5 Ways an Organizational Leadership Doctorate Can Support Your Career Progression
Schools, non-profit organizations and businesses need change agents with strong leadership skills to drive organizational efforts to the next level. Recent research has identified long-term shortages of effective leadership in education and industry. Experienced professionals with organizational leadership degrees address this shortage while advancing their careers.
If you are an aspiring leader with a master’s degree, a good next step for your career is an organizational leadership doctorate. A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) can set you apart as you pursue change within your community or organization. The skills obtained in a doctoral program focused on leadership and organizational innovation will add value to your career in adopting research-based skills to inspire others through innovative approaches, problem solving, and driving initiatives.
What Can I Learn in a Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership?
The Ed.D. is the highest level of education for those who want to understand research-based leadership best practices. Ed.D. programs may focus on educational leadership, innovation and organizational leadership. University members of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) follow guiding principles, including:
- Creating opportunities for collaboration and communication with diverse communities
- Seeking practical solutions for equity, ethics and social justice challenges
- Supporting field experiences for real-world analysis and problem-solving
The typical Ed.D. program requires at least four years of study, with streamlined online options available through some universities. Doctoral candidates learn leadership skills and how to best navigate organizational challenges from experienced faculty. A doctoral program in organizational leadership adds to the toolkits of future leaders by exploring topics like:
- Administering Social and Human Capital
- Models of Leadership and Coaching
- Program Evaluation and Decision-Making
Course projects are applied to real-world organizational challenges through the completion of a dissertation. For example, the CPED recommends a Dissertation in Practice (DiP) to apply theory to a “complex problem of practice.” Faculty mentoring and taught skills to conduct extensive scholarly research bring new organizational solutions to life.
How can an Ed.D. Help My Career?
Influential leaders demonstrate strong interpersonal and organizational skills in their daily work. A 2023 survey found that respondents viewed trustworthiness, honesty and strong work ethic as essential traits for today’s leaders. Graduates of organizational leadership programs know how to model these traits while deploying the following skills.
1. Knowledge of Leadership Models and Best Practices
Organizational and community leaders don’t use one leadership method throughout their careers. An effective leader deploys models based on their organization’s needs. Doctoral courses incorporating the study of differing leadership models helps you approach differing situations with a wholistic lens and solidify an effective path forward.
Leaders should also know the current best practices set by industry groups and professional associations. These standards provide the foundation for effective and efficient work in a classroom, board room, or council meeting. Graduates of organizational leadership programs know how to model best practices while achieving organizational goals.
2. Fostering Organizational Change
Organizational change involves significant shifts in areas like strategy, structure and culture. Employees, patrons and other stakeholders need clarity on the organization’s goals before full implementation. Poor communication, ineffective training and a lack of transparency can add stress to change.
A doctoral program in organizational leadership trains aspiring leaders to be transformative leaders. Graduates know how best to pursue the four I’s of transformative leadership - inspiration motivation, idealistic influence, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration. They can also place their organization’s change efforts in community and global contexts.
3. Managing Organizational Conflict and Crisis
There are abundant opportunities for conflict within and between organizations in every industry. Leaders face interpersonal conflicts within their teams based on differing styles and goals. Budget constraints, pressure from competing organizations and global economic changes may lead to crises in addition to internal differences.
Ed.D. graduates can identify, analyze and develop strategies to diffuse organizational strife as it emerges. Doctoral coursework explores best practices for crisis management and conflict resolution. With this knowledge, you can not only deal with current challenges but emerge with greater resilience against future conflicts.
4. Practicing Ethical Leadership
Ethical leadership creates a transparent and accountable organizational culture across all levels of an organization. Organizational leaders demonstrate attributes like respect and integrity through one-on-one, group and public interactions. The 2021 LRN Benchmark of Ethical Culture found that organizations with strong cultures outperform the competition in employee loyalty, innovation and adaptability. Strong organizational cultures are built on foundational elements like:
- Leadership modeling of ethical behavior
- Recognizing team member achievements
- Open and honest communication by employees and leaders
- Organization-wide accountability to high standards of conduct
Aspiring organizational leaders build the foundations for ethical leadership through Ed.D. programs. They learn about the value of diversity in the workplace and changing social demographics. Ed.D. graduates defuse toxic workplace cultures before they emerge and understand ethics through social justice frameworks.
5. Integrating New Technology into Existing Processes
Upgrading hardware, adopting cloud-based platforms and other innovations can be challenging for organizations. Without proper training from technology experts, employees, students and volunteers may see their daily workflows disrupted. New technology integration can be disruptive and expensive if it creates data vulnerabilities or lacks compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Organizational leadership programs prepare leaders for strategic planning and communication related to new technology. Ed.D. candidates understand the impacts and long-term benefits of innovation on all stakeholders. Marymount University’s Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Innovation is the best place to learn these lessons.
Strengthening Leadership Skills at Marymount University
The Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Innovation supports students in taking their next career steps. This 100% online program can be completed in less than three years of study. A 48-credit curriculum focuses on the leadership skills you need to affect change, including:
- Ethical Leadership & Social Justice
- Leading an Organization: Theory, Practice & Reflection
- Transformative Leadership: Leading Organizational Change
Online Ed.D. candidates complete DiPs as part of their studies. This innovative approach to dissertations applies academic research and leadership theories to real-world situations. Experienced faculty members guide students through the DIP process as Lead Doctoral Faculty Mentors (LDFMs).
A Marymount University degree is valuable in the job market thanks to its strong national reputation. U.S. News & World Report placed Marymount in its top National Universities rankings for 2024. Marymount is also a 2024-2025 College of Distinction for Business and Education.
An Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Innovation from Marymount University supports your efforts to inspire and carry out change within your organization or community. Connect with an enrollment advisor to get started.