The reasons for different people to pursue MBA could be different. Few of them would be aiming at a career change while others would aim for job roles at higher levels in the same fields they have worked in. No matter what ultimate goal of the MBA program for individuals is, they would all want to pick up a few crucial skills during the course of the degree which will shape up their professional persona.
Most B-schools have developed their Management programs in a way where students not only learn within the premises of the class but also out of the classroom. MBA is one degree which gives a wholesome enriching experience where learning is not confined to classroom education.
Hence, while at it, students need to make sure they are developing the right set of skills. We have put together a list of the top five skills that every MBA grad should aim to pick up during the tenure of his/her Management education.
Interpersonal Skills:
People management or interpersonal skills are very crucial for any leader. No matter how sound you are with the analytics and technical decision-making skills, if you lack interpersonal skills then it would be very difficult for you to grow as a leader. Hence, learning how to communicate with people at different levels of organizational hierarchy in diversified and challenges situations is a vital skill that you need to be developing if you want to grow as a leader in future.
An MBA program will provide you with ample opportunities to hone your interpersonal skills through team building exercises, discussions, summer and winter internships.
Risk Management:
In the current business scenario, especially after the financial crisis the world has faced in the past decade, risk management has an integral and important business function in most organizations. Risk management is expected from every level of the organization.
Hence, as aspiring business leaders, MBA grads need to focus on learning to analyze scenarios through a risk management perspective and make decisions accordingly. The importance of risk management is only growing the ever-evolving business world.
Strategic analysis and decision making:
One of the most important functions of a leader would be to take well-informed and analyzed decisions. With the growing importance of strategic decision making and analytics in the business world, aspiring business leaders can seldom ignore strategic analysis and research skills which will empower them to make the right business decisions in the future.
Many B-schools have increased their emphasis on this subject and even introduced specializations and courses centered only on strategic analysis and decision making. However, most of us ignore that apart from a subject that can be taught, strategic analysis is actually a skill that needs to be acquired. Hence, if you are an MBA student, you might want to try and improve your skills in strategic analysis.
Networking:
A major add-on of an MBA program of a top B-school would be the network one would create during the course of the program. A well-connected professional can be an asset for many companies more so in specific fields like marketing where one needs to have a strong network.
MBA degree will give many opportunities to create a high-grade network which would primarily consist of your classmates who are going to future managers and business leader in various sectors and business functions and then your facilitators and lecturers. The summer and winter internship programs also are a great place to create a great network.
Time Management skills:
Anyone who has been through the rigorous process of a top-level MBA program can vouch for the need for excellent time management skills to survive through the program. This skill set is extremely important in future while managing projects in tight time frames.
Most of the MBA programs are designed in a way that they demand and hone optimal levels of time management skills from its students. This is one skill that is not only going to come handy in your professional life but also in your everyday personal life.
Though you will attain many skills during the tenure of your MBA program, you should definitely have a special focus on the developing above five skills.