Chances are, you may have already heard of the coveted MBA degree. Further, you may also already know that completing an MBA program is a fantastic way to cultivate leadership and management skills. What you may not know is how an MBA degree enables these learnings, and also, why completing an MBA is for many people an essential component of becoming a successful and competent leader.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in upper management or leadership, just read on to learn how an MBA program can help you acquire the necessary skills required for a role of this calibre.

What is an MBA Degree?

Also commonly known as a Master of Business Administration, an MBA Degree is a highly regarded form of higher education for aspiring leaders, and can ensure a streamlined career pathway for ambitious individuals pursuing a C-suite or upper management role.

One of the best things about completing this type of degree in today’s digitalised day and age is that you can complete an MBA online in Australia. Indeed, online, off-campus and remote study is quickly becoming the most popular method of gaining a tertiary qualification such as an MBA. Better yet, your academic formation will not suffer by completing an MBA via online or remote study methods. 

On the contrary, online students cover all of the same learning outcomes and receive the same level of academic support as students who choose to complete their MBA courses on campus. Of course, one element that can be lacking when electing to study online is the social aspect. However, the good news is that off-campus students will usually have access to virtually-led online classrooms which are often conducted through video conferencing platforms and software - such as Zoom, for example.

What Skills Can You Develop by Completing an MBA Degree?

As part of your Master of Business Administration, some of the key learning outcomes and study areas you will cover can include:

- Leadership and management skills
- Theories of organisational behaviour
- Project and time management skills
- Digital business skills and trends
- Methods and processes of strategic decision-making.

Without a doubt, the learning outcomes covered during an MBA program are purpose-built to help the graduate become a competent leader upon course completion. By focusing on study areas which cover the foundations of efficient managerial styles and leadership communication techniques, as well as the principles of business analytics and organisational Behaviour, MBA students can discover how to make strategic, business-savvy decisions, as well as learn how to lead and manage others, and also, how to effectively manage and oversee important projects.

How Can an MBA Degree Help You Become a Better Leader?

While completing an MBA program will, of course, teach the student the theoretical foundations of leadership and management, what you may not know is that it also helps to cultivate the fundamental ‘soft’ skills that can help graduates achieve their lofty career goals. But what exactly are ‘soft skills’? And how can the soft skills you cultivate during your MBA program help you become a better leader?

First, soft skills are traits and attributes that are linked to the way an individual conducts themselves in the workplace (and in life) Some examples of soft skills required of a good leader include:

- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving and strategic decision-making abilities
- Time management and organisation capabilities
- Stress management, flexibility and adaptability
- Critical and analytical thinking
- Creativity and open-mindedness
- Teamwork and conflict management skills.

Admittedly, many of these qualities are innate. However, by learning about different managerial, organisation, and communication styles and how these help you become an effective leader, MBA students can gain valuable knowledge to be able to hone these attributes to perfection!

If you have lofty career aspirations for a role in upper management - or a C-suite role, even - completing a Master of Business Administration could be an excellent choice for you. Indeed, upon completion of an MBA program, the career opportunities that are available to MBA graduates are almost endless! 

Whether you’re aspiring to become a company CEO, an organisational COO, a Head of Finance, or the General Manager of a Business - completing an MBA is an essential stepping stone which can help propel your career progression to impressive heights.