If you are feeling blocked in your current job or are looking for a new position you may have thought about exploring opportunities to add some additional skills to your CV.
Whether you are considering an executive MBA, an open enrollment Executive Education program, or contemplating using a coach or mentor, you should be sure that the program you select uses all the latest learning methods and technologies available.
And, very importantly, that you will have a great time doing it!
- Lecture? What’s a lecture? While still very reliant on MBA faculty members for delivery, Executive Education programs around the world are moving away from traditional MBA content. Program designers are exploring areas such as personality assessments, the inclusion of science and humanities content, as well as focused topics like strategic selling and corporate responsibility. Executive MBA and Executive Ed programs now include a mix of concern for your personal career goals along with the traditional focus on developing your business acumen. Dry lectures have given away to facilitated discussions that leverage your own experience. Yes, there is serious management theory being taught, but the goal of the best professors is to make the theory emerge from the case study or class discussion.
- That Edutainment. Greater attention is being given to creating programs that are closely linked to the issues and concerns of practicing managers. Some critics complain that offering you the chance to take inventory of your skills and weaknesses via psychological assessments or demonstrating cultural differences through experiential exercises reduces learning to mere entertainment. The fact is, as a mid-career executive your biggest challenge is probably not memorizing the Four P’s of Marketing. Gaining a better understanding as to why you prefer selling one-on-one to making big presentations or getting an insight into why your last boss never seemed to make a firm decision can not only prepare you for your next assignment, it can help you become a more effective manager. Universities and private training organizations are investing in longer term partnerships rather than one-off transactions. They are blending access to practical and theoretical knowledge with real-time help in applying it. Executive Programs are now thinking beyond the formal program delivery and are striving to design ways to stay in touch with you, to keep you in contact with your classmates, and to help you connect your learning to your job. To do this they need to keep your attention, amuse you with interesting anecdotes, and listen to your concerns. Like a good Keynote speech at an industry conference, the Executive Education experience should be relevant, provocative, informative and amusing. “Edutainment” is a word that some use negatively and, of course, universities should not become comedy clubs…but if we can make learning a pleasure more learning will take place.
- There’s an App for that. Technology continues to change the way people obtain and share information. New training solutions take into account the impact of technology on teaching methodologies. “Moderated” websites which promote participation and are available 24/7 (eg: Harvard Business Publishing’s “Leadership Direct”) are beginning to bring static performance support tools (like SkillSoft or Harvard’s own ManageMentor) into the world of web 2.0 and beyond.
- Make an informed investment. There are few things that will better renew your knowledge, confidence and network than an investment in an executive program. Every university and training organization has its own style and specialty, however, and it is important to match that style to your own. Big school or small; local program or distance learning; highly rated traditional degree program or innovative functional-area certificate—the only bad decision is to choose a program without being absolutely certain that you will enjoy the experience and that the learning will continue after your classes are over.
It is only a small exaggeration to say that you should use the same benchmarks you use to evaluate a new iPhone or tablet computer to decide which executive program you choose. You may be a bit overwhelmed by some of the new ways schools make their learning available, but once you begin to experience them you will wonder how you ever learned without them!
About the author:
This article is from William (Bill) Shea. Bill has spent most of his career in Executive Development, both in training organizations such as the Center for Creative Leadership, where he was the first MD of their Brussels Branch, and in higher education at Harvard Business School where he is currently Director, Corporate Relations and Market Development for Executive Education. He is a former Board member of the American Society of Training and Development.
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How to avoid enrolling in a program where the Training Center’s main goal is to raise money from candidates?
You should start with neutral third-party evaluators (eg: rankings in the Financial Times, Bloomberg Business Week, etc.) but also check out blogs and web sites that collect comments from individual participant’s experiences with educational institutions. For a fairly typical example, Google “Rant and Ramble at INSEAD” for a collection of grumblings about that highly-ranked institution. There are similar blogs for many not-for-profit as well as for-profit training organizations. As with any purchase, doing a bit of homework can help prevent buyer’s remorse.
As of today, we have a 21st century economy driven by high-tech. The ” know-how ” is the critical factor, and not the technology. The positive impact is made by the MBA professional or the person behind the HI-TECH application and process.
People are the key asset of any organization. Once again, people are an organizations most valuable asset. Is you organization’s HR department ready for attracting and hiring the brightest and talented professionals ? Focusing on the right individuals and stakeholders is important for the success of any organization.
Dysfunctional organizations have one thing in common : The deficit of talent management. I am referring to the failure of leadership and the lack of effective H/R management to attract, retain, develop and maintain highly talented MBA professionals and highly skilled workers. In additon, I am referring to a Dysfunctional Organization not having an Effective Strategic H/R Plan to integrate new employees while developing and retaining current workers to meet current and future business objectives.
Right now, we have a 21st century economy driven by high-tech. To streamline and reengineer a dysfunctional organization with a 20th century ineffective leadership culture, there is a crucial need to attract, hire and maintain highly skilled and talented MBA professionals with Business Acumen, expert-knowledge of Teamwork and People Skills in order to develop solutions to challenges.
In conclusion, technology is not enough. The question of attracting the brightest MBA professional and best worker is a key issue for successful organizations. It is essential for today’s leaders to know how to lead by understanding and respecting the diversity.
Ask an Expert. Are people really your most important asset ? How to build a TEAM-oriented work environment and an effective Leadership Culture by using your expert-knowledge of Human behavior, Personality Traits, Character traits, Human Traits, Personal characteristics, human qualities, Traits of Human Consciousness, human makeup, personal attitudes ? How to influence people to reach a common goal ? What are the key assets of you organization ?
Vanel, good points! Thanks for your feedback. Jorg
Absolutely true. One never stops learning. New things and new methods.are always there to learn. Also, one should be prepared to admit that what was gained in career for long many years needs to be enforced by new ways to go ahead.
Mid-career education is all of the above: fun, pain, and a necessity to maintain a competitive edge. It’s fun because you focus on a field you already find intellectually stimulating. It’s painful, because there will be some material that is required but hard for you learn, even more so than when you were an undergraduate (think statistics.) It’s a necessity because it not only expands your current skill base, but also extends your career life by engendering the habit of continuous learning. If you’re lucky, it is also humbling, since it increases your appreciation of all you don’t know. The last might be the most important, as it makes you a better person and therefore a better manager.
Jorg, executive education suppose to help professionals grow and therefore should be fun to invest in yourself.
@Vanel, great insights on talent management and diversity. Thanks.
Teresa, Mahmud, Ino
Thanks for your feedback.
Best regards
Jorg
Thanks for the update.I think executive education will have a bright future in coming days as now a days everyone does not have the time and even do not have the money to carry on full time studies .So, executive education will be a better option for them.
Thanks, good reasoning!