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By University HQ Staff Writers
Edited by Evelyn Keener
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University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs for Organizational Leadership in Tennessee.

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What is Organizational Leadership?

Today's modern business climate is increasingly demanding. Companies and brands are facing a growing need to find new ways to compete in the marketplace. They are therefore seeking new answers from leadership. After all, every company relies on a visionary leader who can steer them through rough seas and then maximize profits when skies are sunny.

Even those who are already department heads may benefit from training in organizational leadership. For instance, human resources professionals may benefit from being able to address bigger picture issues when it comes to hiring and training. They can also assert leadership when it comes to creating compensation packages.

Organizational leadership is a field that continues to grow as businesses seek new innovative ways to expand and develop. Part of this is an effort to balance the micro-management strategy that so many employ with an approach that is more holistic and visionary. The result is organizations that can tackle today's challenges while keeping an eye on long-term survival and success.

An organizational leader is a business professional who can formulate and promote a vision for their firm. They see the bigger picture for their industry and the wider economy, which is used to lead their firm in a fruitful, profitable direction. They are also seeking to implement their vision across their entire organization, not merely one department or product line.

Organizational leaders thus need to have a granular understanding of their organization's strengths and weaknesses. They need to be able to tailor their vision to those capabilities. This often means the ability to set shorter term goals for their company so that the bigger vision can be realized in due time. Unlike popular models of the past where leaders were primarily concerned with quarterly revenues and stock prices, organizational leaders look to build sustainable business models that will last for years, if not decades.

Organizational leaders tend to be experienced business professionals who have a deep understanding of their firm and its industry. Many have advanced degrees in business administration and academic knowledge of economics. Those who have a strong grasp of business and economic fundamentals often choose leadership for their MBA concentration, though there are no specific routes to success as an organizational leader.

Organizational leaders spend their time studying their company, its industry, and the broader economy. They need to keep their finger on the pulse of politics and legislative actions that may impact their business in the near and long term. This may be more important for some industries, such as healthcare, but these matters impact each industry in very significant ways.

Organizational leaders in for-profit businesses might be compare to their colleagues in the non-profit sector. Non-profit organizations are more concerned about their overall mission and how financial infusions can help them reach their goals. While organizational leaders in profit generating businesses certainly need to watch their finances, they are also more focused on the bigger mission and trajectory of their company.

Organizational leaders may seek positions in the C-suites of exciting corporations. Indeed, many CEOs operate in the vein of organizational leaders. Some are larger than life leaders that are known to seek counsel with leaders in both politics and business. However, they might also work outside of those firms and choose a career in consulting. They might also find work in think-tank organizations where they can essentially create templates that firms may use to succeed.

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Online Organizational Leadership Education in Tennessee

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Associate Degree in Leadership (AS)

Starting a career with an associate degree in organizational leadership is a great way to begin. The associate level may be a great way to land an entry-level position, perhaps as the assistant to an organizational leader, such as a CEO or other business leader. They will surely appreciate having an assistant who understands the fundamentals of organizational leadership. The degree itself will introduce students to the fundamentals of leadership on top of the required core college curriculum.

In fact, students with an associate's from a community college will have completed the general education core requirements of a bachelor’s degree, but at a lower cost than those who attended a four-year college or university. This makes an associate's from a Tennessee community college a terrific value. Students who then transfer their credits to a university or four-year college can focus solely on their organizational leadership courses for the remaining two years.

National rankings - top 10 online associates in organizational leadership

Bachelor's Degree in Leadership (BS)

A bachelor’s with an organizational leadership concentration is perhaps the fastest route to success in business. You may be able to find these degrees on-campus or fully online. Students with a degree in organizational leadership may be able to start their careers as management trainees or perhaps even in consulting firms. Their bachelor’s work will have provided ample time for students to develop a philosophy of business that can be cultivated through hands-on experience with workers, products, and the departments that give each a home.

Furthermore, a bachelor’s degree with an organizational leadership concentration allows students ample time to expand their learning to include other, relevant topics. After completing their general education, they will likely take core courses in subjects such as organizational behavior and organizational development, business communication and corporate etiquette, professional studies, and more that will help you learn problem solving and other soft skills along with a foundation of technical knowledge. Aspiring organizational leaders may want to consider a minor concentration in topics such as economics, sociology, or mathematics. These days, additional work in data science or computer science will only help students advance in the business community. Along the way, leadership students should seek any leadership opportunities on their campus. Even leading a small club or team will be useful experience.

National rankings - top 10 online bachelors in organizational leadership Hardest majors

Master's Degree in Leadership (MS)

A master’s degree in organizational leadership is where careers take flight. Students may opt for an MS in leadership or they might find an MBA program that offers an organizational leadership concentration. MS programs can be found as online programs or in a traditional on-campus format. These programs allow students to focus their leadership studies in the areas where they already have expertise. Thus, a master’s leadership program may allow concentrations in areas such as human resources, conflict resolution, strategic planning, or change management, to name a few options. All of these can help you learn focused leadership skills to build on a business or organizational leadership bachelor degree.

There are also dual-MBA programs available where students can earn their MS in management or leadership alongside an MBA. This is an intensive approach that typically disallows a concurrent job but can lead to future career opportunities. However, those who can take three years away from work will reap very large benefits when recruiters see two dynamite master’s degrees.

National rankings - top 10 online masters in organizational leadership

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PhD Degree in Leadership (PhD)

A PhD in organizational leadership is a degree that can take a career to new heights. Since the field of leadership is inherently a big-picture, multi-disciplinary pursuit, it's fitting that some choose to pursue their studies to the doctoral level. These degrees often end with a culminating special project called a dissertation. Professionals who earn their PhD in leadership find that their job prospects and pay level improve as they learn to deal better with cultural diversity and large organizations. They may find C-level positions with top firms or they may reenter the business community as consultants. There may also be research positions available for organizational leaders in think tanks dedicated to business and economics.

Naturally, many also use their PhD to land positions with Tennessee colleges and universities. They might choose to teach at the graduate or undergraduate level. They might also land positions as research faculty members. Research faculty receive grants from businesses or other parties who need insights into their industries, or the economy in general. They can retain their position in academia and continue to pursue the research that they care about.

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Organizational Leadership Certifications (OC)

One popular choice for business leaders is an organizational leadership certification. These credentials can inform their careers and help to enhance their work as leaders. This is a popular option since certificate programs take less time than a full degree and can often mean as much, depending on one's experience and academic achievements. In fact, some academic organizational leadership certificate programs only require three college courses, though many do require at least some prior college credits from business courses.

Many organizational leadership certificate programs are available online from highly reputable universities. Students can enroll with no specific academic background, which makes this a terrific opportunity for so many in the Tennessee business community. Further, those organizational leadership certificates that come from universities don't require renewals over time. However, they will continue to look terrific on a resume forever.

Become a Leadership Professional in Tennessee

  • Step 1:
    The first step toward becoming an organizational leader in Tennessee is to find the best business program. Those who are eager to work as organizational leaders should seek a curriculum that supports those goals. Furthermore, students should only consider accredited programs. The minimum standard for post-secondary programs is regional accreditation from a CHEA-approved agency. The next level for accreditation comes from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE.
  • Step 2:
    Once a student is enrolled in a fully accredited bachelor’s in organizational leadership, or some equivalent, the next step is an internship. Internships are a terrific opportunity to learn more about what it takes to be a business leader on a day-to-day basis. Interns are often paired with mentors who can give the sort of advice and direction that is simply not possible in a classroom. Mentors can also become lifelong colleagues in the world of business leadership.
  • Step 3:
    Bachelor's degree students are encouraged to seek a secondary concentration or minor degree. Organizational leadership students in Tennessee might consider a secondary focus in fields such as economics, sociology, finance, or even mathematics. Since most will find themselves enrolled in a Tennessee college of business, they may want to look into management or other courses that will help to inform their later careers. Yet another suggestion for undergraduate students is to seek leadership positions within their student body. Student government, sports leadership, or club leadership positions can look very good on a resume while imparting invaluable experiences.
  • Step 4:
    To go as far as a career can go, students should look for a master’s organizational leadership program. This can mean an MS in Organizational Leadership or an MBA that features organizational leadership as a concentration. The MBA option might be more popular in the business community, but students are urged to evaluate each option and make their best decision. However, a third option does exist: a dual MBA program. These are very intensive, three-year programs that combine earning an MS with an MBA. Students in an MS in organizational leadership degree program might choose another concentration for their MBA to continue the spirit of interdisciplinary excellence.

What Can I Do with a Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership?

A bachelor’s in organizational leadership is a great way to launch a career in business. Students with this degree are more likely to seek a career in management, though other options are out there. In fact, leadership is such a useful skill that it can be applied to careers in sales, consulting, human resources, and non-profit development, to name a few. Recruiters are sure to take special note of candidates who have dedicated their undergraduate studies to leadership, a specialty that every business needs.

Careers for Leadership Graduates

Training and Development Manager

These business professionals seek to enhance their colleagues' skills with training sessions directed toward their area(s) of expertise. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual salary for this career of $120,000.

Chief Executive Officer

CEOs are the top of every organization. They are leaders who guide the trajectory of their firm. Typically, CEOs have an MBA and many years of experience, though the title may be self-applied by any entrepreneur who heads a corporation. The median annual salary for a CEO in the United States is nearly $195,000.

Community Organizer

These leaders create and coordinate projects and programs for their community. Their goal is to improve the overall well-being of their community. They are most often employed by local governments, non-profit organizations, and for-profit social service concerns. Their median annual salary is $75,000, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Industrial Production Manager

Manufacturing concerns rely on their industrial production managers to keep their production processes intact. Depending on the firm, production managers may need to have a good working knowledge of the machinery involved. They may also need an understanding of the software that runs those machines. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that these professionals earn a median salary of nearly $110,000 per year.

Administrative Services Manager

Every organization needs an administrative services manager to ensure that the company runs smoothly and efficiently. Most of these professionals boast an undergraduate degree and many years of business experience. Their hard work and expertise yields them a median annual salary of $102,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sales Manager

Sales managers are business leaders who keep their sales teams humming at top productivity. Most often, sales managers have many years of success as sales personnel themselves and thus know how to lead and inspire their fellows. Most have a bachelor’s degree, but experience and a proven track record often matter more for this position. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an annual median wage of $130,000 for this profession.

General and Operations Manager

General and operations managers oversee the tasks needed to keep their company running to top efficiency. They often rise to this position after success as department heads. They may also have an MBA in management or operations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that these professionals earn an average salary of $123,000 per year.

Chief Operating Officer

This is a C-suite position that often comes after many years of experience in a firm. COOs usually hold a Master of Business Administration degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, their median salary is just under $100,000, but they may receive generous bonuses according to their success.

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