Business leadership is experiencing transformative change, emphasizing organizational leadership rather than traditional management skills. While many use the terms interchangeably, there are significant differences between the two.

Typically, managers embrace structure and focus on making operations more efficient, while leaders put more significance on inspiring others and using their skills in alignment with business strategy. Organizational leaders excel in strategic leadership, organizational change, and fostering a culture of innovation.

Point Park University’s Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership focuses on providing professionals with the skills and knowledge they need for success in the modern corporate world. Students acquire a thorough understanding of traditional vs. modern leadership styles. In addition, graduates develop entrepreneurial acumen for launching their own businesses.

What Is Organizational Leadership?

Successful organizational leaders understand theories of leadership and management as well as the influences and impacts of various organizational behaviors. They seek to provide revolutionary change in a business world where organizations must evolve to survive.

Organizational leaders also create and lead diverse workforces, practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies that bring people together for a common purpose. They support career and personal development for the workforce, helping employees achieve career ambitions.

Organizational leaders also understand how selecting the proper structure can make or break a business. They have a detailed understanding of the four primary types of organizational structure and how to select the correct one for each situation.

Traditional vs. Modern Leadership Styles

While managers and leaders are both needed for business success, they focus on different areas of an organization. Unlike organizational leadership, traditional management is more hierarchical and focuses on results. Most managers follow a command-and-control style that places decision-making into the hands of a few people.

Leaders tend to innovate while managers administer. Managers also focus primarily on the short-term and mid-term, while leaders are responsible for thinking about long-term goals and creating business strategies accordingly.

Managers also measure success based on profit and output, while organizational leaders create a unified purpose and ways of improving organizational transparency, authenticity, inclusivity, and integrity.

What Students Learn in an Organizational Leadership Program

In the Point Park University online BA in Organizational Leadership program, students learn the fundamentals of modern management. These include effective communication, project management, and management skills that lead to real-world business success. The knowledge and skills gained in the program apply to leadership positions in all industries.

The program curriculum includes courses that focus on developing advanced leadership skills.

  • Business Communication and Research
  • Ethical Leadership
  • International Business
  • Dynamics of Business and Strategic Planning
  • Leadership: Confluence of Emotional and Cultural Acumen
  • Leading Organizational Change
  • Gender Dynamics in Leadership
  • Systems Thinking for Emerging Leaders

The flexible online program allows working professionals to earn an advanced degree while maintaining their current jobs.

Why Organizational Leadership is the Future

Because it focuses beyond the bottom line and adopts a holistic approach to running a business, organizational leadership has emerged as an essential element for modern business success. Forbes went as far as to write that “traditional change management as we know it is obsolete.”

The rapid pace of change in the business world drives this shift in leadership styles. In the past, organizational change occurred over time. Now, change is fluid and ongoing. Businesses need agility to compete in the modern marketplace, which requires a shift in company culture. Leaders who inspire others, foster a commitment to change, and promote resilience within an organization are in demand.

The workforce is also more flexible, with remote workers and independent contractors handling job tasks once done by on-site staff. Furthermore, advances in technology require leaders to stay up-to-date on the potential for new tech to maintain a competitive advantage.

Together, these factors make organizational leadership critical in today’s global marketplace. Earning a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership prepares graduates to take on leadership roles in the modern business world.