Looking to build your leadership and management skills to expand your career prospects? Whether you are a working adult with a desire to do bigger things or have recently finished high school and are ready to pursue your professional goals, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in management can help you succeed. Plus, this 100% online program offers the flexibility and versatility you need to complete your degree on your own schedule.
As part of your degree program, you will gain valuable leadership skills crucial for success in your managerial career. With a better understanding of what leadership skills you need as a business manager and how to develop leadership skills, you can set yourself up for a thriving and fulfilling career.
What Are Leadership Skills?
So, what exactly are leadership skills and why do they matter in the context of your future career? Specifically, leadership skills refer to qualities people need to have to find success in influential roles, such as managerial roles. These skills are important because they allow leaders to delegate tasks, communicate with others, motivate teams, and support important initiatives more effectively.
Leadership Skills Crucial for Organizational Success
Ideally, managers and other business leaders should possess both personal leadership skills and team-building skills to do their jobs well. You can read more about specific skills leaders need to have, along with their importance, below.
Personal Leadership Skills
Personal leadership skills refer to the traits or qualities that you need to have to effectively lead, inspire, and motivate teams (or individual team members).
Strong Communication
Both written and verbal communication skills are essential for getting ideas across and making sure all team members are always on the same page.
Problem-Solving
Leaders are constantly having to adapt and solve problems, often with very little time to weigh the options. A strong leader will be able to quickly analyze a problem and propose a practical solution.
Decision-Making
On a similar note, leaders also need to have strong decision-making skills influenced by facts and data rather than emotions.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their own emotions in a healthy and positive way. Leaders must be able to always regulate their emotions and project confidence, even under periods of stress.
Adaptability and Flexibility
Being able to adapt to changing circumstances is yet another trait that serves managers and other leaders well. This means being able to think quickly on your feet and roll with the proverbial punches.
Resilience and Persistence
Leaders face challenges as part of their jobs daily, so they also need to be resilient in the face of adversity. This means being persistent and not giving up, even when things get difficult.
Networking and Relationship Building
Leaders often need to call in favors, delegate tasks, and ask for help from others to achieve their goals. This, in turn, requires a strong professional network often cultivated over many years.
Ethical Leadership and Integrity
Last but certainly not least, effective leaders should always make decisions with ethics and integrity at the forefront. By letting these important traits guide their decision-making, great leaders rarely go wrong.
Team-Building Skills
Team-building skills are another subset of leadership qualities that you should have to encourage effective and productive collaboration.
Foster a Positive Team Environment
Being able to build and maintain a healthy and positive work environment is a must-have skill for effective leaders, as this can lead to better job satisfaction and greater productivity overall.
Delegate and Empower Your Team
A great leader will know when to tackle tasks on their own and when to delegate them to others. By empowering your team with the knowledge they need to carry out important tasks, you can foster better collaboration and get more done.
Teach Conflict Resolution
Conflicts inevitably arise in a team setting; there is no avoiding it. However, the success of a project can hinge on how well a leader can handle and resolve conflict among team members while getting things back on track.
Inspire and Guide
A great leader should also be able to inspire and guide team members to bring the best versions of themselves to the workplace each day.
Motivate Your Team
Getting team members genuinely excited about the work they are doing is not always easy, but a great leader will be able to motivate team members and make them feel like they can accomplish anything together.
Prioritize Personal Development
Leaders should also understand the importance of working on themselves and continuously committing to personal development, whether that means attending a weekend workshop or pursuing an additional certification.
Increase Inclusivity and Diversity Awareness
The best leaders ensure that everybody in the workplace feels welcome and included, which means staying on top of and following the latest diversity and inclusion recommendations and guidelines.
Provide Coaching and Development
Being able to provide coaching and professional development to team members is a great way to help them feel valued and continue working on their skills.
Create an Innovative Culture
Successful leaders also work to build an innovative and empowered workplace culture, where new ideas are valued and everybody has something to contribute.
Cultivating Leadership Skills with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management
UTC’s Bachelor of Science in Management is tailored to help students develop the leadership skills they need to perform their future jobs confidently and effectively. The curriculum and experiences at UTC are designed to equip students with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed in business management.
Provides Foundational Knowledge in Business Principles
For starters, students in UTC’s bachelor’s degree in business management program learn about core business principles—including finance, marketing, human resources, and operations management. This broad knowledge base is crucial for understanding how different aspects of a business interconnect, a key component of effective leadership. Meanwhile, courses often cover strategic planning and decision-making, teaching students to think critically and strategically—which is an essential skill for any leader.
Aids in the Development of Key Leadership Skills
UTC’s bachelor of science in business management also includes coursework in business communication, which enhances students’ ability to convey ideas clearly and effectively. This includes coursework in both written and oral communication.
As part of business communication coursework, students also learn to approach and solve complex business problems, which is an important aspect of leadership. Meanwhile, group projects and team assignments mimic real-world business scenarios, teaching students to work collaboratively and lead teams effectively.
Exposes Students to Management Theories and Styles
UTC’s bachelor’s in management program is also designed with courses that explore various leadership styles and theories, allowing students to gain an in-depth understanding and develop their own leadership approaches with an emphasis on ethics in business. This, in turn, ensures that students understand the importance of leading with integrity and ethical considerations at the forefront.
Helps Students Gain Practical Leadership Experience
At UTC, many of our programs offer or even require internships, which provide students with firsthand leadership experience in a real-world business setting. Likewise, students can work on developing leadership skills through the incorporation of case studies and business simulations in the classroom. These are ideal for practicing making leadership decisions in a risk-free environment, which helps students build good leadership skills over time.
Creates Global and Cultural Awareness
Another important way in which UTC’s bachelor’s degree in business management program helps students build leadership skills is through courses on international business and cross-cultural management. These classes are specifically designed to prepare students to lead in a globalized business environment, addressing the need for cultural sensitivity in these settings and empowering graduates to lead with confidence.
Personal Development and Self-Reflection
Throughout UTC’s bachelor’s in management program, students will also have plenty of opportunities for self-assessment, which are critical for helping students understand both their strengths and potential areas for growth as leaders. Some programs even include modules on emotional intelligence, a key aspect of successful leadership.
Networking and Mentorship Opportunities
During their degree program at UTC, students can enjoy participating in several networking events while also building professional relationships with faculty and alumni. This can offer mentorship and guidance for aspiring leaders.
Career Preparation and Guidance
Students at UTC can also enjoy access to career counseling focusing on leadership and management careers, which can help them build upon leadership soft skills and hard skills outside of the traditional classroom setting.
Leadership Roles Post-Graduation
Finally, UTC’s bachelor’s in management directly prepares students for entry-level management and leadership roles, which can set the stage for further career development. Many UTC graduates go on to work in fulfilling management roles across a wide range of industries, putting their leadership skills to work every day.
Launch Your Managerial Career with a BSBA at UTC
If you are serious about leveling up your leadership skills and learning what it takes to become a confident and driven management professional, UTC’s BSBA: Management program is here to help you achieve your career goals. Learn more about our online BSBA: Management program, which covers topics ranging from motivation and leadership to management science, project management, human resource management, and more. You can also get in touch to request more information or get started by filling out your application today.
