Routledge Leader Interpersonal and Influence Skills: The Soft Skills of Leadership (Leadership: Research and Practice)

This edited volume explores different models, conceptualizations, and measures of leader interpersonal and influence "soft skills" that are so necessary for effective leadership. These include the communication skills, persuasion skills, political savvy, and emotional abilities used by leaders to inspire, motivate, and move followers toward the accomplishment of goals. The book emanates from the two-day-long 21st Kravis-de Roulet leadership conference, which brought together top scholars working in this area. The intent of the conference and this edited volume is to increase understanding of the interpersonal and influence skills, or "soft skills," of the leader, to highlight state-of-the-art research on the topic, and to provide clear, research-based guidelines for the development of leader skills.Chapter authors are recognized experts in their respective areas, and each section of the book will be introduced by an editor-authored chapter reviewing the specific topic area in brief. Review "Ron Riggio and Sherylle Tan’s new book, Leader Interpersonal and Influence Skills: The Soft Skills of Leadership, offers cutting-edge research and conceptual frameworks that greatly advance the field of leadership studies and practice. Riggio and Tan’s collection of top experts create a more nuanced and evidence-based foundation for the emerging science of personal and interpersonal skills in leadership. Those seeking hard data on soft skills will find it here, making this cutting-edge volume both a reference for scholars and a handbook for those seeking to build further strengths in leaders." ―Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence "Those of us who study leadership and have also served in leadership positions know that the biggest challenges are the ‘soft skills.’ Riggio and Tan have put together a much-needed look at these critical skills and have included works from the known experts in the field. A must-read for both academics and practitioners." ―Leanne Atwater, PhD, Editor of Leadership Quarterly "Riggio and Tan have assembled an absolute cornucopia of wisdom and practical knowledge about the ‘soft skills’ that all leaders absolutely must develop if they intend to be successful. Every chapter is a gem. Don’t miss a word of it!" ―Jean Lipman-Blumen, PhD, Claremont Graduate University     About the Author Ronald E. Riggio, PhD, is the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology and the former Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College. His research focuses on leadership, organizational psychology, and emotional and nonverbal communication, and he is the author/editor of more than a dozen books and more than 150 articles and book chapters. His leadership interests include charismatic and transformational leadership, the role of communication and social skills in leader effectiveness, and the early development of leadership in children, adolescents, and young adults. He has received awards for teaching and research, and is committed to "giving away" research on leadership and psychology through popular writings and his Psychology Today blog, "Cutting Edge Leadership." Sherylle J. Tan, PhD, is the Director of Internships and KLI Research at the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College. Her current research focuses on undergraduate leadership education and program evaluation of leadership development programs. Specifically, the research on undergraduate leadership education seeks to establish an ongoing assessment of the long-term impact of leadership development and training in higher education. Much of Dr. Tan’s research and publications focus on applying developmental theory and methods to understanding the issues of leadership development, women and leadership, work and family, and child development.