Ethical Leadership

Linking Interpersonal Skills Development to Business Needs

Based on research by Julia Fulmore, PhD, Jude Olson, PhD, and Rosemary Maellaro, PhD

The University of Dallas Effective Leader course described in this article utilizes a behaviorally-based model of emotional intelligence (EI) and active (rather than passive) proven adult learning methods. As a result, students develop new skills that improve their interpersonal competence for application in the workplace.

Key Points

  • Organizations seek leaders with skills that result in effective workplace relationships, leading to positive organizational outcomes. However, they are generally dissatisfied with the lack of emphasis placed on these necessary skills in management and leadership courses.
  • This study describes how a graduate-level business course at the University of Dallas is designed to intentionally develop interpersonal skills to meet the needs of local hiring managers, maximize organizational outcomes, and enhance leaders’ career opportunities.
  • A pre- and post-test comparison of students’ results on a competency-based behavioral model of emotional intelligence showed an increase in students’ scores, indicating that the course has been effective in developing students’ practical interpersonal skills.

Why This Matters

The discrepancy between what business students learn in management education programs and the interpersonal skills hiring organizations desire in leadership candidates can be traced as far back as 100 years. Many business schools have incorporated interpersonal effectiveness topics into their curricula. However, the long-standing discrepancy points remain, including a low incidence of business community involvement, disputes about the positive impact of EI on leader effectiveness, and the ability of students to transfer interpersonal skills learning to the workplace. In response, the course described in this study is viewed as successful in helping students become more adept at building and maintaining interpersonal relationships that can benefit employees and their organizations.

 

Want to know more?

Related Links:

  1. The ultimate guide to emotional intelligence in the workplace and beyond
  2. Emotional Intelligence No. 1 Leadership Skill For 2024, Says Research

Based upon the following peer-reviewed manuscript: Fulmore, J. A., Olson, J., & Maellaro, R. (2023). Aligning Leadership Education: Linking Interpersonal Skills Development to Business Needs. Journal of Management Education, 47(3), 263-291.

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