Building Leadership Skills Through Online Learning

Along with the acceleration of globalization and digital transformation, online learning appears as a new learning system that offers flexibility, because whenever and wherever you are, you can follow the learning process.

However, not only because it is more flexible and affordable, compared to face-to-face learning, online learning also has quality and unique learning content and structure, so it is not surprising that online learning is currently the most popular learning system by many people.

When compared to face-to-face classes which have limited participants, internet-based online learning will allow participants to interact and create communities with other participants from various countries, cultures, and languages.

Without these geographic boundaries, online learning offers diversity, and the opportunity to interact with a global community. This can form global leadership skills that are very important for professionals.

However, what makes online learning able to encourage students to develop global leadership skills? Here's the discussion.

1. Greater Networking Opportunities

In any industry, networking is an important skill, because it allows professionals to find business opportunities, careers, get new information and ideas on developments in all industries, including the industry you are in.

Compared to face-to-face learning programs, such as on campus, training, and companies, online learning is not limited by geography, so the diversity of this community will be higher.

Such diversity will allow you to network with professionals from different countries with the same field of interest. While interactions in online learning will not only be in the classroom, allowing you to build relationships outside of learning.

Networking built within these communities can support business decision making, career advancement, and build individuals to emerge as leaders within a wider global organization or industry.

2. Expanding Perspective

The world economic forum argues that broadening perspectives is beneficial for business leaders because it can "activate the networks in the brain associated with creative thinking and processes."

For online learning participants, their networking will be broad, so the ability to accept different backgrounds and perspectives will be more likely.

The diversity that arises from online learning allows you to broaden your perspective for both personal and professional interests. At first these differences may seem difficult and make you feel uncomfortable, but over time these differences will be overcome and can be a valuable self-development process. .

A broad perspective exposed to a variety of contexts will make business decisions informative, and can identify new opportunities, enabling you to grow as a leader.

3. Facilitating the Development of Cultural Competence

The third benefit of online learning is increasing cultural competence, namely the ability to communicate and interact with people across borders. This includes perspective, understanding, respect, and skills in overcoming language and cultural differences.

In learning activities there will be a process of exposure, discussion, and problem solving. Meanwhile, online learning that is carried out routinely and interactively will force students to communicate and work together with colleagues in various contexts and discussions, so that later character building and relationship building will occur.

Such a process will create an environment in which cultural competence can develop naturally. In the end, cultural competence is expected to be able to support the development of global leadership by strengthening self-awareness, curiosity, empathy, and communication skills.

The company's demand for a leader who has extensive networking, can identify opportunities, and can work across cultures will continue to increase. Online learning that is uniquely packaged, flexible, and affordable plays an important role in preparing the workforce.