One of the questions commonly brought up by aspiring entrepreneurs and business managers is whether a degree is a strict requirement for leadership. Answers can vary a lot depending on who’s asked, but the general consensus remains the same – a degree can introduce you to a lot of useful knowledge, and even if you never need the actual qualifications it provides, it can still open your eyes to some important truths about the industry you operate in. What degree you should pursue depends on your own aspirations and the line of work you’re in, but it’s important to realize that this can provide you with some benefits that are not immediately obvious.
Higher Education Can Add a Lot of Value
There’s a lot of value to be found in higher education in general. And when you focus specifically on degrees related to business management, things get even more interesting. You can learn various things that might one day play a huge role in your ability to manage your company. Sometimes this knowledge will help you recognize mistakes you’ve made in the past, or it could prevent you from making new ones later. This goes even for degrees not directly related to the business model of your company. Of course, you should value your time and think carefully about which specific degree you want to pursue, but still keep in mind that the final result is likely going to be a net positive in any case.
Technical vs Business Degree
One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is whether to focus on a “technical” degree related to the operations of your company, or one related to business management and leadership. Both are equally valid options, and some people even choose a combined approach. It’s all about what you feel is lacking in your skillset as a leader. An MSc management degree from Aston University can be a great option for most people. On the other hand, you might want to brush up on your operational skills, in which case you might want to pursue a degree related to what your company does. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you could start with a technical one and then move on to a management-related degree for your master’s.
The Importance of the Political Game
No degree is going to be a viable substitute for the ability to navigate the complex political landscape of any organization. This can be a difficult game and something that steers many people away from their aspirations for leadership in general. But it’s important to understand that no matter what you do and how hard you work, you’ll never make it far if you don’t make the right moves on the political front. And this can be more challenging than you might assume, especially if you’re still new to it. This is a skill like any other, but one that takes a particularly long time to hone if you’re starting from scratch.
One way you can leverage your degree in this context is to take advantage of any networking opportunities your university provides. This can be very useful years down the road, and you never know when it might turn out that you’ve made some powerful allies in the past without even realizing it.
How to Balance Studying and Work
A major obstacle to obtaining a degree in this situation is the time you have available. For many people, even balancing their work with their private lives is already hard enough, and when you add studying into the mix, things can go downhill very fast. It’s not impossible to handle that though, and if you’re dedicated to your success, it’s not even that hard. It’s mostly a matter of appropriate planning, identifying your priorities, and sticking to them. With time, you’ll get into the groove and you’ll be able to find the sweet spot much more easily.
Know How Long This Will Take
Having a plan can make the whole process much less stressful, especially with regard to the time pressure that you’re inevitably going to feel. Committing to earning a degree is a pretty big decision and one that will have implications on your life for years to come. Because of this, you should always know exactly what you plan to accomplish with this, and how long it should take you. It’s okay to deviate from your original plans, as long as you have a good reason for it. The main point is that you should have some clear expectations for what the next few years are going to bring.
Dealing with the Initial Frustration
On a related note, remember that this is going to be a frustrating process in the beginning, and you should be careful to avoid burning out right from the start. Managing your expectations about the situation is the best approach here. You should come into this with the full understanding that things are going to be difficult, and you shouldn’t get discouraged by the occasional failure. Just think about what the average student goes through without having to maintain a full-time job on top of it all! In the end, you’re taking on a bigger challenge than most people do in their careers, but it will be well worth it in the end. If you do everything right, you will definitely find yourself in a more beneficial position for running your business and maximizing its performance.
Persistence is key here. After overcoming the initial shock, it’s mostly a matter of maintaining a certain momentum and ensuring that you’re always on top of your game. And remember, just because you’re not like most other students doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of the resources available to them. Talk to professors and assistants, find out what options you have for improving your career further, and always remember that this is going to take a lot of effort on your part, whether you’ve prepared for this in advance or not.