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There’s never been a better time to become a better leader.
Thanks to the Internet, there are so many options available now to help you develop your leadership skills. For example, many universities today offer course materials for free online, enabling you to take classes from institutions like MIT without paying a cent in tuition.
But that’s not the only option available to you through online learning. Thanks to online degree programs offered from a growing number of extremely reputable institutions, you could earn an entire degree in business and leadership without ever setting foot on campus.
Not interested in a degree or already have one? Never fear – paid professional development services help you use online learning to stay relevant and brush up on your leadership skills.
Take Free Online Courses
Many universities these days are making course material available online, so anyone, anywhere in the world can benefit from it. Through its OpenCourseWare program, MIT makes course materials from more than 2,400 courses available online, including courses from its Sloan School of Management.
Whether you’re a business owner looking to pick up MBA-level skills on the cheap, or you’re interested in learning more about the expectations, learning style, and pacing of MBA courses before you invest time and money in taking the GMAT and sending out applications, these free online courses might be for you.
Of course, MIT isn’t the only school offering free college courses in leadership and other subjects. Open University, a UK school and leader in the distance learning field since 1969, offers a number of free college courses in leadership and management to help you brush up on your skills.
EdX offers online courses from universities like Harvard, Berkeley, Columbia, and more. Many classes are free to take, but you can pay for the privilege of earning actual credit from the school in question.
Enroll in an Online Degree Program
Taking an online course here and there is great if you don’t need a degree or just want to keep your skills relevant, but maybe you’ve always wanted to earn a college diploma and never got the chance. These days, it’s easier than ever to earn a degree from a reputable school by taking courses online.
For example, online colleges in Ohio like Kent State offer fully-online bachelor’s and graduate degrees, as well as graduate certificate programs. Plenty of other schools also offer degrees online, such as Penn State and Harvard.
Going to school online offers plenty of advantages for the non-traditional student. You can continue to work full-time or run your business while you earn your degree. You don’t have to move or commute to classes, and you can grapple with the course material on your own schedule.
You can still qualify for financial aid at many schools, and you might even be able to get your employer to pay your tuition. If you want to get a degree but have a job, a family, a business, or other responsibilities, an online degree might be the way to go.
Sign Up for a Professional Development Service
Let’s say you’ve already earned your degree and just want a way to brush up on your leadership and other professional skills. Maybe you should sign up for a paid professional development service like Lynda or a free service like Alison.
Lynda offers users access to thousands of online courses in business, technology, and creative topics. Alison offers more than 1,000 courses in business management, leadership, and other topics, like care giving or teaching English as a second language.
Many employers also offer access to Lynda as a perk of employment, so that employees can use the service to stay relevant, keep skills current, and learn new skills.
These days, online learning can provide all the tools you need to build leadership skills and keep them current. Whether you’re looking to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree, seeking an outlet for professional development, or just looking to supplement your training with a few carefully-chosen college courses, online learning portals like MIT OpenCourseWare, Lynda, EdX, and Open University have something to offer you. There’s no reason to put off developing your skills any longer. Become a better leader today.