#senior management programme

[iimudaipuronline]

Senior Management Program – Transforming Leaders for Tomorrow

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, leadership requires more than experience—it demands strategic insight, adaptability, and a deep understanding of global business dynamics. Mid-to-senior level professionals often find themselves at a crossroads where technical expertise alone is not enough to step into executive roles.

Structured education tailored for senior management equips professionals with the tools and perspectives necessary to navigate complex business challenges. Institutes like IIM Udaipur now offer programs that provide transformative learning experiences, preparing leaders to drive organisational growth and innovation.

The Senior Management Program IIM is specifically designed to empower professionals with the strategic mindset, leadership skills, and business acumen required to succeed at the highest levels.

What is a Senior Management Programme?

A senior management program is a specialised form of executive education that targets experienced professionals seeking to transition into leadership positions. Key aspects include:

Strategic Focus: Emphasises strategic decision-making, global business trends, and organisational vision.

Experienced Learner Profile: Designed for individuals with significant professional experience aiming for leadership roles.

Skill Development: Cultivates abilities in people management, change leadership, and high-impact decision-making.

Such a senior management programme is ideal for professionals who want to evolve from operational roles into strategic leaders capable of influencing organisational direction.

Key Features of the Program

The program blends academic rigour with practical application, ensuring professionals gain insights that can be immediately applied in their workplaces. Key features include:

Curriculum Highlights: Business strategy, digital transformation, financial decision-making, leadership communication, and change management.

Practical Learning: Real-world case studies, live projects, and collaborative peer learning enrich the experience.

Expert Guidance: Mentorship and insights from seasoned faculty provide valuable industry perspectives.

Networking Opportunities: Engage with a cohort of experienced professionals across industries, fostering collaborative learning and strategic connections.

This structured approach ensures participants acquire both knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in executive roles.

Building Leadership Skills

The primary goal of senior management education is to prepare professionals for complex leadership challenges. The program fosters:

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Exposure to real-world business challenges encourages analytical thinking and effective decision-making.

Soft Skills Development: Negotiation, conflict resolution, and team management are enhanced through interactive workshops.

Strategic Vision: Participants learn to anticipate market shifts, understand organisational dynamics, and drive business innovation.

Decision-Making Under Pressure: Simulated scenarios and case studies develop the confidence to make impactful executive decisions.

The senior leadership program ensures that professionals are not only prepared for managerial responsibilities but also equipped to lead organisations through transformative change.

Career Growth After the Program

Graduates of senior management programs are well-positioned to take on executive responsibilities and influence organisational strategy. Career outcomes include:

Leadership Roles: Senior Manager, Business Unit Head, Strategy Lead, COO, CXO-level opportunities.

Industry Scope: IT, consulting, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and startups.

Boardroom Readiness: Professionals gain the skills and confidence required to engage in strategic discussions at the highest organisational levels.

Entrepreneurial Advantage: Ability to identify market opportunities, manage growth strategies, and lead innovative projects.

Completion of this program accelerates career progression, equipping leaders to make a significant impact on business outcomes and organisational success.

Conclusion

In an era where effective leadership is key to organisational success, senior management education provides the competitive edge professionals need. Programs like the Senior Management Program IIM offer a structured pathway to enhance strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and business acumen.

Enrolling in a senior management programme enables experienced professionals to transition from operational roles to visionary leaders who can influence organisational growth, drive innovation, and navigate the complexities of modern business with confidence.

Structured learning, expert mentorship, and peer collaboration combine to transform seasoned professionals into leaders ready to take on tomorrow’s challenges.

[shivam1605]

What is Senior Management? Definition, Roles, and Importance in Organisations

The senior management is the focal point of all businesses, charting direction and creating long-term viability. They are the top management executives who manage departments, establish objectives, and drive the business to its vision and mission. They are commonly also called the "C-suite," and some of their common titles include Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and executive leaders.

It is the top managers who make decisions that impact the organisation as a whole. It is not just their job to operate things; they also must create company culture, put together different departments, and establish connections with the stakeholders. They comprise investors, board of directors members, and significant customers.

Senior management influence is highest via opportunities for change, i.e., acquisition, merger, recession, or expansion of the market. Strong top-level leadership can generate innovation, drive performance, and establish a brand image, while poor leadership can generate stagnation and disengagement of employees.

Major roles and responsibilities of senior management are:

Formulating organisational vision and direction

Making major corporate decisions

Managing relationships with core stakeholders

Driving total performance and development

Driving organisational change and innovation

Main Duties and Functions of the Senior Management

Senior management is not an individual but a group of functions that support each other to ensure corporate success. Various duties are performed by each of the senior management executives as they work in collaboration with each other in a bid to improve business success.

The CEO is usually the face of the firm. Therefore, he or she will provide strategic leadership and be the organisational face to the public, the investors, and the Board. The CFO is charged with budgeting, risk, and financial planning. The COO is in charge of day-to-day operations, and the COO ensures the process for conducting business is on strategy. Senior roles also comprise the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), all of whom have specialised knowledge.

In addition to these, senior management also takes care of long-term planning, crisis management, talent building, and regulatory compliance. They also lead digital transformation and ESG to make the business competitive as well as socially accountable.

One of the distinguishing features of senior management is to forego short-term operating decisions for long-term vision. Senior management leadership defines the company's performance measures, ethics, and values.

Some of the common functions of senior management include:

Strategy planning and execution

Leading corporate governance

Building revenue growth and profitability

Formulating internal policy and accountability systems

Enabling innovation and digitalisation

Strategic contribution of Senior Management towards organisational development

The strategic choices made by senior management can influence how a business will grow. They look at competitive strategies, marketplace situations, and/or technological influences in order to form strategies with the ability to sustain future success. Their ability to de-mystify information and make educated guesses will significantly influence business models.

During times of turmoil or uncertainty, though, it is the top management that serves as the anchor, providing stability. In venturing into a new marketplace, launching a new product line, or going digital, outcomes are driven by the vision and appetite for risk of top managers.

Furthermore, senior managers are leaders through their actions. The management style of senior managers, the decision-making processes that led them to specific conclusions, and their leadership practice influence the culture of the organisation and drive the employees. When a senior manager leads with clarity and vision, employees are inspired to trust, are encouraged to innovate, and are promoted to retain talent.

They have a responsibility to the board of directors as well as the shareholders. They thereby need to keep external pressures and internal operations in proper balance. Success with restructurings, mergers, acquisitions, globalisation, and partnerships depends on senior management's capability.

Their strategy contribution is:

Translating and reacting to market forces

Triggering mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships

Discovering digital transformation and automation

Developing organisational flexibility and resilience

Aligning departments to shared goals

Skills Needed to Thrive as Senior Management

To reach the top of management takes technical skill, leadership abilities, and strategy. They should have the ability to think, make decisions quickly, and communicate on a number of levels within a company. Compared to middle management, their choices have lasting impacts and are likely to have irreversible consequences.

Strategic thinking is the building block on which the role is founded at its very essence. Business economics, world trends, and disruptive thinking about technology are what they need. Ability in people management is also equally important, given that managing multicultural groups and building next-generation leaders is part of the role.

Financial literacy is essential. Be it investments, budgets, or merely interpreting numbers, senior managers are usually the financial custodians of the unit or organisation. Sound decisions also depend on analytical thinking and problem-solving.

Soft skills, such as conflict management, emotional intelligence, or public speaking, are equally as important. Senior managers are the face of the firm outside, in boardrooms, and with the media, all situations that require a high level of professionalism and articulateness.

Skills required:

Financial analysis and budgetary control

Strategic thinking and long-term planning

Leadership and team building

Communication and negotiation

Flexibility and risk management

How to Make a Transition to Senior Management

Arriving at a high-level management role requires not only experience but also planning. High-level managers typically take years learning and gaining skills and knowledge elsewhere, slowly accumulating responsibility and authority. Technical skills will get you nowhere, however.

Cross-functional skills are necessary. Exposure to other departments—finance, marketing, operations, and HR, for instance—is a perfect method of preparing professionals for the whole demands of high-level roles. Certifications or an executive MBA can also accelerate development by exposing them to the most current tools and a large network.

Mentorship is also vital. Learning from existing senior leaders directly offers exposure to leadership style, decision-making style, and organisational politics. Actively participating in organisational initiatives, volunteering for leadership opportunities on committees or task forces, and freely sharing new ideas, all re-emerge. 

Visibility and corporate reputation are likely to propel promotions before tenure. Thus, consistent performance, positive attitude, and team leadership become the key success factors.

Steps to advance

Gaining diversified experience and a skills portfolio

Assuming leadership positions in projects or departments

Internal and external networking in the organisation

Applying for executive education programs

One of the strategic ways to fast-track your leadership journey is via an executive program designed for senior-level managers. IIM Lucknow's Senior Management Programme, in association with Imarticus Learning, equips mid to senior-level managers to be leaders in today's dynamic business world. It encompasses the latest leadership approaches, cross-functional decision-making, and business transformation, against the performance standards of world-class executives.

FAQs – What is Senior Management

What are the senior management job titles?

Senior management generally consists of the CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CTO, and other department heads.

How is senior management distinguished from middle management?

Senior management establishes company vision and strategy, while middle management executes it at the departmental level.

Do you require an MBA to be a senior manager?

Not invariably a requirement, but an MBA or similar management training can go a considerable distance in reaching senior management roles.

Which industries require strong senior management?

Finance, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing industries can all gain from strong senior management.

In what ways do senior managers contribute to the success of a business?

They affect the strategic direction, company culture, financial performance, and ability to innovate.

Conclusion

It is significant to know what senior management is and also to value what senior management does strategically, especially for those who have the desire to climb up the corporate ladder. Senior managers will make things valuable, maximise customer experience, drive innovation, and set the company culture. Regardless of whether your role is entry-level or in middle management, learning the skills and vision will enable you to discover a path to senior leadership.

If you are thinking of taking that leap into the C-suite, you may want to look at the Senior Management Programme by IIM Lucknow. The Senior Management Programme enables individuals to transition from their functional role to strategic leadership, combining academic learning with an international context.

[sanakhan7]

6 Executive Management Skills To Thrive In A Changing Economy

Life is all about learning how to deal with changes – both in one’s personal and professional life. However, the ability to smoothly manage change does not come naturally to everyone. One needs to develop such management skills through continuous learning and practical experience. This is especially true in the sense of organizational changes. As part of this process, managers should learn to deal with new technologies, people from varying backgrounds, economic policy changes, and a diverse set of goals. A great way for aspiring professionals to quickly acquire these management skills is through executive management programmes for upskilling, such as the IIM K EPGP.

Organizational growth in changing Economies Nowadays, change management comprises a major part of managerial responsibilities. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill for more than two years. Entire supply chains and economies, built over several decades, were disrupted within days of the pandemic’s onset. Managers must navigate such frequent organizational challenges to meet their business objectives in this evolving economic climate.

Managers can reduce their operational burden by encouraging their teams to learn how to cope with changes. Opting for education and training programmes is an effective way of doing so. They can work with change management consultants to take advantage of their research and knowledge about change management initiatives. Professionals may also take up courses like IIM Kozhikode’s senior management programme that helps budding leaders acquire key skills for business success.

Management challenges brought by Economic shifts Changing economic scenarios are influencing the way companies are doing business and posing a host of challenges to managers. Workforce diversity, globalization, empowering teams, tech-driven innovations, total quality management, and downsizing – today’s managers are grappling with all these challenges. Constant change has become the new normal across businesses today. This calls for managers to widen their skill base. To meet this urgent need for organisations, IIM Kozhikode’s executive general management programme is built to assist participants in learning these skills.

6 Effective Skills for Executive Managers to thrive in growing Economies The essential skills that executive managers must possess for sailing through economic challenges are described below.

1)    Leadership Skills A competent leader understands and encourages the workforce. Moreover, they are equipped to take on new challenges and make the right decisions even during uncertain times. However, becoming an effective leader comes with practice and a lot of time. A short-term leadership-centric course is another way of developing leadership skills that can help managers and their teams traverse through rough economic conditions.

2)    Communication and Presentation Skills A senior manager should be able to effectively communicate with people irrespective of their designation in the company. Additionally, a leader needs to influence and persuade employees to work towards attaining the company-linked goals. Presentation skills are also necessary for budding managers to share their thoughts and ideas with the relevant stakeholders. To hone such skills, one should observe and learn from other leaders within or outside their organisation.

3)    Change Management Skills Change management is a key skill that all managers must possess. This will help them identify opportunities and capitalize on them early to help grow their organisation’s business. Today’s ever-changing economic patterns also require managers to hone their change management skills more than ever before. Enrolling in a well-structured senior management programme is a good way for business professionals to sharpen their change management skills.

4)  Subject Matter Expertise Managers are required to be well-versed with all aspects of a business. They must know how much each organizational department is affecting company decisions. Moreover, they must take stock of their skills and knowledge and check for any skill gaps that are keeping them from reaching their career goals. Focused education programmes like the IIM executive courses can help enrich participants’ knowledge of business practices without disturbing their careers.

5)    Strategic Thinking & Foresight To be a successful leader, one must be able to develop strategic, progressive plans that can drive business growth for the organisation. In addition, managers must be able to take decisions after considering all aspects of the business, not only those areas with which they are familiar. In other words, managers must understand their industry and the business as a whole. Only then will they be able to implement change initiatives for taking their business to new heights.

6)    Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence or emotional quotient (EQ) is the ability to manage the emotions of oneself as well as others. Among the key aspects of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, relationship management, empathy, and social awareness. To hone these EQ skills, managers must learn to listen more, be aware of the consequences of their actions, and be open to constructive criticism from others.

Preparing Future Leaders Pursuing the executive management programme by IIM Kozhikode will help learners become competent senior leaders in their organisation. The course curriculum encompasses a good combination of management theories and practices to create effective future leaders. In addition, the course imparts management education via a global perspective and time-tested pedagogy. This will help students practically apply their acquired knowledge and skills and improve their performance in the business world.

To know more: https://executive.timespro.com/course/general-management/iim-kozhikode-post-graduate-management-programme-for-working-professionals/

[timestsw30]

Vacuum in Senior Management Skills in India and the Role Executive Education Can Play

Moving into a new management position throws up new challenges and difficulties. However, for managers making this transition post-2020, there are a whole new set of tests and trials on the table.  They may encounter unforeseen roadblocks – that may drastically alter the scope of their roles and priorities.

 The global pandemic has changed the business landscape – possibly forever – and tackling the new challenges today through modern management skills training is the key to preparing for the future of work.

 1.Vacuum in Senior Management Skills in India

If you look around, so many companies in India are struggling to find proficient senior management professionals. This is no different from what is happening in Europe and the United States, but there it is due to the ageing societies. However, in India, it is quite surprising to see this happening.

 There are two reasons for the shortage—one, most companies and professionals have not taken management development practices very seriously, and two, the way we Indians have been groomed, it is in the Indian DNA that a few years of experience are enough to climb the ladder.

 India supports a majority of the world’s technology outsourcing requirements; hence it’s alarming to see that the country’s talent shortage curve is higher than the global average. As India grapples with the pandemic and technological disruptions, the need to rethink strategies to develop and improve the existing senior management workforce has never been more material.

 2. Tectonic Shifts in Industry

Technology has and will continue to fundamentally reshape the world. Emerging tools like big data analytics, cloud computing, blockchain, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence will be in greater demand in the near future. The new advancements will render several existing job profiles outdated or irrelevant to the market’s current requirements. In contrast, others will rise exponentially and rule the world in times to come. Hence businesses are continually looking for skilled management professionals who can inculcate new tools, technologies, and approaches that will help the organisation achieve the next level of performance.

 3.     Need for Upskilled Senior Management Professionals

Mid-level and senior executives directly have an impact on the business and have a hand in setting the tone for the younger workers.  However, experts believe that these supposedly safe places at the top of the hierarchy are being disrupted by the influx of digital technologies. Supporting the same, Ravi Kaklasaria, Founder and CEO of SpringPeople, said, “Unlike the Gen Y digital natives, mid-level and senior management professionals have not grown up against the backdrop of rapid technological innovation. Thus, it is imperative that they upskill themselves to speak the tongue of today’s digital era” *.

 In all, upskilling is imperative for businesses to grow. It can improve productivity and efficiency, provide quality output, and reduce risks and costs.

 4. Executive Education Steps in to Fill the Senior Management Vacuum

It is no wonder that top management schools have identified this gap between the skills possessed by senior management professionals today and the skills they will need in the future. Senior management programs are the result of this skills gap. Such programs are curated keeping in mind a diverse range of topics such as advanced managerial skills, emerging technologies, effective strategies, among others, to prepare senior management professionals for their roles at the top.

 IM Calcutta’s Senior Management Programme is an example of such a program. The Programme is designed for executives who wish to excel in their new management roles. It equips learnings with the necessary management skills and knowledge and provides a holistic understanding of how to deal with various organisational challenges.

 5. IIM Calcutta’s SMP Programme

The Senior Management Programme (SMP) is IIM Calcutta’s longest-running,

 flagship management development programme. The programme modules will expose participants to fresh perspectives, strategic insights, and innovative thinking.

 The teaching approach will be highly interactive and leverage technology and deploy diverse pedagogical tools and techniques, including lectures, case studies, assignments, quizzes, project work, etc. Designed for 21st-century professionals, the course will help learners to excel in their careers.

To know more: https://timestsw.com/course/iim-calcutta-senior-management-program/

[timestsw30]

Vacuum in Senior Management Skills in India and the Role Executive Education Can Play

Moving into a new management position throws up new challenges and difficulties. However, for managers making this transition post-2020, there are a whole new set of tests and trials on the table.  They may encounter unforeseen roadblocks – that may drastically alter the scope of their roles and priorities.

 The global pandemic has changed the business landscape – possibly forever – and tackling the new challenges today through modern management skills training is the key to preparing for the future of work.

 1.Vacuum in Senior Management Skills in India

If you look around, so many companies in India are struggling to find proficient senior management professionals. This is no different from what is happening in Europe and the United States, but there it is due to the ageing societies. However, in India, it is quite surprising to see this happening.

 There are two reasons for the shortage—one, most companies and professionals have not taken management development practices very seriously, and two, the way we Indians have been groomed, it is in the Indian DNA that a few years of experience are enough to climb the ladder.

 India supports a majority of the world’s technology outsourcing requirements; hence it’s alarming to see that the country’s talent shortage curve is higher than the global average. As India grapples with the pandemic and technological disruptions, the need to rethink strategies to develop and improve the existing senior management workforce has never been more material.

 2. Tectonic Shifts in Industry

Technology has and will continue to fundamentally reshape the world. Emerging tools like big data analytics, cloud computing, blockchain, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence will be in greater demand in the near future. The new advancements will render several existing job profiles outdated or irrelevant to the market’s current requirements. In contrast, others will rise exponentially and rule the world in times to come. Hence businesses are continually looking for skilled management professionals who can inculcate new tools, technologies, and approaches that will help the organisation achieve the next level of performance.

 3.     Need for Upskilled Senior Management Professionals

Mid-level and senior executives directly have an impact on the business and have a hand in setting the tone for the younger workers.  However, experts believe that these supposedly safe places at the top of the hierarchy are being disrupted by the influx of digital technologies. Supporting the same, Ravi Kaklasaria, Founder and CEO of SpringPeople, said, “Unlike the Gen Y digital natives, mid-level and senior management professionals have not grown up against the backdrop of rapid technological innovation. Thus, it is imperative that they upskill themselves to speak the tongue of today’s digital era” *.

 In all, upskilling is imperative for businesses to grow. It can improve productivity and efficiency, provide quality output, and reduce risks and costs.

 4. Executive Education Steps in to Fill the Senior Management Vacuum

It is no wonder that top management schools have identified this gap between the skills possessed by senior management professionals today and the skills they will need in the future. Senior management programs are the result of this skills gap. Such programs are curated keeping in mind a diverse range of topics such as advanced managerial skills, emerging technologies, effective strategies, among others, to prepare senior management professionals for their roles at the top.

 IM Calcutta’s Senior Management Programme is an example of such a program. The Programme is designed for executives who wish to excel in their new management roles. It equips learnings with the necessary management skills and knowledge and provides a holistic understanding of how to deal with various organisational challenges.

 5. IIM Calcutta’s SMP Programme

The Senior Management Programme (SMP) is IIM Calcutta’s longest-running,

 flagship management development programme. The programme modules will expose participants to fresh perspectives, strategic insights, and innovative thinking.

 The teaching approach will be highly interactive and leverage technology and deploy diverse pedagogical tools and techniques, including lectures, case studies, assignments, quizzes, project work, etc. Designed for 21st-century professionals, the course will help learners to excel in their careers.

To know more: https://timestsw.com/course/iim-calcutta-senior-management-program/

[timestsw30]

Upskilling is the Fuel to Accelerate Your Leadership Trajectory

In today’s time, leadership development is a key advantage for many organisations and businesses across various industries. Why? Because in this era of digitally driven change, leadership development is important to sustain rapidly developing creativities and maintain business profitability.

In a recent survey by Gartner, 57% of HR executives said educating their company’s current and future leadership pipeline is a top priority, with a focus on extending decision-making and planning responsibilities. Furthermore, a report by the World Economic Forum projects leadership and social influence to be among the fastest-growing workplace skills through 2022, which ties into a flourishing trend for all workers to become lifelong learners and address the emerging skills gaps.

The path to effective leadership is more fluid now than it was in the past. And to accelerate the leadership trajectory, it is vital for one to design a leadership development plan as it helps to stay ahead of the curve and the rising demands of the job market. Besides, it also enables one to reveal being the best-kept secret in their organisation.

How to Design Your Own Leadership Development Plan? Due to the development of Industry 4.0, there is a need for leaders with three essential qualities: 1) Must have the ability to show the way when things are unclear (head), 2) Must have the ability to inspire commitment and courage in their team members (heart), and 3) Must have the ability to stand up for what they have faith in and make hard decisions (gut). As you plot your leadership trajectory, all of this needs to be taken into consideration. In addition, one must also consider how they can maximise their professional influence and impact.

Here are five steps that can help you to design a successful leadership development plan.

Did you know, 80% of the organisations in India are currently facing a leadership talent shortage. According to a study by FICCI, skill vacuum is the major reason for professionals becoming redundant thereby necessitating upskilling and reskilling.

Why Should You Upskill to Become a Leader? Leadership training offers innumerable benefits. Developing and investing in your leadership skills is advantageous irrespective of your career path.

Whether your background is corporate business, socio-civic causes, education, or your interest is in personal growth or improving family dynamics, leadership training always benefits you. Fundamentally, it is designed to bring out the best in you so that you can bring out the best in your people. And before you think company development programs can always come to your rescue let us inform you that many business owners admit, sotto voce, that their companies’ development opportunities and programs are insufficient.

The Solution: IIM Indore’s Senior Management Programme

The Senior Management Programme (SMP) by IIM Indore, is designed to transform experienced professionals into future leaders. It is a flexible and inclusive programme taught by the acclaimed IIM Indore faculty and industry experts and is specially designed for working professionals.

Here are the benefits of the course:

It     enables the latest thinking and experiences through experiential modules

Helps     to understand and enhance strategic and leadership characteristics

Helps     to understand growth strategies and leadership skills for the future     challenges

Apart from this, you also earn the IIM Indore Executive Alumni status and certification. The course covers all topics that can help you emerge as the leader of the future. They are all broadly segmented into three modules viz, Fundamentals of Management, Leading the Business, and Leading the Organisation. In conclusion, this course will equip you with all the leadership competencies that will prepare you to step up into the role of a leader in any of India’s leading companies.

To know more:

https://timestsw.com/course/iim-indore-senior-management-programme/

[timestsw30]

A Survival Guide for Leaders of Today, and the Need for them to be Agile

Managers have a lopsided impact on organisational outputs. Being an effective manager requires one to know how to analyse complex business problems and implement a plan for a way forward. They influence at least 70% of the workforce dependent upon them. Amidst the evolving business technologies and processes it’s certain that organisations will have new leadership needs, with agility being the antecedent need.

A research by Deloitte indicates that the teams having agile managers show a 22% increase in productivity, a 30% increase in employee engagement score, and a 48% increase in profitability. Agile leaders tend to pivot faster in response to volatile, uncertain, and complex situations, and enable the organisation to drive innovations. A study also shows that 60% of companies experience growth in profits after they adopt an agile leadership approach. Figure 1 highlights the qualities needed to be an agile leader, according to research by Deloitte.

Therefore, it is safe to say that agile leadership is the new approach for leading people, and it is the correct mindset to possess for the next generation of business leaders.

What is Agile Leadership?

Agile leadership is a growth mindset that creates self-management skills and focuses on the needs of others. They acknowledge their employees and teammates perspectives, nurture them to meet their personal and professional goals, and build a community within their teams. This benefits the team to learn, trust, get quick feedback and collaborate harmoniously with one another and other stakeholders. The most important aspect of being an agile leader is that one neither micromanages people nor creates total freedom. They strike a balance between the two with the help of the concept of the OODA (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act) loop.

How does the OODA loop work?

The OODA loop is a four-step process for effective decision-making. It encourages one to think critically, anticipate threats, and neutralise them before they become perilous. Organisations practice this loop to benchmark their ability to react to continuously improve i.e., quickening their decision cycles. While this loop seems like a linear one, it relies on constant feedback from a wealth of data points to update each step for the benefit of subsequent steps.

As a matter of course, action is never the last step. The last step is learning the validity of the hypothesis to make the future OODA loops more accurate and faster, giving leaders a better control over VUCA business scenarios.

Need for upskilling

While 71% of organisations, globally, use agile approaches, 80% of organisations in India are currently facing a leadership talent shortage. Most of the top leaders agree that using agility in business practices is the new and effective way to do business. According to a study by FICCI, the skills gap is the main reason why senior professionals become redundant. People over 45 to 50 years old who are not at CXO level, may not be employed if they lose their jobs, and hence require upskilling and re-skilling.

The Solution: IIM Indore’s Senior Management Programme

To have a glorious career as a Senior Management professional in today’s times, one must have a thorough knowledge of formulating strategies and addressing business challenges. These skills are required in all business functions such as marketing and sales, finance and accounting, operations, human resources, etc., to be able to effectively orchestrate various business operations.

The Senior Management Programme (SMP) by IIM Indore, is designed to transform experienced professionals into future leaders. This course prepares one to step up into the role of a senior management professional in major Indian companies. It is a flexible and inclusive programme taught by the acclaimed IIM Indore faculty and industry experts and is specially designed for working professionals.

Fundamentally, it’s a certification that will open multiple avenues to advance one’s career.

To know more: https://timestsw.com/course/iim-calcutta-senior-management-program/