Embedding Leadership Development in Construction Engineering and Management Education

摘要

Construction engineering and management professionals work in complex and adaptive environments where teams are formed rapidly within organizations and external partners. Whether they are pursuing new clients, assembling a project team, or executing field operations, construction organizations are seen as facilitators and focal points of communication. In this capacity, they are expected to provide key leadership functions. Leadership involves decision making and judgment and requires a particular set of competencies and traits, such as visioning, communication, honesty, integrity, continuous learning, courage, tolerance for ambiguity, and creativity (Walesh 2004). These competencies and traits are in part known as "soft skills." We have observed that the current generation of college graduates has deficiencies in the basic traits required for leadership. The particular weaknesses orient around their interpersonal skills. This may be attributable to the increased use of technology, resulting in fewer opportunities to interact with peers and educators, thus limiting the skill development needed in this area. A frequent overreliance on electronic and informal communication mechanisms results in diminished opportunities to develop and receive feedback on their interpersonal skills. In the last 10 years the concept of emotional intelligence has emerged as the science behind leadership and a much more accurate predictor of success than other forms of measure. In his powerful research defining the components of emotional intelligence at work, Gorman (1998) cites the following core traits: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill. Increasing awareness of the value of emotional intelligence (Go-leman et al. 2002) as a key attribute of success and leadership have raised questions about how educational programs that focus strictly on technical skills miss the mark when it comes to developing leadership abilities.