Whether you’re looking to ensure that you’re ready to lead a team to success, hoping to avoid business failure, or simply want to ensure that you have a good understanding of the principles of running a business, courses in leadership can help you become much more effective at the head of a team.
These can offer a whole range of benefits, from improving your communication and team management skills to helping you enhance your decision-making and build more confidence behind those decisions.
Leadership courses can be a perfect supplement to the industry understanding you build elsewhere, formalizing your experience and helping you better understand your own leadership style.
However, where you develop the skills in leadership you need can matter as much as the skills themselves. For that reason, we’re going to look at the 5 best online leadership courses available, as well as their pros and cons.
Deakin University – Accessible, Flexible, And Supported
Deakin University Online is a well-established Australian institution that has a long history of forward-thinking in the online learning space. Their focus on innovation has seen them integrate digital tools to create flexible and accessible study experiences. They offer two fully online, professional-oriented courses: the Graduate Certificate of Leadership and the Master of Leadership.
These courses involve guided self-reflection, workplace research, and real-time application to create a deep learning experience of leadership theory and practice. With flexible study periods and a personalised 360-degree feedback model, students can also integrate a host of stackable short courses that can help them focus on the areas they want to build their knowledge modularly.
Pros:
- Flexible, high-quality online learning
- Strong student support network
- Career-focus programs
- A lot of experience in creating digital learning experiences
Cons:
- Slower admin support during peak periods
- Large class sizes can limit personal contact
- Longer than many other leadership courses
INSEAD Online Programs – Executive-Focused Programs
One of the top-ranked business schools in the world, INSEAD, has started offering online leadership programs primarily focused on global management, cultural intelligence, and executive presence. These programs combine video lectures, live interactions, and applied project work for mid-to-senior-level leaders.
Highly structured courses with a clear weekly agenda, these courses do not offer much in the way of flexibility in terms of subject matter or scheduling, but create a highly focused learning environment as a result. With a global perspective, their platform also allows learners to engage with their international peers and provides strong levels of feedback from coaches. That said, the courses are highly intensive and time-bound, which may not make them more suitable for learners who need some flexibility to fit the courses among their other responsibilities.
Pros:
- Prestigious international business school
- Global leadership focused
- Strong faculty and coaching support
- Fosters an environment of peer interaction
Cons:
- Very expensive tuition
- Fixed weekly schedule
- Limited flexibility for self-paced learning
Harvard Business School Online – Prestigious Case-Based Learning
The online arm of one of the most prestigious education providers in the world, the Harvard Business School Online, offers a host of leadership training courses, such as Leadership Principles, Organizational Leadership, and Power and Influence. These case-based learning courses replicate the HBS classroom environment, exploring real-world scenarios that encourage learners to make decisions as leaders and dive deep into those cases in cohort-based discussions.
Combining video lectures, real-time assignments, group discussions, and faculty insights, these courses are built for mid-career professionals and rising managers wanting to strengthen their leadership environments. Certification is costly, but it offers prestigious credentials for those accepted.
Pros:
- One of the most prestigious names in education
- Excellent faculty and materials
- Case-based, real-world training
- Collaborative learning environment
Cons:
- Expensive tuition
- Lack of scheduling flexibility
- Requires a high-time commitment
Skillshare – Bite-sized, Practical Courses
A creative and professional learning platform that’s been getting more popular, Skillshare has an ever-growing collection of short, practical leadership courses. Its instructors include working professionals, coaches, and entrepreneurs, rather than academics. They offer a very wide selection of courses, from “Team Leadership for First-Time Managers” to “Developing Executive Presence”, with an informal, video-based learning style.
These videos are ideal for visual learners and emphasize creativity, communication, and soft skills. Most classes are under 60 minutes, which offers an accessible look into the topics but does somewhat limit the overall scope of the courses available. While it doesn’t offer any certification or accreditation, it’s a great way for new or potential leaders to build their skills fast and explore a wide range of topics suited to their needs. As it’s subscription-based, it’s relatively affordable and easy to stop once you’re done learning, too.
Pros:
- Affordable and subscription-based
- Easy-to-consume video content
- Ideal for soft skills
- Provides fast and flexible learning
Cons:
- No formal credentials
- Limited course depth
- Lack of peer interaction or coaching
Coursera – Access To A Wide Range of University Programs
A full-service online dedication platform, Coursera is partnered with a host of top universities like Yale, Northwestern, and the University of Michigan, and offers a wide range of leadership courses. While some platforms may offer only informal training and others only offer degree-based qualification courses, Coursera stands out for offering learning options for those at all levels, including programs designed to provide a pathway towards earning a degree from scratch.
However, compared to other, more focused learning environments, some courses can feel impersonal, and the peer-graded format may not offer the in-depth feedback that some learners are looking for. That said, the flexibility of learning pathways, alongside factors like its self-paced learning environment, may be well suited to some.
Pros:
- Many top university partners
- Flexible self-paced learning
- Relatively affordable monthly pricing
- Offers pathways to degrees:
Cons:
- Limited peer feedback
- Less prestigious certificates
- Some courses may not have the required level of depth
Your choice of course is largely going to depend on factors such as what industry you want to work in, as well as what level of qualification you want, which is going to matter a lot. Hopefully, the reviews above have given you an idea of which course is best suited to your own needs.
