Leadership FAQs

Organizational leadership takes traditional leadership skills to the next level by incorporating key aspects of human psychology. The basic premise is to employ a management strategy that simultaneously works toward what is best for individuals and what is best for the organization as a whole. Find out more.

Different from a business degree with a leadership emphasis, the UMass Global Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership builds a strong foundation in leadership, management, and organizational dynamics. These qualities make the BA in Organizational Leadership a versatile degree that can fit into various industries. Some of these roles would be more accessible if the person added an MAOL, but these are possible career options.

 

• Human Resources: HR managers, talent acquisition specialists, organizational development consultants
  
  
• Management: Operations managers, project managers, general managers
  
  
• Nonprofit and Government: Program managers, development directors, executive directors
  
  
• Healthcare: Healthcare administrators, patient care coordinators, quality improvement managers
  
  
• Consulting: Organizational consultants, management consultants

A Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Leadership emphasis have distinct focuses, although they share some similarities in leadership education. Here are the key differences:

 

Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership

1. Focus — Primarily emphasizes leadership theories, practices, and strategies within various types of organizations, including nonprofits, governmental agencies, and businesses.
2. Curriculum — Includes courses in organizational behavior, change management, team dynamics, ethics, and communication. It often explores the human and cultural aspects of leadership.
3. Skills Developed — Leadership, communication, conflict resolution, team-building, and strategic thinking.
4. Career Paths — Suited for roles in human resources, training and development, non-profit management, public administration, and leadership positions across diverse organizations.

 

Bachelor of Business Administration with Leadership Emphasis

1. Focus — Concentrates on business fundamentals alongside leadership skills, blending general business knowledge with limited leadership-specific education.
2. Curriculum — Covers a broad range of business subjects such as finance, marketing, operations, and management, with additional courses focused on leadership and management skills.
3. Skills Developed — Business acumen, financial literacy, marketing strategies, operations management, as well as leadership and team management.
4. Career Paths — Prepares students for leadership roles within business contexts, such as management positions in corporate settings, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership.

 

Bottom Line

• A Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership is more specialized in leadership skills applicable across various organizational types.
• A Bachelor of Business Administration with a Leadership Emphasis provides a broader business education with a focus on leadership within the business context.

 

Choosing between the two depends on your career goals and whether you prefer a broader business foundation, or a more focused leadership skill set applicable in various organizational settings. At UMass Global, you can choose between a BA in Organizational Leadership, a BBA in Management & Organizational Leadership (in a self-paced, competency-based format), and a BBA in Organizational Leadership.

Organizational Leadership and Manager are related, yet they are also distinct concepts. The focus of each, while there is some overlap, are different. Here’s how.

 

Organizational Leadership is primarily about setting a vision, inspiring others, and guiding an organization or team towards achieving long-term goals. Organizational Leadership emphasizes motivation, influence, and the ability to drive change. Organizational Leadership will lead the necessary changes when organizations need to adapt and evolve. Those in these positions play a key role in setting strategic goals and help shape and maintain an organization’s culture and values.

 

Management is focused on day-to-day operations, ensuring the organization runs smoothly and efficiently. Management helps drive the organization forward toward the strategic goals set by leadership, but managers do this on a more granular level. Managers control resources, and handle planning and organizing to achieve short-term and long-term goals. You could think of managers as being responsible for the day-to-day workings of the organization as it strives to achieve the strategies set by leadership.

 

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership address this question directly, as everyone who has come across a manager who is far from being a leader. Management degrees are focused on the granular day-to-day business environment, while Organizational Leadership considers bigger issues when leading people. Bottom line? The best managers have extensive training in leadership.

Organizational leadership degrees are available at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree levels. Many universities like UMass Global also offer emphasis or concentration options within specialized programs. Some even have a variety of certificate options and courses that can be used for professional development. Learn more about organizational leadership.

A Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership program equips students with a broad range of skills essential for effective leadership and management across various organizational contexts. Key skills developed in this program include:

 

• Leadership and Team Building — Understanding different leadership styles and techniques for motivating and guiding teams to achieve goals.

   

• Effective Communication — Mastering both verbal and written communication skills, including active listening, persuasive communication, and presenting ideas clearly.

   

• Strategic Planning and Decision Making — Learning to set long-term goals, develop strategic plans, and make informed decisions to guide organizations effectively.

   

• Conflict Resolution — Acquiring techniques to manage and resolve conflicts within teams or organizations constructively.

   

• Ethics and Social Responsibility — Understanding the importance of ethical decision-making and social responsibility in leadership roles.

   

• Organizational Behavior — Studying how individuals and groups act within organizations to improve management practices and enhance productivity.

   

• Change Management — Developing skills to effectively lead and manage change within an organization, ensuring smooth transitions and buy-in from stakeholders.

   

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving — Enhancing the ability to analyze complex problems, think critically, and develop innovative solutions.

   

• Cultural Competence — Gaining insights into managing and leading diverse teams, understanding cultural differences, and promoting inclusivity.

 

These skills prepare graduates to take on leadership roles in a wide variety of sectors, including business, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions.

The great thing about a BAOL is that it is generally not industry-specific so students can apply their different backgrounds and look at how organizational leadership tools can be applied in any situation. The curriculum can include topics like marketing, HR, economics, ethics, team building, and finance.

An MAOL degree is great for those who want to learn about leadership styles while focusing on individual growths that contribute to organizational success. Example course topics include organizational research, democracy, and ethics, leading change, team development, and organizational dynamics.

Although there are many types of leadership styles the four most referred to are democratic, autocratic, laissez-faire and transformational. Find out which style you gravitate toward the most with this 10 question quiz. 

At its core, resilient leadership is the ability to adapt to new circumstances or limitations. A resilient leader is one who can recover from setbacks, stay optimistic and mission oriented, respond instead of simply reacting, and make decisions with imperfect or incomplete knowledge. Learn more. 

Some common traits of resilient leaders include:

• Maintaining consistent and clear communication
• Remaining coachable, regardless of your position
• Building positive and trusting relationships
• Being comfortable saying “I don’t know” if that’s the honest answer
• Knowing when to take bold risks or try something entirely new
• Investing in the development of others
• Being willing to embrace change

Learn more in our article: Resilient leadership: Advice for navigating through organizational changes