Free Online Leadership Courses and Certifications 2024

Leadership is an important skill for many fields, from business to education. It involves the ability to motivate and inspire others, as well as making decisions and managing resources. Leadership courses are available to help people develop their skills, and are suitable for those in management, teaching, and other fields. People of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from learning leadership skills.

Leadership Courses

What Are the Best Leadership Certifications?

Project Management Professional certification by Project Management Institute (PMI). This is a certification program that validates your knowledge and skills in leading and directing projects across various domains and industries. You will learn how to apply the best practices of project management, such as initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and closing projects. You will also learn how to manage project stakeholders, scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk and communication. This certification program requires an exam and has eligibility criteria of education and experience.


Leadership and Management Certificate Program by University of Pennsylvania. This is a Certificate program that covers the core concepts and skills of leadership and management, such as strategic thinking, decision making, emotional intelligence, communication, negotiation, team building and organizational culture. You will learn how to assess your own leadership style, strengths and weaknesses, and how to adapt to different situations and challenges. You will also learn how to create a vision, set goals, delegate tasks, motivate others and resolve conflicts. This Certificate program consists of six courses that can be completed online or on campus within one month.


Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management by University of Notre Dame. This is a Certificate program that focuses on the practical aspects of leadership and management in today's complex and dynamic business environment. You will learn how to lead with integrity, ethics and social responsibility, how to foster innovation and creativity, how to manage change and uncertainty, how to leverage data and technology, how to build trust and collaboration, and how to develop yourself and others. This Certificate program consists of three courses that can be completed online within 40 weeks.


Leadership Essentials by Cornell University. This is an online Certificate program that introduces you to the fundamental principles and practices of effective leadership. You will learn how to identify your personal values, strengths and goals, how to communicate clearly and persuasively, how to influence others and build relationships, how to manage your time and energy, how to delegate and empower others, and how to handle feedback and conflict. This Certificate program consists of four courses that can be completed within three months.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q1: What is the best leadership training?

The best leadership training programs are those that provide comprehensive education, resources, and training opportunities. Global Knowledge is an excellent online training resource that partners with some of the leading organizations in technology. Mind Tools is another great option for those looking to develop their leadership skills. MIT OpenCourseWare is a great resource for those looking to learn more about leadership. Dale Carnegie offers inspired executive leadership training, while OpenLearn and Skillsoft are both great options for those looking to further their leadership knowledge.

Q2: What is purposeful leadership?

Being clear about whom one serves is a crucial aspect of purposeful leadership. It is important for leaders to identify and prioritize the individuals they serve in their position, regardless of the circumstances. Leaders must recognize that their primary responsibility is to serve the people on the front lines who are instrumental in driving the business forward. Additionally, leaders should also serve their colleagues and the board of directors, ensuring their needs and interests are met.

Q3: Which leadership style is best for maximizing a person's positive influence?

Servant leadership is considered the most effective leadership style for maximizing an individual's positive influence. It is characterized by the elimination of self-serving behaviors and a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of employees, customers, clients, and the community. Servant leaders consistently prioritize providing value and constantly ask themselves, "How can they offer assistance?"

Q4: What are leadership styles?

Leadership styles are classifications of how individuals behave while directing, motivating, guiding, and managing groups of people. Numerous leadership styles exist, with some of the most widely discussed being authoritarian (autocratic), participative (democratic), delegative (laissez-faire), transformational, transactional, and situational.

Q5: What Leadership courses can I find on AZ Class?

On this page, we have collected free or certified 824 Leadership online courses from various platforms. The list currently only displays up to 50 items. If you have other needs, please contact us.

Q6: Can I learn Leadership for free?

Yes, If you don’t know Leadership, we recommend that you try free online courses, some of which offer certification (please refer to the latest list on the webpage as the standard). Wish you a good online learning experience!

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