The workplace is constantly evolving. Today’s employees are expected to quickly adjust to new technologies, respond to shifting market demands, and tackle increasingly complex challenges.
To prepare for future uncertainties and maintain a competitive edge, team upskilling programs have become a top priority for forward-thinking organizations.
However, upskilling initiatives can present challenges. How can companies encourage corporate learning without overwhelming busy schedules or disrupting daily workflows?
Harvard Business School Online’s certificate courses offer a flexible, user-friendly approach to team upskilling, engaging individuals at every organizational level. Here’s an overview of why team upskilling programs are essential and how working with HBS Online can sharpen your team’s skills.
The Upskilling Advantage for Today’s Teams
As AI-driven business models and cloud-based systems become integral to everyday work, organizations face a significant challenge: closing the widening skills gap. Many employees struggle to stay current, especially when professional development access is limited.
On top of that, employee stress is at an all-time high. Teams are stretched thin, juggling increased responsibilities with fewer resources. Notably, only 47 percent of employees feel equipped with the necessary skills to excel in their roles.
So, what’s the solution? Professional development can build in-demand skills and enhance employees’ confidence, boost productivity, and drive organizational growth, equipping teams with the tools to compete in a crowded market.
By investing in HBS Online courses, your organization gains future-focused solutions that inspire employees to grow personally while advancing essential organization-wide goals.
How HBS Online Supports Team Upskilling
Finding time for upskilling between back-to-back meetings and overflowing to-do lists can seem daunting. Fortunately, HBS Online offers a flexible online learning model that fits seamlessly into busy schedules, allowing your team to develop new skills without disruption.
With a diverse course catalog, there’s a program for every team. If your employees need to focus on a specific core concept, like design thinking or disruptive strategy, they can take a single course to earn a Certificate of Completion. Or they can dive deeper by enrolling in three courses within a subject area to earn an advanced Certificate of Specialization.
According to a survey by market research firm City Square Associates, 87 percent of HBS Online learners reported gaining skills they could apply immediately, and 80 percent said HBS Online outperforms other online business programs. By focusing on upskilling now, your organization gains the agility and resilience to meet future challenges head-on.
Here’s how HBS Online courses deliver a distinctive learning experience that enhances skill development.
Interactive, Real-World Learning Method
HBS Online’s learning model revolves around HBS’s renowned case method, which sharpens critical thinking by placing participants in the midst of real-world business challenges.
Guided by insights from HBS faculty and industry experts, learners improve their decision-making by addressing complex problems, evaluating business opportunities, and applying new concepts directly to their work.
All HBS Online courses emphasize case-based, active, and social learning, creating opportunities for teams to work together effectively. Integrated peer-to-peer collaboration enables employees to align their skills and improve individual contributions and overall team performance.
Global Community of Lifelong Learners
Employees will gain access to the vibrant HBS Online Community—a global network of like-minded business professionals. The Community serves as a space where team members can ask questions, share ideas, and gain diverse business insights to bring back to their organizations.
Flexible Course Structure
Engaged learners are crucial for effective team upskilling, and an accessible, self-paced learning model is key to fostering that engagement while promoting a healthy work-life balance.
HBS Online courses provide a self-paced experience that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Teams can learn at their convenience, whether during a morning coffee break or between meetings.
Cohort Models That Benefit Your Team
Team upskilling goes beyond simply developing capabilities; it’s a powerful strategy for enhancing collaboration. HBS Online offers two cohort formats that foster thoughtful internal discussions and strengthen team dynamics:
- Private team cohorts: Designed for groups of 20 or more, these exclusive cohorts allow your team to learn together, address company-specific challenges, and align on goals. This format fosters productive team meetings, facilitates the exchange of ideas, and supports coordinated efforts.
- Public cohorts: Open to professionals from various industries, these cohorts offer varied global perspectives and valuable networking opportunities teams can leverage to their advantage.
Built-In Progress Tracking
Chief learning officers, human resource professionals, and managers can easily monitor learner progress and certificate completion using built-in reporting tools, ensuring employees receive essential support throughout their upskilling journey.
Affordable Team Discounts
HBS Online makes team upskilling affordable with volume-based discounts, enabling scalable skill development across your organization.
The Real-World Impact of Upskilling with HBS Online
Collaborating with HBS Online provides measurable value and can help your organization address skill gaps and stay agile amid evolving customer demands.
In fact, 91 percent of HBS Online learners report significant growth in key areas such as business terminology, analytical thinking, and negotiation, empowering teams to make smarter decisions that enhance business performance.
For example, global financial technology leader Intuit collaborated with HBS Online to strengthen its ProTax group’s strategic thinking. By enrolling in Disruptive Strategy, team members gained valuable insights into disruptive innovation. The course’s real-world case studies and interactive learning experiences were instrumental in helping them immediately apply new skills and frameworks to their daily work.
“One of the key reasons for going through this course was to make strategic thinking a core muscle of ours and move away from the event of strategic planning, and instead make this something that we did every day,” said CeCe Morken, former Intuit senior vice president and general manager, reflecting on the experience. “It became part of our language and part of the way that we run and lead the business.”
HBS Online similarly worked with Azuria Water Solutions, a company specializing in infrastructure services, to cultivate vital leadership and business skills across their teams. Employees have already participated in private team cohorts of Management Essentials and Leading with Finance, and a new group is preparing to begin Leading Change and Organizational Renewal. These offerings have helped enhance team leadership, drive transformational change, and build financial and business expertise.
“HBS Online has provided program participants with the foundational knowledge and practical insights that can be immediately put to use throughout our business,” shared CEO Rob Tullman in an interview with the HBS Online Strategic Alliances team.
The outcomes are notable: 14 employees earned promotions or special assignments after the experience, demonstrating that strategic team upskilling fosters career growth and reinforces your organization’s commitment to employee training and development.
Future-Proof Your Team’s Skills With HBS Online
Investing in HBS Online isn’t just about upskilling; it’s a strategic move that fuels your employees’ growth while advancing your organization’s long-term goals. HBS Online courses focus on actionable business skills your team can put into practice right away.
Whether you aim to bridge leadership gaps, navigate the digital world, or drive innovation, HBS Online provides flexible and effective learning tailored to your organization’s most urgent needs.
Are you ready to build a capable, future-focused team? Learn more about bringing HBS Online to your organization.
