Date
5-22-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Joyce Brady
Keywords
social dance, soft skills, employee soft skills, transfer of skills, cross-domain skill development
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Patridge, Danielle May, "The Impact of Social Dance Skills on the Development of Employee Soft Skills" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5608.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5608
Abstract
Employee soft skills are necessary in nearly every occupation for both employee and organizational success. There is a considerable body of knowledge related to the development of employee soft skills, and soft skills training is now seen in some educational curricula and organizational training programs. Yet, employers continue to report that employees and candidates are either lacking in or have underdeveloped soft skills, hampering both worker and organizational success. Soft skills cross domains and are not confined to use in the workplace; hence, they can also be developed in non-work domains. In this qualitative study, accomplished social dancers described their perception of their employee soft skill development and any perceived impact their social dance skills had on that. Data was examined via narrative and content analysis for the impact, if any, of social dance skills on the development of employee soft skills, and a positive impact was found. These findings suggest that social dance is an effective option for employee soft skill training. The findings of this study also provide further impetus for researchers and practitioners to consider incorporating more holistic, non-work domain activities in the development of employee soft skills.
