Leadership Master Class Columbus: What's Included and How to Enroll

If you're on this page, you've probably already decided that your managers need real development. The question now is what the program actually looks like, whether it's the right fit for the person you're thinking about, and how to get them in.

Here's the full picture of the Leadership Master Class from ActionCOACH Columbus. Format, session breakdown, cost, refund policy, and how enrollment works for owners and managers in Columbus and the central Ohio area.

What the Leadership Master Class is

The Leadership Master Class is a 12-session leadership development program built for managers and emerging leaders in Columbus and central Ohio small and midsize businesses. On the ActionCOACH Columbus site you may also see it referred to as Leadership Made Simple. It's the same program, built around the art and science of leading a team in today's marketplace.

The format is deliberate. Each session builds on the last, so the material compounds instead of sitting in isolation. A structured program that builds real skill over 12 weeks works differently than a one-day workshop or an on-demand online course, and the results reflect that.

Format at a glance:

• Length: 12 sessions, one per week for 12 weeks

• Delivery: Virtual, so managers in Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Powell, and the rest of central Ohio can join without travel time

• Session length: 90 minutes per session

• Structure: Each session has a set of topics, live group discussion, and a review of assignments completed between sessions

• Cohort size: Small enough for peer discussion and cross-industry perspective

• Facilitation: Led by coaches with real operating backgrounds, not just training credentials

• Between sessions: Participants apply what they're learning to actual situations in their business, then bring the results back to the group

The cohort model is the piece that matters most. When your production manager hears how a veterinary practice manager handled a difficult performance conversation, or when a general manager in a service business hears how a retail owner rebuilt accountability with their team, the pattern recognition happens fast. Peers spot things a solo learner would miss.

What the 12 sessions cover

The curriculum walks a leader through the full arc of leading a team. Foundations first, then execution, then how you show up as a leader, then how you build the people around you.

Sessions 1 to 3: Leadership foundations

• Session 1: Leadership fundamentals. What leadership actually is, how it's different from management, and how the two work together in a small business.

• Session 2: Company identity, history, and vision. How your company's story shapes the culture you're leading inside of.

• Session 3: Reading and shaping culture. Assessing where your culture is today and using that read to sharpen how you lead.

Sessions 4 to 6: Turning vision into action

• Session 4: Goals, OKRs, and strategic planning. Translating the bigger vision into objectives your team can actually work toward.

• Session 5: Clarity, passion, and strategic thinking. Sharpening the focus and thinking that drive team performance.

• Session 6: Leadership communication. How you communicate expectations, feedback, and direction in a way that lands.

Sessions 7 to 9: How you show up as a leader

• Session 7: Emotional intelligence. Self-awareness, empathy, and the parts of leadership that don't show up on an org chart but decide everything.

• Session 8: Your leadership brand. Aligning your unique strengths with the way you lead and the goals of the business.

• Session 9: Creativity, adaptability, and change management. Leading through the change that keeps arriving whether you're ready or not.

Sessions 10 to 12: Building the people around you

• Session 10: Mentoring, coaching, and team building. How to develop the people who report to you so the whole team gets stronger.

• Session 11: Reflecting on your leadership journey. Drawing lessons from your own experience and from proven leaders, including General Norman Schwarzkopf.

• Session 12: Setting your leadership goals. Building a vision for what your leadership looks like going forward.

By the end of the 12 weeks, participants aren't just aware of these skills. They've applied them, gotten feedback from peers and the coach, and adjusted.

Who should attend

The Leadership Master Class is built for three types of people. If the person you're thinking about fits one of these, they're a strong fit for the room.

Managers who are ready to lead differently. They've been in the role long enough to know their current approach has limits. Master Class gives them frameworks they can use the next day. Delegation that actually holds. One-on-ones that move work forward. Feedback that changes behavior instead of creating defensiveness.

Emerging leaders being prepared for a bigger role. The person you've already identified. The strong assistant manager. The senior tech about to run their own crew. The lead about to step into a department head role. Sending someone in early, before they've fully stepped into the seat, tends to shorten the runway significantly.

Owners who want shared language across the leadership layer. Some owners attend alongside a manager or two. When the owner and the managers are working from the same playbook, decisions get made faster and accountability holds better.

If you're wondering whether the timing is right for your team, the 5 signs your management team needs leadership development is a good gut check before enrolling.

Cost and what's included

The Leadership Master Class is $1,800 per person for the full 12-session program. That works out to $150 per session, which covers the live 90-minute session, the discussion, the assignments, and the between-session application work.

• Payment: Full payment is due before the first session.

• Refund policy: Refunds are available up to the date of the first session. Once the class has begun, there are no partial refunds for missed sessions. Class recordings and handouts are provided to enrolled students for a limited time so nothing is lost if a week gets missed.

• What you're actually buying: A team that runs better. The return on the $1,800 shows up in fewer decisions escalated to the owner, tighter execution, and stronger retention of the person you invested in.

How to enroll and reserve a seat

There are two ways into the program, depending on how many people you're developing.

Option 1: Join an open cohort

Public cohorts run throughout the year and include managers and emerging leaders from a mix of industries and companies. It's a strong option if you're sending one or two people and want them to build a peer network outside your business.

To reserve a seat in the next open cohort:

1. Book a short conversation to talk through the person you're thinking about and confirm the fit.

2. Confirm the cohort dates for the next available start.

3. Complete payment to lock in the seat.

4. Prep the participant so they walk into session one already working on a real situation from the business.

Option 2: Run a private class for your company

If you're developing a larger group internally, ActionCOACH Columbus can deliver the same 12-session program to a single company. This works well when you want your whole leadership layer working from shared frameworks and language.

• Minimum enrollment: 10 participants from your company

• Format: Same 12-session curriculum, delivered on a schedule that works for your team

• Benefit: Every conversation, example, and application is grounded in your business

Either way, the next step is a short conversation. To move on any of that, reserve your seat or start the conversation about whether the program is the right fit for the person you have in mind.

Frequently asked questions about the Leadership Master Class

How long is the Leadership Master Class?

12 weeks. One 90-minute session per week, delivered virtually. Each session has its own topic focus, group discussion, and assignments completed between sessions. The 12-week length is deliberate. Long enough to change how the participant actually leads, structured enough that they and their team can plan around it without disrupting the business.

Who is the Master Class designed for?

Managers, emerging leaders, and owners who want shared leadership language across their team. Strong fits include managers who were promoted for technical skill and now need leadership skill, high-potential employees being prepared for a bigger role, and owners who want to invest in their leadership layer to reduce how many decisions flow uphill to them. For the broader picture, the leadership training pillar for Columbus small business teams covers the full range.

How much does the Leadership Master Class cost?

$1,800 per person for the full 12-session program, or $150 per session. Full payment is due before the first session. Refunds are available up to the first session. After class begins, missed sessions can be caught up with recordings and handouts rather than partial refunds.

How do I enroll and reserve a seat?

Start with a short conversation to confirm the fit, then reserve the seat for the next available cohort. Public cohorts run throughout the year with participants from different industries. If you're developing 10 or more managers from a single company, a private cohort is also available. Either way, the conversation is low-pressure. If the timing or the fit isn't right, we'll tell you.

Reserve your seat

The next public cohort has a limited number of seats and they tend to fill in advance. If you already know the person you want to develop, the fastest next step is a conversation to confirm the fit and lock in the seat.

If any of this sounds like the person on your team, see the full 12-week course details or start the conversation. No pitch. Just a look at whether Master Class is the right fit for your business right now.