Every educator is a leader in some capacity. This is clearly true of school principals and other administrators, but also of teachers who guide and support students every day. Many instructors even find they’re able to extend their influence beyond their classroom walls by developing some teacher leadership skills.
While it’s nice to know you can make a difference right now, you can’t help but feel you’d be able to drive more meaningful change by advancing your education. You’ve already completed a master’s program, so you’re interested in doctoral degrees. More specifically, you’re thinking about getting a doctorate in organizational leadership.
But before you decide to start looking into programs, you need a bit of reassurance that earning this degree will pay off in the long run. You also want to make sure you choose the right type of program, because you could pursue either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organizational Leadership or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership. It’s a good idea to start by determining which degree makes the most sense for you.
Ph.D. vs. Ed.D. in organizational leadership: Which should you choose?
As with other types of doctoral programs, organizational leadership is offered as both a Ph.D. and an Ed.D. While both options are terminal degrees that teach students about leading in a way that enacts positive change, they differ in a few ways. Most students typically find one degree is a better fit than the other.
One of the most noticeable distinctions between a Ph.D. and an Ed.D. is that the former entails more research that’s intended to inform other scholars. It’s usually the degree of choice for academics who are interested in contributing to journal publications and conference presentations.
“It focuses heavily on developing new theories in an effort to advance knowledge, which is useful,” says Dr. Keith Larick, program chair for University of Massachusetts Global’s Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. “But it isn’t always helpful to someone in the field who needs both knowledge and a set of skills to navigate all the complexities of being a leader.”
Ed.D. programs tend to focus more on practical application of theory. Organizational leadership programs in particular aim to help students develop key leadership skills needed to motivate individuals and achieve organizational goals. It’s all about finding actionable ways to address the most pressing challenges for teachers, schools and the larger education system. University of Massachusetts Global’s program, for instance, leverages a cohort model that enhances collaboration, innovation and decision-making. If you’re an educator interested in becoming a principal, a superintendent, or even a leader at the postsecondary level, this degree is probably the best option for you.
“An Ed.D. is a practitioner’s program for people who want to be out in the field leading an organization,” Dr. Larick explains.
5 Ways obtaining a doctorate in organizational leadership could benefit you
Now that you know more about what distinguishes an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, you’re likely curious as to whether obtaining this degree will be worth it for you. There are multiple ways you could benefit, including some personal reasons you may not have considered.
You could advance to a more senior role
Adding a doctorate degree to your resume can help progress your education career in a few ways. An analysis of more than 1 million education job postings from the last year shows that while only 32,961 positions required a doctoral degree, 81,761 listings indicated that a doctoral degree is preferred.* Even if you’re not searching for a new opportunity, this training can help you climb the ladder in your current organization.
“More than half of our students receive a job promotion during the first year in the program,” Dr. Larick reveals.
UMass Global’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program is unique. Instead of requiring learners to pass comprehensive exams to advance, students complete a transformational change project.
“Our students take what they’ve learned, then go out into the field, identify a problem at their organization or another and actually work on that problem in real-time,” Dr. Larick explains.
You can develop practical skills that help you lead more effectively
While everyone has a slightly different leadership style when it comes to guiding their teams, some approaches are undeniably more effective than others. The best leaders, it turns out, share a number of qualities in common.
The UMass Global program was intentionally designed around core tenets that help students acquire these critical skills. Those main principals include transformational leadership, political intelligence, collaborative relationships and diversity. Each of these tenets are critical in the work you’ll do. Take diversity, for example.
“Understanding diversity and embracing it is important not just in terms of race or language, but also diversity of ideas,” Dr. Larick offers. “Real leaders will pull together a group with varying ideas who may challenge them and bring new ways of thinking about something.”
You could increase your earning potential
It’s difficult to say exactly how obtaining an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership could affect your salary. It varies greatly depending on your specific role, your school or organization, your geographic region and so on. But the odds are good that you can increase your earning potential by furthering your education.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that salary increases along with educational attainment, with doctoral degree holders making an average of $1,883 per week. This figure is 25 percent higher than the weekly average salary among master’s degree holders.
Even teachers who want to continue their roles as classroom instructors stand to benefit. As Dr. Larick points out, no teacher is truly an individual contributor.
“You’re not isolated — you’re working with a team of people,” he explains. “This degree really prepares you, even within a teacher-led team, to lead more effectively.” Perhaps this will translate to being appointed to an advisory board and receiving a pay raise.
You could transition into higher education
Master’s qualified professionals can typically only teach postsecondary courses at a community college. To become an instructor at any other type of higher education institution, you’re required to have a doctoral degree. While many professors choose to obtain a Ph.D., any type of doctoral degree in your area of expertise will qualify you to teach at a college or university. This includes an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.
“I’ve taught a number of people whose ultimate goal is to come back and teach at the university level,” Dr. Larick offers.
You can achieve a personal goal and set a positive example
For many learners, obtaining a doctorate is a life achievement in and of itself. “I always have some incoming students who say, ‘This has been on my bucket list and I need to do it for me,’” Dr. Larick reflects.
You should also consider what completing a doctoral program will mean for your loved ones. It may help family members realize just how much they’re capable of and encourage them to achieve their own goals.
“I’ve seen dissertation oral defenses where there have been 20 or 30 family members in the room. It may be that the student is the first in their family to graduate from college, let alone obtain a doctorate,” Dr. Larick says. “They’re leading the way for their entire family and changing generations to come. That’s pretty special.”
Make a lasting impact on education
You’re well-aware of how transformational education can be. You just want to be sure that you choose the right education option. Now that you know more about some of the specific benefits you stand to gain by obtaining a doctorate in organizational leadership, you probably have a better sense of whether it’s the right degree path for you.
If you’ve decided to advance your education, the next step is to start researching your options. The organizational leadership program at University of Massachusetts Global combines a supportive culture and flexibility to help accommodate your busy life and ensure success.
Find out how to start working toward your career aspirations by exploring our Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership.
You have your sights set on climbing the ladder to play a more integral role in your company. But how do you proceed? It’s possible that an organizational leadership degree could be exactly what you need to hone your leadership skills, helping you learn how to be effective in implementing organizational change, promoting teamwork and empowering your team to achieve success.
What is organizational leadership, exactly? Dr. Jalin B. Johnson, associate professor at UMass Global, offers clarification by explaining what relevant organizational leadership degree programs aim to do.
“Effective is the key word,” Dr. Johnson offers. In organizational leadership programs, she says, “we are offering students the opportunity to look at leadership holistically. They leave with something tangible that can make them a more effective leader.”
You may be wondering whether a degree in the field can help propel you to new levels in your career. What is an organizational leadership degree exactly? And how can it impact your career? Read on as we explore the field and outline the different organizational leadership degree options to choose from.
But first, what is organizational leadership, exactly?
Generally speaking, organizational leadership takes traditional leadership skills to the next level by incorporating key aspects of human psychology. The basic premise of organizational leadership is to employ a management strategy that simultaneously works toward what is best for individuals and what is best for the company as a whole.
A basic organizational leadership definition involves synching individual employee goals with company-wide goals. Those effective in this area can help individuals understand and commit to their roles in fulfilling an organization’s mission.
Dr. Gale Mazur, associate professor in the School of Business and Professional Studies at UMass Global, recalls a former student explaining this idea perfectly.
“She said she came into the program as a good manager, but she was leaving the program as a very effective leader,” Dr. Mazur recounts. The student was already an adept supervisor who ensured tasks were completed, but she left the program understanding how to provide vision that helped employees feel more engaged.
Dr. Mazur explains that the ability to align people with the goals of the organization can be paramount in motivating and inspiring employees to bring that vision to fruition. In essence, impactful leaders must set the tone and direction of the company while working toward achieving organizational goals.
In their commonly cited paper, “The Nature of Organizational Leadership,” researchers Stephen J. Zaccaro and Richard J. Klimoski suggest the success of the collective whole is a major criterion for effective leadership. Every organization is comprised of individual parts that assist one another to work together as a system. The tenets of organizational leadership call upon leaders to learn how to capitalize on the strengths of individuals, manage around any weaknesses and use this focused management approach to accomplish what is best for everyone.
Zaccaro and Klimoski pose the idea that a great organizational leader impacts the routine activities of their companies, and also knows how to use their leadership skills in response to or in anticipation of non-routine events. This means effective leaders gain such an in-depth understanding of their organization and its employees that they can manage change within the system without disrupting it.
A closer look at organizational leadership degrees
If you’re looking to advance your business and leadership skills, you might be wondering what type of program you should be looking for. Dr. Mazur suggests considering what it is you’re looking to gain from a degree.
“If you’re looking for the basic skills to get a job in the business world, you’d probably be better suited for a bachelor’s in business administration,” she says. “But if you’ve found your niche and want to gain the additional skills you need to move ahead as a leader, you might consider an organizational leadership program.”
Dr. Mazur further explains that people are often hired for their technical skills, but later transition to management or leadership roles where the capacity to work well with people becomes more important. Organizational leadership programs help professionals hone those impactful people skills that can help them make the jump from individual contributor to effective leader.
What to expect from a bachelor’s in organizational leadership
Simply put, the undergraduate route would be right for you if you’re interested in organizational leadership but have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. That’s true even if you have work experience.
“I find more often than not that undergraduate organizational leadership students are people who have been in their field or industry for some time,” Dr. Johnson says, “and they have come to the point where they need to enhance their qualifications to advance.” She explains that these professionals are often told by their company they’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree to move ahead.
At UMass Global in particular, professionals from just about any field who are seeking a bachelor’s degree can benefit from the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership program.
“That’s part of the benefit of UMass Global’s organizational leadership programs,” Dr. Johnson divulges. “We are not industry-specific. We have different backgrounds. Across the board, we’re looking at how organizational leadership tools can be applied no matter your industry.”
At the baccalaureate level, UMass Global offers professionals a comprehensive curriculum that includes marketing, human resources, economics, organizational behavior, ethics, team building, finance, accounting and leadership.
Students who would prefer an online, self-paced program may find what they’re looking for in UMass Global’s competency-based BBA in Management and Organizational Leadership program.
What to expect from a master’s in organizational leadership
When it comes to graduate-level programs, Dr. Mazur explains it’s common to see students who have several years of work experience and are now ready to take on additional leadership responsibilities. Some are even excited to take on executive roles.
“It’s not unusual to have students talk about being promoted midway through their program,” Dr. Mazur adds. “It’s because our program emphasizes putting what they’re learning into practice immediately. It really does give them a competitive edge.”
UMass Global’s Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program is great for professionals who want to explore leadership styles and strengthen their ability to focus on individual growth that leads to company success. It includes emphasis options ranging from business administration to human resources.
The master’s program at UMass Global also enables military service members and veterans to apply their military experience toward their degree. In fact, those ranked E7 or above can earn their Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership in as few as seven classes.
Is an organizational leadership degree right for you?
Now that you have a clearer picture of the organizational leadership definition, perhaps you’re starting to see that a degree in this field can equip you with the skills you’ll need to achieve success. By learning how to meet challenges and accomplish goals — put forth both by individual employees and also by the organization as a whole — you can establish yourself as an impactful leader in just about any industry.
To learn more about your options and determine which organizational leadership degree path would be right for you, explore UMass Global’s Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership programs.
Resilience is not a one-time action. It is a sustained effort to adapt, survive and thrive in times of stress and uncertainty. In 2020, the novel Coronavirus forced leaders of nations, organizations and companies to make difficult decisions with no precedent to learn from. Developing a resilient leadership style has never been more important as the pandemic has permanently changed the way billions of people work, gather and travel.
Surviving and thriving during times of upheaval and organizational change is possible with the right mindset. No one can predict the future. All you can do is control how you react to what life throws at you. In this article, we’re breaking down what resilient leadership means and outlining strategies that can help develop these skills.
Lead your organization with confidence
If you’re interested in growing professionally and personally, learning the foundations of resilient leadership is a great place to start. There are many ways to hone your skills and become the empowering and effective leader your team needs to successfully navigate organizational change.
If you’re looking for ways to further enhance your leadership skills, learn more about University of Massachusetts Global’s bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral leadership programs.
Already equipped with a degree but still looking for development opportunities? Explore UMass Global’s business certificates and courses.
What leadership lessons can be learned from the pandemic?
Keeping your business or organization moving forward during a crisis can be daunting even for seasoned professionals. Adam Coughran, president of Safe Kids Inc. and University of Massachusetts Global graduate, recently presented a webinar “Resilient Leadership: How to Lead Your Organization Through Unprecedented Times”. Coughran has worked as a leadership consultant across many industries and recalls that before the pandemic, the concerns that were top of mind for most companies related to cybersecurity and physical safety in the workplace.
“COVID-19 hit and added another layer of difficulty on top of pre-existing problems,” Coughran explains. “Millions of people started working remotely overnight, and leaders had to figure out how to manage entire organizations virtually.”
In addition to adapting to the challenges of remote work environments, Coughran believes business leaders should also be prioritizing the mental health and well-being of their employees. For many professionals, worlds are colliding with working-at-home spouses and roommates as well as children attending school virtually.
“You have to be empathetic about what people are going through. COVID has changed how people prioritize and compartmentalize their lives,” he shares. “Work stress is now at home – and so is everyone else!”
In his experience as a leader during the pandemic, Coughran has found success in utilizing a situational leadership style to solve the problems at hand. Situational leadership theory indicates that a leader must adapt their management style according to the current environment and needs of the team. This theory originates in the book “Management of Organizational Behavior” by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hershey.