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CHAPTER 1 - Introduction
Leadership involves a relational process that requires working with others to accomplish a goal or to promote positive change. Education for leadership concentrates on the soft skills, that relationship factor involved in human interaction required to achieve positive outcomes from the leadership process. The notion that soft skills can be taught and learned in an academic environment has led to the proliferation of varied leadership education programs in this nation’s colleges and universities (Brungardt, Greenleaf, Brungardt & Arensdorf, 2006; Crawford, Brungardt & Maughan, 2000; Daft, 2002; Funk, 2006; Schwartz & Gimbel, 2000).
This study sought to add to the body of literature published over the past twenty years about formal collegiate leadership education programs and outcomes (Brungardt et al., 2006; Crawford et al., 2000; Evers, Rush & Berdrow, 1998; Funk, 2006; Riggio, Ciulla & Sorenson, 2003; Rost & Barker, 2000). The purpose of this study was to determine if leadership education increases students’ proficiency in soft skills, particularly those skills repeatedly found deficient in incoming hires in this nation’s workplaces.
The learning objectives and eventual outcomes of the Fort Hays State University Leadership Studies program were examined. Three different populations were sampled. All were graduates of Fort Hays State University. The first population was students who had never taken a course from the leadership studies department. The second population received a nine credit hour certificate in leadership studies while pursuing their chosen major. The last population was leadership majors who completed all requirements for the
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