About
Leadership & Management
Top-rated leadership and management courses run the gamut, from training focused on personal development, negotiation and culture-building, to IT courses that will help you bridge business strategy and technical expertise. Wherever your career ambitions lie, these programs will help you set new benchmarks for achieving business success.
Success in the management field hinges on strong communication skills to articulate an organization’s mission and vision. Additionally, strategic thinking ability is vital to effective problem solving and decision making. Leaders and managers need advanced interpersonal skills to facilitate collaboration, conflict resolution, and the development of positive company culture. They also need to be adaptable enough to handle evolving business landscapes and changing market dynamics.
In Canada, there are 30,900 senior management roles expected to be added throughout the 2022 to 2031 period. While in the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that top executive roles are forecasted to grow 3 per cent between 2022 and 2032, with 311,600 new job openings every year. As for roles such as project management specialists, there’s a projected 6 per cent growth within the same time frame, with 68,100 new jobs added every year.
Programs preparing people for leadership and management careers include courses on: business ethics, crisis communication, operations management, organizational behaviour, project management, strategic leadership, change management, and strategy execution. Besides courses on theoretical topics, programs may also include practical courses such as: negotiation skills,” or “how to give a great presentation.”
Aspiring leaders, especially those aiming for executive leadership positions, may benefit from an advanced degree like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or graduate degrees in related fields such as executive leadership or global management. As for management roles, a degree in business administration or management might suffice, while those interested in managerial opportunities in specific sectors such as retail or hospitality, niche-specific management degrees are also available.
Salaries for senior leadership roles vary greatly depending on the industry, the size of the organization, educational background, and years of experience. Using the HR function as an example, Glassdoor reports that HR managers make salaries averaging from $77,000 to $108,000, while HR directors make $112,000 to $162,000. On the other hand, roles such as project managers earn an average of $73,000 to $111,000.
As for executive leadership roles, Salary.com reveals that Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in Canada earn $440,963 to $770,376; while Chief Operating Officers (COOs) earn an average of $313,666 to $518,425.
Of course, these are salaries and don’t necessarily reflect an executive’s total compensation, which might also include annual bonuses, stock options, stock grants and other forms of equity that can represent significantly more financial upside.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the difference between leadership and management?
Leadership and management are interrelated concepts, each with their own focus, objectives, and supporting skill sets.
Leaders often require management skills, just as managers benefit from having leadership skills. Successful and sustainable organizations thrive when those managing and leading their teams embody both sets of skills.
At its core, leadership entails inspiring and guiding people toward a common goal or vision. It requires strategic vision or direction and maintaining a culture that is motivating and facilitates innovation.
Learning how to be a successful leader entails exploring different leadership styles and theories of leadership, while delving into topics such as decision making and the nuances of crafting and communicating a company or organization’s vision.
On the other hand, management is a more technical discipline. It involves planning, organizing and coordinating resources (people, processes, capital, systems) in order to achieve the shared goals that leaders have established. Managers oversee day-to-day operations and make decisions to allocate resources where they’re needed. Being an effective manager requires a more direct functional role involving project management, strategic planning, people management, and operational efficiency.
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Do I need a formal degree to get a leadership or management position?
Those looking to step into executive leadership positions usually require professional degrees like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a master’s degree in related fields such as executive leadership, organizational leadership, or global management.
As for management roles, a degree in business administration or management can offer valuable knowledge, skills, networking opportunities and experience. Those interested in specific industries such as retail or hospitality, can tailor their education by pursuing management degrees in these specific niches.
Individuals with a strong track record of success while displaying leadership qualities could look forward to a promotion into management or even executive leadership roles–despite not having a formal degree.
More often than not, managers are groomed from the ranks of specialists. For young professionals just beginning their careers, most managers themselves will recommend developing strong subject area expertise while you develop the experience necessary to enter the C-suite.
You may also want to consider one of Canada’s leading business schools.
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Are leadership and management roles only found in business settings?
Leadership and management roles can be found in every industry, including non-profit organizations, government, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and more. That’s because the skills that one can learn in a leadership and management program are transferable across sectors.
If you’re passionate about a specific industry, there are management programs targeted towards these niches which will give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs. For example, a bachelor’s program in nonprofit management, hotel management, or sports management.
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Are leadership and management certificates important to career growth?
Certificates can validate leadership and management knowledge in areas such as project management, team management, human resources, or strategic decision making, to name a few. They can also be perceived as a commitment to staying current in the field, showcasing an effort to become a better leader by acquiring new skills.
Programs can vary widely depending on your industry, so it’s important to choose areas of certification based on your interests. For example, a HR manager might choose a certification in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Here are a few examples of certifications that can be useful for those in leadership or management roles:
The project management professional certification (PMP), a certification administered by the Project Management Institute and offered by colleges and universities across Canada, is designed for those with three to five years of industry experience. It teaches professionals about project management principles, theories, as well as the latest tools and technologies.
Other notable certifications include the Certified Manager (CM), which assesses management skills and competencies across various domains. There is the Certified Professional in Management (CPM), which covers managerial skills, leadership, and decision-making. Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Certifications, meanwhile, focus on practical management skills.
In project management, Six Sigma Certifications (Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt certifications) are often sought after for process improvement and management skills.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) are for those involved in Agile project management and emphasizes Scrum principles and practices.
Of course, executive leadership certificates from universities, led by highly credible business leaders, are also available across Canada, covering thousands of topics.
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What are some common career paths for leadership and management fields?
While some employers may opt to look externally to fill leadership and management positions, others are dedicated to nurturing the growth of aspiring leaders and managers to build their career within the organization.
In entry-level management roles, many can start learning how to be a manager as a supervisor or team lead, which offers foundational learning opportunities to understand team dynamics, and how to mentor those with less experience.
Progressing to a middle management role, such as a project manager or department manager, these roles are responsible for overseeing a team and generally have more strategic duties.
Senior management roles, such as senior manager, VPs, and directors, are responsible for leading entire departments that may have multiple teams. For example, a VP of Marketing may lead multiple digital marketing teams including marketing, growth, sales, and content.
Executive leadership roles, such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), or Chief Financial Officer (CFO), are responsible for top-level decision making and determining the overarching direction of the company.
Some common sector-specific leadership and management roles include HR managers or directors, project managers, healthcare executives, or nonprofit leadership positions.