If you have considered earning an MBA or other post-graduate business management degree, but held off because of cost, this article is for you. Bookmark it now, because you’ll want to come back to explore and compare the following online Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). All of these leadership courses are FREE, and they enable you to learn at your convenience and at your chosen pace.
If you are not familiar with the concept, a MOOC is an online course aimed at open access and widespread participation. So you will be attending these programs with working professionals and students from around the world. MOOCs provide many of the features of an online university course, including filmed lectures, multimedia presentations, problem sets, readings, and even community interactions among students. The concept was first introduced in 2006, and has been a popular—albeit still underutilized—form of educational attainment since 2012.
Not all MOOCs are free. Many can be accessed for the cost of a new pair of jeans (not the fancy kind). Here, we introduce you to six FREE MOOCs from some of the best-known providers. Each focuses on developing your leadership capabilities, with up-to-the-minute lessons and concepts that can be applied across functions and industries. Some of these programs offer certifications, which will enhance your resume as well as your skills.
MasterClassManagement
Management Training & Leadership Skills Business Management Certification Program
This course teaches management skills, leadership styles, and the fundamentals of a mini-MBA business management certification program. It combines theory with real-world practice scenarios. MasterClassManagement touts it as the perfect management training solution for new and first time managers, as well as professional and experienced managers, with the tools needed to become an effective leader.
Ten lessons are included, which cover topics including management of employees and departments, team building, conflict management, time management, and hiring and retaining the right talent.
Attendees can earn four certificates in this self-paced course: Master Management Certificate, Master Certificate in Business Management, Master Certificate in Supervisory Management, and Master Certificate in Core Management.
Open2Study
Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power
This course, which has been taken by more than 50,000 students worldwide, is taught by an adjunct lecturer at Australia’s Macquarie Graduate School of Management.
The course examines recent research in social psychology and business to provide practical guidelines and actions to help students develop and sustain leadership careers. It begins with an examination of the “Romance of Leadership” – the myths of leadership and the tendency to misattribute organizational outcomes to great leadership. It reviews the history and underpinnings of leadership theory to understand the ideas of power, authority, and charisma. The program concludes with key skills and practices of leadership that students can learn, perfect, and apply in their own leadership development plans.
Students who pass this course receive a Certificate of Achievement.
EDX
Becoming a Successful Leader (Inclusive Leadership Training)
Skills for managing diversity are essential, especially in a major metropolitan area like DFW. This course trains students in the successful inclusive leadership styles of successful 21st century leaders. Using research and best practices, students practice empowerment, accountability, courage, and humility—key leadership skills linked to inclusive, successful teams. Students also learn what distinguishes today’s best inclusive leaders, how to apply new skills to case studies and real-life scenarios, and why creating a Personal Leadership Plan is integral to success.
The course is available on EDX, and was developed by Catalyst, the leading nonprofit organization with a mission to accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion. The duration of this program is four weeks, with just one to two hours per week required. Students can get a verified course certificate for $50.
OpenLearn
Management: Perspective and Practice
This is an introductory course that is ideal for aspiring or new managers. Students learn to appreciate how organizational structure and culture contribute to management control in organizations and how an organization’s characteristics impact management practices.
Students also learn about the strengths and weaknesses of different types of organizational cultures, and how to adapt their management styles accordingly. Creative problem solving approaches are also included in this wide-ranging course, which help managers methodically handle complex issues and challenges.
This self-paced course requires a total of 10 hours of study. Students get a free statement of completion.
All of these courses are ideal for ambitious current and future leaders. With the proliferation of such high quality, low-cost business courses online, the knowledge bar for aspiring leaders is rising. You may need to take at least one of these courses in order to clear it.