5 LinkedIn Learning Courses You Never Thought You'd Need

I was at a customer event last night helping to celebrate their company launch of LinkedIn Learning. A young woman approached me asking me if I might recommend a course or two. Considering I didn't know what her learning goals were, I suggested a few courses that I thought would be helpful for anyone.

She was surprised by my suggestions as they weren't the kinds of things you'd normally look for or even think you'd need. But at the same time she was like "yeah, I could totally use that."

That's when I realized, there are probably many amazing courses that would be so helpful and applicable in our lives, but that we would never ever search for or think we needed.

Allow me to help.

Here's a list of 5 "off the beaten path" courses that you'd never search for but that you totally need. I find myself going back to these courses again and again because they are insightful, make me think differently, and are taught by amazing and engaging instructors.

1. Business Math

This course, taught by brothers Jim Stice and Earl Kay Stice turns the math you learned in grade school on its head. It's the answer to "why can't I learn about numbers that I'd actually use in life"? Importantly, the course will teach you how to look at numbers in the business world and use them effectively.

The Stice brothers are GREAT and have some other awesome courses, but start here. Their style, approach, and humor make this course fun!

2. How to Make Strategic Thinking a Habit

We all know how important strategy is. We buy tons of books on the topic, we watch TED talks on the topic, and we follow all these people who apparently live and breathe strategy. I don't think the problem is knowing how to do it—rather we all claim that we don't have enough time for Strategic Thinking.

This course by the amazing Dorie Clark is the answer. Here's the secret: you don't have to learn strategy... you have to learn to be strategic about making time for it. Let Dorie help you get there.

3. Managing Up as an Employee

Most people look at the manager-employee relationship as a 1-way street: The manager tells the employee what to do and makes sure the work gets done. In reality, it's a two-way relationship, and you have to learn to manage your boss just as your boss needs to learn to manage you. Managing up is a skill that we all need that most of us overlook.

Mary Abbajay offers clear advice on how to build success here. And keep in mind: we're ALL employees—even managers have managers. The skill of managing up is one that you won't find in the "trending searches" category, but learning it will definitely translate to success.

4. Creativity at Work: A Short Course from Seth Godin

If you think creativity is limited to those who wield paintbrushes or master Photoshop, this course will change your mind. Creativity is the art of solving problems, and we can all do it no matter what job we have, what level we're at in our careers, or what field we work in.

Here's the thing: in most organizations, being creative means facing roadblocks. The always brilliant Seth Godin ?? breaks it down, inspires you to think differently, and provides tips on how to break those roadblocks.

5. Mel Robbins on Confidence

Imposter Syndrome is strong within us, to the point that if we lack confidence, we probably don't even think about building it as a skill. We think that we either have it or we don't.

Mel Robbins brilliantly breaks down the science of confidence and helps you discover the strength you didn't even know you had. And once you're finished with her course, follow Mel here on LinkedIn as she's always posting incredible motivational tips on how to show up every day.

I hope you enjoy these courses, and I'd love to hear your list! Please share in the comments below!