Three-Skills Approach

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Source: Financial Express

Skills Approach

Leadership qualities are widely discussed and researched in the business world and leaders influence people but what are the qualities of a leader which really influence the mass? Academics have come up with several theories to answer this question. 

Out of the theories Katz's three skills approach is a prominent theory. While Trait theory was arguing that leadership is to do with the individual's quality and character but David Katz argued that leadership skills are developable. Katz  suggested leadership should consist of three categories and this was named as Katz's Three-Skills Approach.

Three-Skills Approach.

According to Katz(1974), Three-Skills Approach shows that  effective leadership can be achieved by developing three main skills, which are Technical skills, Human skills and Conceptual skills.

" It is assumed here that an administrator is one who (a) directs the activities of other persons and (b) undertakes the responsibility for achieving certain objectives through these efforts. Within this definition, successful administration appears to rest on three basic skills, which we will call technical, human, and conceptual. It would be unrealistic to assert that these skills are not interrelated, yet there may be real merit in examining each one separately, and in developing them independently" (Katz, 1974)

Technical skills.

Technical skill is about having or possessing the knowledge and ability in a particular type of work or an activity. This is about capability, expertise, and having the knowledge about how to use certain tools and techniques (Northouse & Guy, 2016).

Having the right technical skill will help the leader to perform the job role effectively and monitor the workers. Most of the labours or subordinates will look up to the leader when they are stuck or confused and guiding them rightly will make them to follow the leader automatically.  

Human Skills

Human skills are about having the right knowledge and attitude how to deal with people. This is a very important skill which every leader must master. This is very useful in all situation may as a leader or as a group member.

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The person with highly developed human skill is aware of his own attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs about other individuals and groups; he is able to see the usefulness and limitations of these feelings. By accepting the existence of viewpoints, perceptions, and beliefs which are different from his own, he is skilled in understanding what others really mean by their words and behaviour. He is equally skilful in communicating to others, in their own contexts, what he means by his behaviour" (Katz, 1974).

Conceptual skill

Conceptual skills are having the capacity to work with ideas. This is very important to the higher management. This is where a leader comes up with new ideas and concepts and being able to convey it to the lower level or the followers.

"Conceptual skills are central to creating a vision and strategic plan for an organization" (Northouse & Guy, 2016)

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Source: psu.edu

According to Northouse and Guy (2016), Three-Skills approach has its own strengths and weaknesses. By analysing the strengths and weaknesses  we will be able to get a clear picture of this approach.

Strengths

It points out the important areas of a leadership

will help to analyse where the leader is lacking

will be able to focus and train in the specific area

Can be applied to everyone

Anyone can lean and develop

Weaknesses

It is not specific

It is hard to focus on one specific skill when training a leader

Beyond the boundaries of leadership

It is trait alike approach where it speaks of the human skills

There are no specific training packages to train a leader.

Leadership environment is not mentioned

In conclusion Three-Skills Approach is basically about having the Technical, Human and Conceptual skills to be an effective leader. Depending on the place of managerial hierarchy and the company structure the skill level will differ. However, all 3 skills are important for a successful leader (Northouse & Guy, 2016).

References

Katz, R.L., 1974. Skills of an Effective Administrator. Harvard Business Review, (September).

Northouse & Guy, P., 2016. Leadership Theory and Practice. In Northouse, P.G. Leadership Theory and Practice. 7th ed. Los Angeles: Sage.

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https://www.financialexpress.com/jobs/why-skills-education-has-to-be-part-of-school-curriculum/159719/

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https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2013/01/29/three-skills-approach/