Learning & Developing Relational Skills As New Managers: The Role of Management Education

Authors:

Keywords: conversational skills, interpersonal skills, social interaction

Abstract: Three decades of research has confirmed the importance of “soft skills” for managerial success, however, for a myriad of reasons students seem unequipped with the relational skills needed for such success. Developing the ability to engage others in conversation is not only a required organizational skillset—its role in deflecting loneliness among college students is a nascent area of inquiry. This session comprises two parts. The first part serves as a demonstration of an exercise aimed at enhancing conversational skills. The second part involves a structured discussion focused on exchanging ideas regarding how students could acquire relational skills crucial for a management career and exploration of research questions identifying managerial choices in developing such skills.