Top Managers in the digital age: the contribution of eLearning

Leadership Requirements in a Modern Technology-Based World

What skills and thinking do leaders need today to lead a technology company to success? Smoothly guiding a business and its employees through the digital age requires both traditional soft and technical skills from the good old days and an understanding of technology trends. Effective leaders must quickly organize their teams and help them adapt to changing digital developments in their market sector. “Being a senior executive and a good leader in one means having exceptional organizational skills, the ability to channel employee talents in the appropriate direction, and a good understanding of technology and innovation,” says Liz Pharo, CEO and president of the divorce council.

Skills and competencies of a top manager

Keeping up to date with new technologies that a business uses in its daily tasks requires having skills in the following areas:

• Concepts and digital tools essential to the industry.
• Marketing strategies to engage customers online.
• Social platforms and networks for effective communication with the team and clients.
• Instruments for remote work and employee productivity tracking.
• Analyze data to respond to changes and develop effective strategies.

Top managers must also possess skills and abilities, such as:

• Team leadership, including task assignment and motivational support.
• Clear and concise communication.
• Problem solving and time management skills.
• Smart goal setting and quick choice making.
• Adaptability to new ideas and technologies, etc.

The challenges of leading a team in the digital age

Going and staying digital is a real challenge for a business trying to succeed in today’s highly competitive world. Neither old ways of managing processes nor employees alone are enough to adapt to the changes of the digital age. These days, top managers must be exceptional in:

• Have (or create) a digital vision
  They need to imagine (or plan) how their business will use technology in the future.
• Implement a people-centered approach
  Leaders need to ensure their staff have up-to-date and relevant skills to help them adapt to working with new technologies.

Both areas are equally important. It is not enough to only know the technical side of production or organize the work process without having a digital vision. “Having excellent interpersonal skills such as communication, empathy and problem-solving is essential for motivating team members and building relationships inside and outside the organization,” says Angelo Ciaramello, CEO and co-founder of The Funded Trader. Thus, top managers must think differently and help their employees understand and intelligently use cutting-edge tools to successfully create and promote the company’s services.

The role of eLearning and its advantages in training the best managers

The economic well-being of an organization depends on its ability to adapt to both internal and external changes, and the training of all staff members, including senior managers, is crucial to making the company more competitive . Rapid changes in the digital landscape are driving businesses to seek more innovative investments and faster results. This is why cost-effective ways to train employees, like eLearning, are in high demand.

Businesses can choose from various online learning tools to provide leaders with the capabilities required to guide their teams through the challenges of today’s business world. Typically, in small or medium-sized businesses, eLearning primarily involves purchasing pre-recorded online courses or self-paced educational programs from external providers. These can include platforms such as Coursera, EDX, Udemy, Harvard, and Stanford online courses. Large companies can use learning management systems (LMS) to create their own set of learning materials. A key advantage of this approach is customizing materials based on current business needs. Other undeniable benefits of using eLearning to improve leadership and technology skills of senior executives are:

1. Engaging visual content

One of the great advantages of eLearning is that you can interact with the content. This means that a person not only consumes a large portion of information through reading. Instead, they also participate in discussions and enjoy various materials, such as simulations, games and interactive quizzes. This approach makes learning fun and inspires participants to continue to acquire new knowledge, develop critical and analytical thinking, and practice their leadership skills.

2. Practical evaluation of results

Given the specifics of eLearning, evaluating results is essential to monitor progress and ensure that the chosen eLearning methods work well for leadership development. For example, if you use learning management systems (LMS), they track participants’ progress throughout the course using quiz scores, assignment submissions, and completed modules.

3. Flexible learning schedule

Online learning platforms allow future leaders to follow training materials whenever they can. This way, they don’t have to sacrifice essential meetings or valuable work hours. The eLearning approach, for example using online platforms, allows participants to access learning materials from almost any gadget and study when they have time. As a result, learners can benefit from a better work-life balance and freedom to adjust their personal schedules.

4. Profitability

Back when there was only face-to-face training, companies spent much more on training their staff than today. They had to pay for travel expenses when sending their employees to attend classes or rent a conference room if they invited coaches to train staff. These days, you only need a computer or smartphone to access online courses and educational resources. Electronic learning tools also come with a variety of pricing plans. Some are free, while others offer an annual subscription or a one-time payment for a portion of the hardware.

How eLearning helps train the best managers

eLearning provides future or experienced senior executives with accessible and adaptable training materials, enhances their skills and helps them stay informed of the latest developments in the industry. In particular, eLearning achieves the following objectives:

1. Help managers develop and improve their leadership skills

In his speech to Nordic Business Forum, Seth Godin, entrepreneur and bestselling business author, says, “Leadership is not something you are born with. We just decide to do it. » This means that a person can learn to be an effective leader even if they don’t have enough experience.

Some of the leadership skills that eLearning can help develop include critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, effective communication, and more. A well-selected course or learning material should offer many ways to practice and use these skills in real-world situations.

2. Address technical skills and knowledge gaps

Nowadays, having only transferable soft skills is no longer enough to successfully manage a business. On the contrary, the most influential leaders have solid knowledge of their sector.

Of course, leaders don’t need to be experts in their company’s fields. In fact, experts, scientists, and tech geniuses can rarely lead a team if they lack leadership skills. As Crystal Morrison, Ph.D., said in her Presentation of Ted Talks“Success in technology is not about technology. The key to success is positive, empowering leadership behaviors.” However, Dr Morrison adds that technical competence and credibility are crucial. So, learning all the missing information can make a person a better leader and manager. And filling the gaps is possible thanks to eLearning platforms and courses.

3. Provide access to real case studies

eLearning can provide access to real-world case studies by integrating practical examples into the learning material. Not all online courses have this feature, but the information is invaluable when they do. The case studies present real-world situations and challenges that companies and senior executives face in their work or industry.

Studying these real-world examples allows leaders to understand how specific theoretical concepts are applied in practice, what challenges and mistakes they may cause, and allows them to learn from the experiences of others. This case approach helps future effective leaders connect theory to real-world situations and better understand effective strategies.

4. Provide the latest information on business and technology

Training using online platforms or educational programs can provide the latest relevant information on specific industry concerns and trends, helping participants improve their knowledge and skills. These materials could include videos, webinars, online discussions and other interactive content covering recent business and technology developments.

To get the latest information, eLearning platforms, websites and institutions must have credibility and expertise in their chosen areas. Document release or update dates should also be close to the current date/month. Real-time events like webinars hosted by recognized experts are also a great way to stay informed.

Conclusion

Highly qualified and competent managers are the key to the success and rapid development of any business. Becoming a great leader takes time, and eLearning can help senior executives grasp essential leadership concepts faster and more effectively than traditional methods. Using online learning tools to study real-world examples, participate in interactive activities, and learn the latest industry news helps educate modern executives and help them propel their companies to the top.