Leadership courses and programs
Leadership skills are key to guiding, motivating, and influencing others in your personal and professional life. Thankfully, anyone can develop and apply these skills in different contexts.
Strong leadership skills are essential for driving impact in today's complex world, whether you're an experienced executive, aspiring team lead, or individual contributor. Discover the benefits of building leadership skills and some of the top ways to get started in our guide.
Why learning leadership skills matters
Leadership is no longer confined to the corner office — it's a critical skill across all levels of an organization, including in non-corporate settings. Here's why learning leadership matters:
Whether you're in the C-suite or on the ground floor, leadership skills can supercharge your confidence and accelerate your career growth. Here are some of the other reasons leadership skills matter:
- Improved communication and decision-making: Strong leaders use skills like active listening, empathy, and clear, audience-centric communication to build trust, influence others, and navigate complex situations. These skills are beneficial inside and outside the workplace.
- Career advancement: Leadership skills help you manage projects, people, and your career growth. Many employers prefer candidates who exemplify strong leadership qualities.
- Professional recognition: Solid leadership skills can inspire others and help you stand out among peers, often resulting in increased professional visibility.
Additionally, a 2025 edX survey revealed that 25% of workers are uncertain about their ability to remain employed over the next six months due to their current skill set. Acquiring additional leadership skills can be a valuable asset in this economic climate.
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Learning leadership
You may have heard that "leaders are born, not made," but this adage is simply untrue. With enough practice and dedication, anyone can build and polish their own leadership skills. Learning leadership can take many forms, from courses and degree programs to experiential learning opportunities. The top skills taught in most leadership courses, programs, and experiences include:
- Strategic thinking: Solve interpersonal and organizational problems with clear intention and concrete steps.
- Active listening: Practice being present, attentive, and respectful in conversations.
- Collaboration: Unite diverse individuals and teams around a shared goal.
- Business communication: Communicate effectively in various business contexts, including public speaking engagements, team presentations, meetings, and workplace messaging apps.
- Persuasion: Harness the elements of persuasion to influence stakeholders.
Leadership courses and programs cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Leadership and communication
- Managing teams
- Organizational leadership
- AI and leadership
- Inclusive leadership
- Entrepreneurship
- Values-based leadership
- Digital leadership
- Agile leadership
- Women's leadership
Depending on your professional and educational goals, you may choose a course, an executive education program, a bachelor's program, or a master's program in leadership. Review course/program descriptions to determine which is right for you.
Learn to lead in 3 steps
No matter where you are in your career or the world, you can begin learning leadership today. Take the following steps to get started:
1. Identify your goals and next steps
Why are you interested in becoming a leader? Are you preparing to move into a senior role at your company, or do you simply want to demonstrate leadership in your daily interactions? Determining why learning leadership appeals to you can help you narrow down your options.
Be sure to also consider your schedule and budget — how much time and money can you dedicate to developing leadership skills? Leadership courses tend to be much shorter and more affordable than longer-term options like degree programs.
2. Adopt a growth mindset and start learning
Once you've determined your reason for pursuing leadership development, select the course or program that best fits your goals.
As you begin the learning process, remember to be open to change and discomfort. A growth mindset allows you to accept your knowledge deficits and readily absorb new concepts to improve your skills.
3. Apply your learnings in real-world scenarios
Perhaps the most important step you can take as you learn leadership is to put your skills to the test. Seek experiential learning opportunities at work, in social settings, and through your course or program. You can start small by volunteering to lead a meeting, mentoring a peer, or proposing a new project.
A strong leadership presence requires considerable hands-on practice, so look for opportunities to apply your skills.
How long does it take to learn leadership?
How long it takes to learn leadership depends on your existing skills and chosen learning path. For example, if you're already a manager with years of work experience in your field who plans to become an executive, you may not need extensive leadership training. If you are a new high school graduate, however, you may benefit from a more robust program.
You can generally expect the following timelines for each learning path:
Outside of education, leadership in practice may take several years to completely master. Some of the best leaders commit to brushing up on their skills each year and practicing them at every opportunity.
Salary and career outlook for leadership professionals
| Job title | Job description | Required education | Median annual salary (May 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top executive | Top executives organize, plan, and coordinate policies, strategies, and activities to ensure that an organization meets its goals. Types of top executives include chief executive officers (CEOs), chief marketing officers (CMOs), government administrators, and school superintendents or presidents. | Bachelor's degree (some employers may prefer advanced degrees) | $105,350 |
| Computer and information systems manager | Computer and information systems managers organize, coordinate, and plan computer-related activities within a business or organization. Types of computer and information systems managers include information technology (IT) directors, IT security managers, chief information officers (CIOs), and chief technology officers (CTOs). | Bachelor's degree (some employers may prefer advanced degrees) | $171,200 |
| Training and development manager | Training and development managers organize, plan, and lead programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of a company's staff. These professionals are employed in almost every industry. | Bachelor's degree | $127,090 |
| Human resources manager | A human resources manager organizes, plans, and leads an organization's administrative operations. They onboard new staff, consult with top executives, and liaise between management and employees. Types of human resources managers include labor relations directors (sometimes referred to as employee relations managers), payroll managers, and recruiting or staffing managers. | Bachelor's degree | $140,030 |
Your next steps on edX
Ready to become the leader you've always wanted to be? Explore leadership learning opportunities through edX to get started. Not sure where to begin? Follow these steps to determine your best fit:
- Enroll in a leadership course to learn the fundamentals. Some courses and programs also offer the option to purchase a professional certificate upon completion.
- Browse leadership degree programs for more robust education options designed to fit your busy schedule.
- Explore Executive Education programs on edX to elevate your leadership skillset and qualify for executive-level opportunities in your field.
Last updated August 5, 2025
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