Developing Future Aviation Leaders: Advice from Today’s Leaders!

Abstract

Because of their technical achievements, aviation personnel frequently find themselves in positions of influence or leadership in the community. The soft skills, which aid in the transition from a highly technical career to the intangible tasks of leadership, may have been neglected, thus making their new role even more difficult. Utilizing the findings of a qualitative study and a series of interviews with successful aviation leaders of Oklahoma, this paper addresses specific recommendations from today's leaders for filling the gap between the technical and soft skills required for effective leadership. Increased emphasis on communications curricula, development of decision-making and critical thinking skills, expansion of curricula related to global communications and strategies, and improvement of student focus and instructional methods were recommended by today's leaders for enhancing 21st Century aviation leadership skills.