledge, experience and future goals.
After all, a simple, practical framework is what forms the basis of leadership success.
The best executive leadership programs are ones where experienced mid- to senior-level leaders receive hands-on work sessions that allow them to do real work and implement their ideas with their teams.
Course Topics Include:
Inspire trust
Create vision
Execute strategy
Coach potential
Pros: This is a strategic leadership course based on Covey’s principles. There are regular start dates that can be given live, virtual or on-demand. Pricing is approximately $2,500 depending on the option chosen and requires a pass to access.
Cons: Two day business leadership classes like this may be challenging to absorb and process everything all at once.
As far as management development training courses, this is ideal for mid-level managers focused on becoming a more effective leader.
Discover top leadership traits and how you can internalize them to lead confidently and effectively.
Cultivate leadership and management development skills through learning how to influence your team and organization at a deep level to inspire action and follow through.
Course topics include:
Strategies for leading and collaborating virtually
How your personality and behaviors impact others
Ways to provide more effective feedback
How to use our Direction, Alignment, Commitment (DAC) leadership framework
Techniques to increase resiliency
Pros: Live leadership development workshops held online and led by an executive coach. This format allows for flexibility in Q&A and live coaching. $4,500 price includes two coaching sessions.
Cons: Self-paced options are not available because classes are with fixed schedules. 5 days (4 hours per day) may not leave enough room for retention, practice and processing time. Learning therefore may not be fully optimized after a few weeks.
In terms of quick leadership training programs online, this is an easy option if you’re just getting started and would like to focus on inclusive leadership, diversity and equity.
In this basic leadership training you'll gain techniques and strategies on leading a team or organization that values and promotes diversity and inclusivity.
With this focused inclusive leadership training you'll learn how to leverage the talents of all team members for the good of the team and the organization.
Discover key benefits of inclusive leadership and how it can positively impact employee engagement, productivity, innovation and creativity.
Course topics include:
The business case for inclusive leadership
Redefining leadership through the lens of inclusion
Innovation, creativity, and inclusion
Six key traits that inclusive leaders possess
Competencies of inclusive leaders
Best practices for inclusive organizations
Pros: The low cost ($29.95) and 1 hour run time makes this virtual leadership training easy to start immediately and ensure you are leading from a place of inclusivity.
Cons: This is an important topic but not a complete leadership training for new managers. I recommend this as a compliment to any leadership course you choose.
This leadership training program is ideal for managers and leaders who want to inspire themselves and others to reach their full potential.
It’s a comprehensive blueprint filled with applicable stories and examples on how to sustain team loyalty, engagement and productivity.
This executive management training course ensures you build a culture that thrives no matter the present day challenges.
It handholds you through the common challenges leaders face in a disarming and digestible way.
Many of my students have said it’s one of the best leadership courses online… (is it cheeky to agree with them because it’s my course? :))
I’ll let you decide…
Core course topics include:
Foundational steps to becoming a Chief Inspiration Officer
Guiding your team to reach their full potential
Techniques to increase employee engagement
How to create a thriving microculture
Visionary leadership
Mastering the art of challenging conversations
Bonus Modules:
How to hire
When to fire
Meaningful meetings
How to talk to your boss
Pros: This business leadership training course is based on the #1 new release book; ‘Chief Inspiration Officer: How to Lead the Team Everyone Wants to Be On’.
It covers everyday topics in bite-sized lessons combined with live group coaching and individual coaching that can be taken at your own pace or using a hybrid group-coaching and individual coaching approach.
As far as leadership training courses for managers go, the course includes, quizzes, self-assessments and thought-provoking exercises to ensure your team’s learning is applicable and sticks.
This course also allows for flexibility depending on the amount of team members taking the course, and whether group and individual coaching is added.
Prices can range from $699 - $4,999/person depending on the amount of coaching.
You will also receive a Chief Inspiration Officer Management Mastery certificate of completion.
Cons: Does not include DEI, but most leadership courses don’t. The self-discovery exercises will challenge the leader to dig in and reflect on how they show up as a leader. This course is designed for only those teams ready for a deep level of transformation.
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What about leadership assessments as a course?
It’s beneficial to find business leadership courses online with one or more personality assessment or profiling methods.
Leadership assessments are fantastic instruments for assessing managerial abilities and you’ve no doubt encountered one or more on your employee or management journey.
Leaders can use leadership assessments to develop their skills, gain self-awareness, and understand their team’s and colleagues' communication styles better.
When it comes to manager or executive training and development, many companies use assessments as training tools themselves.
While assessments have many positives, relying on them solely for training leaves gaps in any leadership training curriculum.
**They should be a compliment to and not a substitute for well planned and delivered leadership training classes.**
Here is a list of the most common assessments. A great trainer and coach will be trained in at least 1 of these tools:
This leadership assessment will assist you in identifying your natural talents as well as learning how to improve them and can be found in many executive development courses.
DISC assessments form part of many leadership training workshops as it reveals innate communication styles..
It allows leaders to analyze themselves and how they face challenging circumstances, interact with people, and solve people and systems issues.
It’s one of the most popular assessments on the market.
Emergenetics surveys business leaders to learn about their habits, mental processes, and preferences.
Emotional intelligence leadership training is perhaps one of the most overlooked but most important elements of leadership.
Emotional intelligence can help business leaders or supervisors manage their own emotions, support their staff through difficult situations, and accept constructive criticism more effectively.
The Energy Leadership Index (ELI) is a psychological assessment that looks at how your worldview influences your actions, ideas, and views.
Many of the top executive training courses consider one’s worldview which is made up of your overall energy,one of the most influential factors in your leadership style.
The Performing Under Pressure assessment helps business leaders identify their issues in stressful circumstances and learn to behave more successfully.
Insights discovery is a psychometric tool based on the psychology of Carl Jung. The Insights Discovery methodology uses a simple and memorable four color model to help people understand their style, their strengths and the value they bring to the team.
In-depth leadership and management training courses will consider one’s inner world as a starting point for transformation and personal growth in leadership.
The Interactive Leadership Style Assessment helps leaders develop strong relationships with team members, and strengthen your leadership management skills.
Hogan Assessments can assist hiring managers in selecting candidates for management roles and advancing a company's leadership development strategy or objectives.
This is especially effective to include in corporate leadership training to ensure managers and executives are hired correctly and progress with an organization over the long term.
The Kolbe Index is used in many leadership and development courses and by many company executives or recruiting managers better to understand a leader's natural inclinations and motivation.
The Leadership Blind Spot Assessment can assist firm managers and supervisors in identifying their blind spots and focus on enhancing such skills or characteristics.
Any effective leadership training should be focused on the attendee uncovering their behaviors, beliefs, values and tendencies to objectively assess their weaknesses to become a better leader.
The Leadership Circle's assessment focuses on determining how your team members, workers, or colleagues evaluate your management abilities and traits.
MindTools offers personalized tools based on your findings to strengthen your leadership abilities.
Speaking of the mind, delving deeper within yourself with mindful leadership training can strengthen your awareness of your own behaviors as well as your team’s… helping you to navigate emotionally sensitive situations.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a prominent personality test often used for job interviews or leadership positions.
It’s frequently used in corporate leadership training programs to allow greater understanding of one’s inherent personality, default patterns and ways of communicating with others.
The Neethling Brain Instrument helps hiring managers understand how leadership candidates feel about their team members, corporate strategy, and day-to-day operations.
Like many of the assessments I’ve featured, this assessment can form part of many senior executive leadership programs to ensure the right leader is promoted and developed within the most appropriate pathway.
Optimal Thinking's leadership assessment helps directors and supervisors discover how to improve their leadership flaws while honing their strengths.
As part of an overall agile leadership training, knowing your own strengths and weaknesses can help you to help your team develop their weaknesses while amplifying their strengths for the betterment of the team and organization.
Passion Profiler identifies work-related passions so company leaders who understand their interests may better manage their teams, increase employee innovation, and feel more fulfilled in their jobs.
Discovering your passions and channeling them effectively through leadership professional development courses can help you blossom in ways you may not have considered previously.
Some Saville Wave assessments evaluate a person's personality and how it relates to their work-related behaviors and qualities.
TINYpulse helps leaders to see how people in the workplace perceive their leadership style, talents, and capabilities.
This is why leadership training fails because often we’re seeking confirmation of our positive attributes as opposed to facing the ‘undesirable’ character traits that others see.
Starting and following through with the right business leadership course with a trainer who’s not afraid to give you ‘feedback’, while uncomfortable, it can often lead to your biggest epiphanies and personal growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is leadership innate or can it be taught?
That’s a good question. Some say yes, some say no. Many studies on leadership character traits reveal that the top leadership characteristics include extraversion, charisma and adaptability.
Effective executive leadership training programs should help uncover your inherent leadership characteristics but actively requesting feedback from your team or from a mentor can accelerate your self-discovery.
Leaders that are most energetic, lively, curious and open to new ideas tend to engage others more naturally. These character traits can be learned and cultivated with an impactful leadership development program.
A robust leadership management training program will make a profound impact in integrating, teaching and infusing these characteristics into every day conversations.
Can I learn leadership from a book?
Leadership can be learned from books but it’s ultimately developed through direct leadership and management experience. The right leadership book can be informative, thought-provoking and a great resource. However, a book still doesn’t substitute the integration, learnings and community that you get with leadership development training courses.
Is a leadership course worth it?
Top leadership training programs at any level are worth it, it just depends on the current level of management or leadership you’re at that will determine which is the most relevant course to do now that can give you the skills and qualifications you’re seeking to go to the next level.
How do I start learning leadership?
If you’re new to leadership, start with foundational leadership courses that give you a solid grounding in how to lead people effectively. Once you have foundational skills you can niche further into specific areas of leadership such as situational leadership, personality assessments, inclusive leadership courses and more.
What is the best training for leadership?
The best training for leadership is one that fills existing knowledge gaps and makes you a more ‘complete’ leader. Ideally it would combine learning, practicing, Q&A, self-assessments, accountability cohorts and a coaching option. The perfect training gives you bite-sized information that then you have time to apply, try and digest. The ideal course is not too long and not too short.
Are there any CEO training programs or C-suite trainings or is a general leadership course sufficient?
CEO leadership training courses are ideal for targeted information and advice if you’re an existing Chief Executive Officer or aspiring to be. Specific courses can be found through the CEO Institute, EDX.org and IMD.org. Universities such as Harvard Business School, MIT School of Management and Columbia Business School offer high-level executive training programs that give you formal qualifications that can go a long way to securing your desired management position or expanding within your current position. Depending on what your ultimate aim is will influence where you choose to take an executive leadership program and which specific course you’d like to do.
What are the pros and cons of in-house training versus leadership courses online?
In-house leadership and management training programs have the obvious advantage of the trainer being present to instruct and engage with you on a more personal level. In-person training is usually more costly and you likely won’t have access to a recording of the presentation which can affect retention and implementation of the techniques and strategies taught. Leadership workshops online in the form of live training have similar benefits to in-person training with a reduced cost, but you do lose a little personal interaction. Leadership development courses online can be more convenient and affordable and you’ll likely retain 24/7 access to the training that you can refer back to continually. As retention is the key to any form of learning, an online course may prove more beneficial in the long run given that you can refer back to it continually to refresh and remind yourself about important leadership principles, techniques and strategies.
How much time do online leadership classes take?
Online leadership training classes can take as little as an hour up to several weeks or months depending on the qualification or certification you gain. Often the best leadership training programs are the ones that are shorter in duration because you’re more likely to follow through and complete them.
How will I benefit exactly from a leadership certification program?
A leadership and management certificate can lead to improved job performance, promotion and higher income. It can also make you a better manager to work for and work with, which is what helps you achieve team success as well as individual accomplishment. Online certification in leadership and management can be gained through both public and private organizations, many of which I’ve outlined near the beginning of this article.
What is the best leadership training for managers who already have years of experience?
Professional leadership training for experienced managers should form part of an ongoing professional development plan to ensure you not only remain competitive but also surge ahead as a leader. Arranging a leadership training day can be advantageous company-wide to bring all managers together and be immersed in a rich learning environment. At the top of this article I’ve included ten top leadership courses that can keep you sharp and put you in the top percentile of managers in your company or industry.
Do I need to take a leadership development course to get promoted?
While leadership certification courses can improve your chances of a promotion they’re not a guaranteed pathway to a promotion. However, acting on the content contained within the right course, perhaps with the help of a mentor can improve your leadership skills immensely along with your team’s results… which certainly can increase your chances of a promotion.
What do leadership training packages include and what results can we expect from ongoing training?
Whether you’re looking for executive development training or otherwise, a training package can mean either training in several areas of leadership and/or ongoing training which can significantly improve retention. Leadership training for employees either as individuals or collectively as a team can result in significant differences in your team culture, productivity, performance and bottom line. Executive Muse offers packages for leadership training for organizations of all sizes. Schedule a call or send us a message for a customized quote.
How do leadership trainers ensure attendees are engaged during training sessions, whether online or with in-house training?
Finding the best leadership trainer for your organization or specific leadership topic can mean the difference between ‘boring’ and ‘wow’.
Expert trainers will not just have high-level insights and experience in leadership, but also the ability to convey information in a simplistic but engaging way so that participants of the workshop or course absorb and action the information and advice.
In addition to personality traits, a top trainer will keep attendees involved through interactive games, quizzes, worksheets, assessments, demonstrations, role playing, team building exercises and Q&A discussions.
What are the best leadership development programs within large corporations?
Well known leadership development programs are offered by companies like McKinsey, Microsoft, AT&T, Deloitte and many more.
Within your industry there will be organizations that understand the value of educating and developing leaders from within the company and they’re the companies to aim for.
Outside of these organizations, taking control of your professional development through leadership skills training online and in-person can fast-track your personal and professional growth.
What are the best leadership development programs within large corporations?
Well known leadership development programs are offered by companies like McKinsey, Microsoft, AT&T, Deloitte and many more.
Within your industry there will be organizations that understand the value of educating and developing leaders from within the company and they’re the companies to aim for.
Outside of these organizations, taking control of your professional development through leadership skills training online and in-person can fast-track your personal and professional growth.
Should we engage a leadership training company or a freelance trainer directly?
Engaging a leadership training organization or a top freelancer trainer is a matter of priorities as both will have expertise in leadership and group or individual training.
Generally, going with a training company means you’ll be ‘assigned’ a trainer, there will likely be less flexibility and it’s a more cookie-cutter approach overall.
Choosing a freelancer trainer will give you more input in customizing your training and leveraging your specific examples into role plays and discussions.
A great trainer will also weave in your vision, culture and unique learning objectives so that your team receives more relevant information, examples and advice to become more effective leaders within your organization.
The top executive leadership programs likewise can be offered by companies and individual experts so it’s more a case of choosing the best option that aligns with your current needs.
What is an executive leadership certificate?
An executive certificate in leadership and management is a recognized qualification that helps senior managers prepare for and succeed in an executive position.
Such certification gives you the tools to manage people effectively, improve business operations, develop strategies and plan and achieve organizational goals.
Enrolling in an executive leadership program online offers flexibility to study after hours around your job through many institutions across the country.
Many top leadership certification programs are offered by renowned universities such as Harvard, Cornell, Georgetown, Michigan State and Penn State just to name a few.
How do executive leadership training programs differ from general leadership programs?
Executive training programs are focused on more high-level responsibilities such as strategy, board management, investor relations, innovation, company reputation and vulnerabilities, whereas general leadership programs are more focused on processes, people, personalities, goals, team culture and performance.
Executive development training is for existing or aspiring executives who wish to grow within their existing role or develop themselves further to take on high level positions within an organization.
Top executive leadership programs can be offered internally or by external training companies and experts, so it’s more a case of choosing the best option that aligns with your current needs.
What are the top leadership training companies?
The top 20 leadership training companies include Executive Muse, BlueOceanBrain, Hemsleyfraser, Wilson Learning, Center for Creative Leadership, Ariel, The Center For Leadership Studies, Crucial Learning, Cross Knowledge, Ken Blanchard, GP Strategies, Cegos, FranklinCovey, Linkage, DDI, Impact, BTS, Skillsoft and Dale Carnegie.
A high-level leadership skills training program can make a significant difference in the future of your organization.
Top companies such as those listed above will offer training for all levels of management and even industry-specific courses.
Should I attend a specific women in leadership training? How would it differ from a general training?
Enrolling and participating in a niched women in leadership course could be a good idea as a woman as you’ll receive specific advice and guidance unique to the challenges women face.
The best executive leadership programs are usually the ones that are either niched to a specific audience or have group coaching or a 1-to-1 mentoring.
There are women-specific leadership programs as well as organizations that empower women to own their voice, amplify their message and rise to the top.
Those organizations also give women an opportunity to bond and learn from other women. They include WPO and Chief.
What are some of the best corporate leadership development programs?
The top senior leadership courses for corporates are the ones that have been created by former corporate executives.
Knowing that someone has walked the same path you’re now on can shortcut your learning process by years or even decades.
The best leadership courses in the world can be offered by just about any leadership expert thanks to the internet making publishing of expert knowledge so easy, so it’s important not to assume that having training by a large training organization is necessarily the best option.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know what to consider before signing up to a leadership training along with eleven top courses, which one do you think is most suitable for you at your current stage?
Let me know in the comments below…
Leadership is a complex, exciting and ever-evolving field with new levels to reach for throughout your career.
And dedicating yourself to learning and growth will help set you apart from others… resulting in greater team unity, productivity, performance and achievement.
If you’d like to setup a call with me to discuss your personal or company training, you can book a time with me here or find out about my online leadership course here >
Thank you for reading and I look forward to helping you achieve all that you can as a leader in your field.
Val Ries
Leadership Trainer, Consultant and Coach
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