MBA is one of the most sought-after degrees presently. As students, you may often ponder regarding the learnings you are going to have from MBA. The most obvious of all these are the business-related learnings. These include accounting, financial management, marketing, branding, publicity, analytics, organizational behavior, human resource management, supply chain, and operations management. But often you may fail to ponder the important non-textbook learnings which are learned outside the classroom. These are the lessons that are going to stay with you for your entire life. The life lessons learned during MBA are one of the key reasons, that why MBA graduates are always in demand for leadership positions. As, you all are about to start your MBA journey, and subsequently the corporate life, with this blog, we present to you the important lessons to learn during MBA. Hope you enjoy it.
Humility & Respect
During your lifetime, you will meet several people. It is a fact that you will not get along with most of them. Similarly, during your B-School days, you will not get along with most of your batchmates. But it doesn’t mean that you should treat them with hostility or ignorance. Just like you, they all are equally qualified and deserve to share a seat with you in the same room. They too have burnt the midnight oil and slogged for securing their spot along with you. So, try to learn from them and respect all of them equally.
During your team project, you may not like some of your members. Similarly, during your professional life, you will always find people with whom you don’t want to work. But you will have to. Being gentle and humble will always give you an advantage in the long run. Also, humble individuals are mostly better leaders. So, try to show humility as much as possible. It will give you dividends in the long journey of life. This is one of the important lessons to learn during an MBA.
Collaboration & Co-Creation
The entire pedagogy of MBA courses is designed to make students collaborate. As one of the most demanded skills nowadays, the MBA program provides you with the perfect opportunity to develop this skill. The majority of B-School activities are centered around teamwork through case studies, group discussions, presentations, and case competitions. You will have to come out of your comfort zone, discuss, deliberate, brainstorm, respect, and acknowledge opinions. Also, working with people from different backgrounds will give you multiple perspectives and will help you to understand the importance of collaboration and co-creation.
As future leaders, organizations always look out for people who understand the power of teamwork. The saying that “none of us is as smart as all of us” is the most important lesson you can have from your MBA journey. Even if you have excellent communication and leadership skills, a team player is always the one preferred by organizations. So, don’t shy away from those sleepless nights with your teammates and master this skill of collaboration and co-creation.
Leadership & Motivation
MBA programs are meant to make you successful leaders. You may not be starting your career in a leadership role just after your MBA degree, but eventually, you will be propelled to a leadership position. The biggest learning for you is to understand the difference between a boss and a leader. Managing and leading people is not about just distributing work and following up. It’s more than that. To get the most out of your team, you will have to leverage the various skills learned during your MBA journey. Inspiring and motivating your team members, identifying and playing with their strengths, and lastly acknowledging and providing them with suitable opportunities are some of the important lessons of a leader.
The grueling group projects, case studies, presentations, and competitions are all designed to prepare you for these important life lessons. Organizations are always on the lookout for individuals who have successfully demonstrated effective leadership skills. So, focus on becoming a leader rather than just a boss.
Listening and Communication
You must have heard several times by now regarding the importance of communication skills for professional life. But there are high chances that you must have missed the importance of listening to be good at communication. Never forget, that communication is not always a one-sided process. It’s mostly a two-sided affair. You will need to listen and understand, to better communicate your opinions. All the group projects and presentations are meant to nurture these skills in you. Along with it, they are meant to squash your stage fear.
As professionals, you will have to present your work, pith your ideas and listen to clients. MBA programs offer several courses to develop these skills. So, never skip those. Nurture clarity of thoughts, have fluency in language and boost your confidence. Better communicators are always better leaders. Therefore, try to focus on developing your communication and listening skills by taking part in all sorts of activities. In the long run, this important life lesson will reap you the maximum benefit.
Prioritization & Optimization
The cutthroat world of corporates is filled with deliverables, most of them on severe short notice. Thus, the only way to manage them is by mastering the art of prioritization and optimization. Deadlines are going to be your constant companion along the MBA journey. You will always find your alums and seniors cribbing about constant deadlines. But, if you ask them was it worth the effort, you will find the answer positive. To manage one’s time, prioritize tasks, decide upon the work distribution, and devise better ways to execute them is the way corporates work. And, MBA programs are designed to make you do so. You will always find your plate full of projects, assignments, competitions, cases, meetings, etc. But to effectively manage and execute them is the differentiator between good managers and poor ones.
The constant pressure of submission and deadlines will make you better decision-makers. Also, working and managing group projects will help you to resolve conflicts, which is going to be a constant companion throughout your professional life. So, buckle up and continue the hustle throughout your MBA days. This is one of the important lessons to learn during an MBA.
Innovative & Inquisitive
The business world is changing at an ever-increasing pace. New and unprecedented problems are discovered every minute. As managers and leaders, you will be expected to analyze, plan and execute solutions for them. As the problems are evolving, so are the solutions. Organizations look for students who are innovative, creative, curious, and inquisitive. They need a novelty of approach in order to stay ahead of the competition. And, MBA programs offer multiple opportunities for you to nurture these skills.
The assignments and case studies are meant to provoke your thoughts to find better and innovative solutions. Take part in class discussions, seminars, events, competitions, and whatever opportunities you can find. Be part of entrepreneurship initiatives, find like-minded people, and develop business plans. Develop a perspective, and read journals, blogs, and articles to enhance your knowledge. Lastly, never shy away from asking questions and probe deeper into any topics. It is one of the important lessons to learn during an MBA.
Ethics & Standards
After your MBA days, you will progress along with your personal and professional life. You will be forced to decide on several occasions. Some of these decisions will not be to your liking. During MBA, you will face similar decisions during your exams, project submissions, and presentations. You will always have an easier path to take by copying, cheating, or avoiding your deliverables. But having your own standards and ethics regarding work and life is a must to sustain and grow ahead. So, always keep your ethics and standards upright starting from your MBA days only.
Life is a long process of learning, and MBA is one of the few pit stops to refill your quota of lessons. Hope this blog about important lessons to learn during MBA helps you along your MBA journey. So, enjoy, relax and never stop learning. All the best ahead for your preparations – Purvesh
Purvesh is a bibliophile currently pursuing MBA at IIT Madras
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