How to Get the Nod for Executive Education From Your Company

If you are in a place in your career where you think you need to garner more skills and improve your knowledge to advance in your career, then that’s great! Because it’s only up from here.

Also read: Executive Education Trends 2020

Now that you’ve decided on taking up an executive education program, maybe even picked the one you want, you’ll need to get your company on board. Either as a full or partial sponsor for your program, or an ally so you can take some time off for the program, maybe even have a promotion waiting for you when you return. Here’s how.

Goals

To begin with make sure your professional goals align with those of your company’s. Demonstrate to your senior management that you are committed to the company and that you will be around for a significant period of time. Give them good reason to want to invest in you.

Discuss the benefits

Maybe the company is lacking a person with a certain skill set that you can fill by doing an executive education program. Explain to the management what skills you’ll be bringing back and why those skills are important. Maybe you want to shift your focus to another area of the company and require training. Speak with your management and help them understand why this executive education program is a good move for the company, as well as yourself.

Explain how your new skills will help

Now that you’ve told them about the new skills and why those skills are important, get into the details of how you plan to use them. Show the management how your new skills can help the entire company and what your strategy is to make it happen. Break down your plan to incorporate those skills and everything new that you will learn into your daily responsibilities. This could mean a new project, leading your team better, or even teaching your colleagues what you have learned so that everyone might benefit from the program.

Sell your program of choice

Now that you’ve explained to your company why certain skills are required to make your company soar, introduce your program of choice. Illustrate in detail your reasons for picking this particular program and how it will benefit the company to consider it. Show them the big picture and evaluate every aspect of the program, relative to your job. Apart from the curriculum, discuss the format of the program, the school, the faculty, and others so that the management is convinced that you are invested in yours and the company’s growth.

Be clear about your plan

Whatever format or module the program is in, make sure you have a clear plan of how you will manage work while you’re at the program. Will someone take over or will you be able to manage work along with the program, whatever the temporary change, make sure you account for it and explain it to your management. Show them you can be a leader and that you are excited to innovate within the company and push the company forward.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind about what employers consider while selecting an executive education provider, according to a CarringtonCrisp Executive Education Futures study in 2018.

*Source: CarringtonCrisp Executive Education Futures 2018 Study

If the company sees promise in you, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t support your ambition to do an executive education program.

FAQs

Q. Why is it important to first consider your goals when trying to get your company on board to support your executive education program?

A. It’s important to showcase that your own professional goals align with those of your company for them to readily accept your proposal.

Q. How can you best sell your program of choice to your company?

A. Present to them your reasons in detail for picking this particular program and how it will benefit the company. Show them the big picture and evaluate every aspect of the program, relative to your job. Apart from the curriculum, discuss the format of the program, the school, the faculty, and others so that the management is convinced that you are invested in yours and the company’s growth.