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

"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

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.