Loading

Cross-Functional Learning

 

Our well-rounded business content is designed for Leaders & Managers to implement change with ease & improve accountability amongst their teams. Here you'll find Articles from thought leaders in their fields, have access to practical Business Templates, learn new skills & expand on skills you already have. Stay informed & proactive...Join Us Today!

Join Now

How to use your MBA to get promoted.

By Lisa Woods (733 words)
Posted in New Employee, Promotion on August 15, 2012

There are (1) comments permalink

Add to My Toolkit

Like most things in life, actions tend to speak louder than words.  So is the action you take to complete your MBA worthy of a promotion?  Or are those three little letters you worked so hard to obtain just words you have on your resume?  It is up to you to take action in your career.  Earning your MBA, or any other degree, is the first step, but the real test is what you do with your new knowledge after you add it to your resume.

 

A Masters in Business Administration trains you on all aspects of business: Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Strategic Planning, Leadership, etc.…  It gives you a condensed tutorial on each aspect of the business, what to expect, and how to speak the language.  It also provides training on how to integrate departmental silos into one cohesive activity.

 

Making this knowledge real by using the language, maneuvering through departmental silos and driving cross-functional activities toward results is the real test.  Have you used your MBA to implement change in your organization?  Do you work more effectively now that you have the tools to do so?  If you answer yes to these questions, then your actions will probably get you promoted.  Your MBA should inspire actions and results that you would not have achieved without it.  That is the true benefit of getting your MBA, or any other degree for that matter.

 

  • Use your new knowledge as a communication tool to help others, not just tell them what to do.
  • When you seek your next promotion, focus on your actions, not your words.
  • When you interview candidates with MBA credentials, ask for examples of their actions; don’t take credentials at face value.
  • When you manage others, teach them a cross-functional approach by following your lead, not your status.
Tell us what you think.  What is the value of an MBA?  Do you think you should get promoted once you complete your MBA?  What about people that get their MBA right after their undergraduate degree and before their first job…does an MBA make them qualified for a management job?  What do you think employers look for when hiring or promoting candidates?  

 

{#/pub/images/lisa5.jpg}

Written by Lisa WoodsPresident & CEO ManagingAmericans.com

Lisa is a successful entrepreneur, world-class marketing strategist, dynamic business leader & author with more than 20 years experience leading, managing and driving growth in the corporate world. Today she provides Management Tools, Do-It-Yourself Training, and Business Assessments for small to mid size companies, Lisa utilizes her experience with integration techniques, organizational and cultural overhauls, financial turnarounds and strategic revitalization to help other companies succeed.  Closing the gap between strategy and hierarchy through the use of effective communication skills, Lisa's techniques successfully develop employees into exceptional leaders, results driven managers and passionate team contributors that collectively exceed objectives.

 

Do you have a question for Lisa?  Post it in our Executive Leadership Community, she will be happy to help: Ask an Expert

 

Did you find this story informative?  We would like the opportunity to keep you up to date on all of our training articles.  Please register for our newsletter so we can do just that.  


Here are some additional training articles you may be interested in: 

4 Essential Skills for Leaders, Managers & High Potentials

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: How to Develop Yourself & Your Team 

Lessons Learned Templates & Guide: A Managers Toolkit for Continuous Improvement

Work Efficiency Equation For Managers And High Performers

Overcoming Disconnect Between Middle & Upper Management

  

At ManagingAmericans.com we encourage members to go in and out of our communities to learn about different areas of business; how to work together, solve problems and improve skills.  Each community details expectations, challenges, success tips, training programs and useful resources. Growing your knowledge base and learning about all areas of business can help you navigate towards success in your career.

 

 

Comments (1)

DANIEL QUIAMBAO posted on: August 15, 2012

An MBA puts you in the position to get what you need. More than any other factor, an MBA is about moving up. Examples are: from engineering positions into top management. An MBA internship opportunity helped a former elementary school administrator get hired by a major consumer products company in marketing, One was working at the hospital and was promoted from ER manager to ambulatory care director. The MBA gave someone a credibility, and make more money.

Leave a comment

Not a robot?

>