How to Improve Leadership Skills with an EdD

How would you evaluate your leadership ability? Just 1 in 4 leaders and managers think their organizational leaders are sufficiently engaged, passionate and inspiring. That’s according to McKinsey & Company’s State of Organizations 2023 report.

To be an effective leader today requires a broad set of skills in areas that extend beyond traditional management, such as innovation and collaboration. Developing these competencies can prepare professionals to lead strategically and ethically in our complex global environment.

For professionals seeking to advance in their careers and drive meaningful change, enrolling in a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership program can help them cultivate the knowledge and skills they need to lead effectively now and in the future. Individuals who are curious about how to improve leadership skills through an EdD in Leadership program should keep reading.

What Is an EdD in Leadership?

An EdD in Leadership is a terminal degree focused on applied leadership. It prepares professionals to influence change and achieve organizational goals. It typically focuses on developing leadership skills in four key areas:

• Leadership theory and practice
• Systems thinking and cultural competence
• Organizational change
• Research methods and inquiry

How does an EdD in Leadership compare to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership? The primary difference when comparing EdD vs. PhD degrees is the career path each degree program prepares individuals for.

A PhD in Leadership generally qualifies professionals for research roles, whereas EdD careers span more fields. EdD in Leadership graduates have developed not only educational leadership skills but also skills that can make them effective leaders in business, the nonprofit sector, social work, public health and beyond.

Why Do Current and Aspiring Leaders Pursue a Doctor of Leadership?

Doctor of Leadership candidates each have their own unique motivations for earning the degree. However, the desire for transformation is a common theme. Although they are interested in how to improve leadership skills, they also want to grow their career and contributions to make a wider difference.

Individuals pursue a Doctor of Leadership online to focus on areas that include:

• Advanced leadership: Growing advanced skills to become effective leaders, including being able to engage individual stakeholders and teams and foster an innovative organizational culture

• Career fulfillment: Gaining a new sense of fulfillment in their career by expanding their leadership competencies to take on new roles

• Thought leadership: Evolving their voice and influence to elevate their organization’s success

• Community change: Learning the leadership skills needed to increase their awareness of issues affecting individuals, families and societies

Graduates of Doctor of Leadership programs are prepared with the knowledge, skills and ethical grounding needed to lead effectively and foster positive change.

What Skills Do You Develop in an Online Doctor of Leadership Program?

The nature of organizations is increasingly dynamic. Today’s leaders face rapid technological innovation, growing competition and more global, diverse workforces.

Earning an EdD in Leadership helps prepare professionals to lead and innovate in the modern era. They gain advanced knowledge and skills in effective leadership in areas that include adaptability, strategic thinking, innovation, collaboration, organizational change and data-driven decision-making. Improving leadership skills like these allows them to play a vital role in their organization’s success, as managers account for 70% of the variance between the highest- and lowest-engaged teams, according to Gallup research.

Adaptability

Different organizational cultures, circumstances and challenges require different leadership styles. By understanding the types of leadership styles, professionals can evolve and adapt their style to foster their organization’s success. Professionals enrolled in a Doctor of Leadership program learn about various leadership styles and strategies and develop the ability to evaluate and implement them in multiple contexts.

Strategic Thinking

Influential leaders have a strategic mindset. They know how to think critically and strategically to arrive at reasonable conclusions. They also know how to engage in systems thinking, in which they understand how individuals, groups, structures and processes interact and impact each other within an organization. Professionals in an EdD in Leadership program learn how to develop a strategic vision and drive an organization to embrace, foster and promote transformative change.

Innovation

Effective leaders are proficient problem-solvers. They can think creatively and apply new perspectives and methods to shifting paradigms. EdD in Leadership programs foster systems thinking, enabling professionals to better identify challenges, develop creative solutions and influence transformation.

Collaboration

Numerous stakeholders can influence an organization’s success, from employees and customers to external partners and the community. Leaders must create positive partnerships with all of them. Professionals in an EdD in Leadership program learn to work independently and cooperatively to implement change. Relationship building, conflict resolution and clear, persuasive communication are central to learning.

Organizational Change

Change is inevitable and necessary for organizations to thrive. To guide change, leaders must understand change management theories and strategies. They also must have advanced leadership skills in areas such as strategic thinking, innovation and collaboration, to name a few. EdD in Leadership programs teach precisely that.

Global and Cultural Awareness

In our globalized economy, effective leaders must navigate nuances to manage teams and international partnerships. Research shows that cultural diversity in the workplace can have a positive impact on productivity and creativity. This can benefit an organization’s overall reputation and ability to retain employees.

However, simply building a diverse workforce doesn’t guarantee these benefits. Today’s leaders need a broad perspective and understanding of how to leverage cultural differences for organizational success. That is why Doctor of Leadership programs include courses on global leadership and intercultural communication. Candidates learn about cultural differences and strategies for transcending the complexities of communicating with different individuals, institutions and nations.

Data-Driven Decision-Making

Leaders must base their decisions on objective evidence to reduce risk. EdD in Leadership programs teach professionals the scientific approach to conducting and applying qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies. Some programs include a capstone project that applies learning to a real-world challenge.

Communication

In a recent Grammarly and Harris Poll survey, 51% of workers reported that poor communication increases their stress, while 41% said it lowers their productivity. They also said poor communication strains relationships and results in missed deadlines. Strong communication skills are vital for effective leadership. They foster conflict resolution, problem-solving, idea sharing and task management.

Doctor of Leadership graduates have learned the skills needed to convey, receive and process information effectively in person and virtually in areas that include:

• Verbal communication: Speaking clearly and using the appropriate tone of voice
• Nonverbal communication: Using and interpreting body language, facial expressions and gestures
• Written communication: Writing using various media
• Active listening: Hearing and responding to what others are saying
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others

Doctor of Leadership programs develop these skills through presentations, digital media use, group discussions and written assignments.

What Are the Benefits of Online EdD in Leadership Programs?

Online EdD in Leadership programs allow professionals to earn their doctoral degree primarily or entirely online. They typically require the completion of at least 60 credits, with most students graduating in three to five years.

In an online program, professionals can continue working while pursuing their degree and can apply their learning in practice immediately. Professionals also benefit from developing effective leadership for the digital age.

The growing popularity of remote and hybrid work environments has reshaped leadership. Leaders must operate, communicate and manage teams virtually. Online EdD in Leadership programs can be worth it for professionals looking to prepare for these changes, equipping them with knowledge and educational leadership skills in digital literacy, virtual collaboration and cultural competence.

Digital Literacy

Digital literacy refers to having the cognitive and technical skills needed to find, evaluate, create and communicate information using information and communication technologies.

Online EdD in Leadership programs help professionals develop strong digital literacy skills using various online tools, including:

• Video conferencing
• Online discussion forums
• Messaging systems
• Digital libraries
• Online databases
• Document sharing services
• Online assessments

Students use digital tools regularly to complete coursework, communicate with faculty and peers and conduct research. As a result, students learn how to leverage them for more effective communication, collaboration and innovation.

Virtual Collaboration

Virtual collaboration is the new norm across many organizations. A recent Gallup poll indicates 70% of employees feel remote meetings are equally or more effective than in-person meetings. Current and future leaders must be adept at communicating with, managing and motivating critical stakeholders across geographies.

Online EdD in Leadership programs expose professionals to virtual collaboration tools and techniques. They may use video conferencing to participate in live discussions, messaging apps to communicate or file-sharing platforms to collaborate on documents in real time.

Through virtual collaboration, students practice communication and relationship building. They develop meaningful personal connections with peers and often form lifelong friendships. These are other benefits of earning an EdD in Leadership online.

Cultural Competence

Online EdD in Leadership programs attract accomplished professionals from many backgrounds, professions and locations. By engaging with people who have different perspectives, students grow their cultural competence—the ability to collaborate effectively with people of different cultures.

How to Improve Leadership Skills With Spalding

Spalding University offers an online EdD in Leadership program that helps working professionals improve their leadership skills, preparing them to create meaningful change. It’s designed for current and future leaders in business, social services, the arts and higher education.

Professionals enrolled in Spalding’s online EdD in Leadership program earn their doctoral degree from a mission-focused university. Spalding was the first university certified as a Compassionate College in the Charter for Compassion. Students grow their leadership skills as part of a community that emphasizes cultural understanding, diversity and the dignity of everyone.

The online EdD in Leadership program focuses on four themes to prepare students to be exemplary practitioners of ethical organizational leadership:

• Advanced leadership concepts in practice: Evolving one’s leadership approach through analyzing traditional and modern theories and personal development
• Global and cultural perspectives: Developing a sophisticated awareness and understanding of cultural differences in local, national and global contexts to evolve one’s leadership practices
• Organizational innovation and change: Using proven methods and systems thinking to facilitate innovation and influence organizational transformation
• Research-informed decision-making: Applying research-based best practices and methodologies to support impactful, data-driven decisions

Flexibility is another benefit of Spalding’s online EdD in Leadership program. Professionals can continue working while completing just eight online courses and a leadership capstone, one at a time. They graduate in two years, faster than in traditional EdD in Leadership programs. Plus, with three intakes per year, the program allows professionals to start whenever it’s convenient for them.

If you want to improve your leadership skills through an academic approach, you may consider enrolling in Spalding’s online EdD in Leadership program. Getting your EdD in Leadership from Spalding can help you inspire change in your workplace and community.

Spalding supports you wherever you are in your leadership journey. Connect with an enrollment adviser to get started.