The Perspectives That Divide Us - Rockhurst University

Have you ever worked withsomeone who was excellentat the specific requirementsof his job but who had a hard timedealing with people? Whether it wasa problem with communication,working in a team or something else,the person likely impacted the organization’sefficiency and culture.These are called the soft skills,those personality traits and socialinstincts that influence not only howwell you work with people but are anincreasingly important determinantof how far up the organizationalladder you rise.Traditionally, business schoolstudents graduated with a degree inaccounting or finance or marketing,and that was enough to land thema solid job in the business world.But things are changing. Theeconomy is shifting. Companiesstill need accountants and marketerswith specialized skills, but todaythey expect more. Human capital isthe new priority; the quality of yourpeople is of utmost importance if youwant your company to succeed. Organizationsnow are seeking employees©2003 Ted Goff“Isn’t this what teamwork is all about?You doing all my work for me?”who have a strong grasp on language,negotiation skills, cultural sensitivity,teamwork, coaching and social graces.If employers are talking, Rockhurst’sHelzberg School of Management islistening. Administrators have beenstudying this trend and are adjustingthe school’s approach to keep upwith the times and meet the demandsof business.“Employers are looking for peoplewho can get things done, to createresults through other people,” saysSylvia Dochterman, director of executiveand professional programs in theHelzberg School.Pat Mosher, ’04 EMBA, director ofcorporate communications for HNTBCompanies, agrees.“Being a good communicator andhaving good interpersonal skills toengage your employees and clientsis just as important as being able tobook a sale,” she says.While Mosher was in the program,she and her team conducted a projectthat looked into what skills areaemployers were seeking in thestudents they were sponsoring.According to her team’s survey of16 firms, Mosher found leadershipdevelopment was ranked the No. 1focus area they were looking for,followed by financial acumen, strategydevelopment and implementationand change management.“As for my own organization, weare first looking for technical skills forthe desired position,” says Mosher.“But we also screen candidates to seehow they would fit within our cultureand exhibit our brand. That meanswe look for people who have excellentinterpersonal skills that can beapplied both internally and outsideour firm.”Pat Mosher, ’04 EMBA, is directorof corporate communications forHNTB Companies.The Helzberg Executive FellowsMBA program is in a perfect positionto adjust to meet the demands of themarket. Earlier this year, Rockhurstredesigned its curriculum to betterprepare executives with the soft skillsemployers are seeking.Since its inception in 1978, whenit was one of the first executive MBAprograms in the nation, the programhas helped prepare senior managersand corporate officers from local andregional firms for top leadership rolesin their organizations. Students, onaverage, have about a decade of managementexperience.Human capitalis the newpriority.In the new program, studentsbegin with a formal, comprehensiveself-assessment and 360-degree feedbackthat provide insights about theirleadership strengths and weaknesses.Ro c k h u r s t4w i n t e r 2007 13