At the start of 2020, innovating was something companies did to stay competitive. Now, in the midst of a global pandemic, it’s something that companies must do to survive.
Strong business leaders are sought after now more than ever to envision and shape how organizations will survive and thrive post-COVID-19. Citizens everywhere are looking for ways to keep things as normal as possible, seeking guidance, a sense of confidence, and hope. If you’ve dreamed of becoming a leader who steps up and guides others through the difficult times, an MBA can help you acquire the skills you'll need — and make you attractive to hiring managers.
Here's why you should pursue an MBA now:
1. The world needs strong business leadership
If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that leaders must have a strong presence to provide a sense of continuity to employees and community members, despite disruptive events. By pursuing an MBA in the middle of an active global crisis, you will hone the skills necessary for calming your team, encouraging growth, and setting expectations during times of turmoil. This need is necessary in any time of crisis, not just COVID-19.
2. Soft skills go further
Empathy, understanding, and patience are soft skills that can differentiate good leaders from great leaders. Haas Professor Jenny Chatman says great leaders, who can encourage productivity from their team, know how to temper expectations during chaos. “People are legitimately distracted. Children are home, dogs are barking. Members of your team may not have a good internet connection. And, they are grappling with new priorities that were not a part of their job before. You have to be realistic about what people can do in a day.” Showing empathy to your team can go a long way when it comes to long-standing relationships.
Soft skills are a core component of MBA learnings. It makes you assured of your own self-worth, and this cultivates a virtuous circle for wanting to achieve more – all coming from within rather than some external pressure or benchmark.
3. Consistency is key
Keep regular communication with your team so that all information can flow naturally without ringing alarm bells and your team knows what’s going on. Regular, predictable, and scheduled communication means that your people don’t make up the worst-case scenario instead.
While these leadership skills may seem straightforward, they aren’t easy to carry out if you’re unprepared. For example, not everyone is naturally disciplined enough to showcase consistency. These skills come more easily to those who have training in business leadership and management, which are core elements of an MBA program.
4. Real-time problem-solving in an active crisis
Life as we know it is changing at an unprecedented pace, which makes now a truly unique time to be in an MBA program. Not only will you learn about managing a crisis as it unfolds, but you’ll be in the perfect position to explore the myriad opportunities of a post-COVID-19 world.
The professors explain that we have newly abundant data at our fingertips that we can eventually extract business value from. So, what better time than now to team up with fellow students and professors to dig deeper and learn about this data and how it relates to a global economy?
