Perceptions of the Importance and Preparedness of Interpersonal Communication Skills of the Entry-Level Hospitality Leader: Implications for Hospitality Educators

Interpersonal communication is a skill that is crucial to successful leaders (Brownell, 1992; Scudder & Guinan, 1989); however, English, Manton, and Walker (2007) found that most college graduates tend to be deficient in these skills when entering the business world. In the service industry, leaders interpersonally communicate with many constituents. The purpose of this study was to determine entry-level hospitality leaders' perceptions of which interpersonal communication skills are important and whether their college curriculum prepared them to be competent interpersonal communicators. Participants rated the importance of all interpersonal communication skills evaluated as higher than their level of preparedness. The results will aid educators in better determining more selective criteria on which to design curricula and learning outcomes for interpersonal communication so that graduates will be more prepared when entering the hospitality industry as entry-level leaders.