Overview
This lecture introduces the skills approach to leadership, outlining its main components, key competencies, and the strengths and weaknesses of this leader-centered perspective.
Introduction to the Skills Approach
- The skills approach focuses on the leader's competencies rather than innate traits.
- It is a leader-centered leadership theory emphasizing abilities that can be developed.
Three-Skills Approach (Katz, 1955)
- Katz identified three essential leadership skills: technical, human, and conceptual.
- Technical skills are proficiency and knowledge in specific work.
- Human skills are interpersonal abilities to work effectively with people.
- Conceptual skills involve working with ideas, vision, and solving complex organizational problems.
- Skill importance varies by leadership level: technical dominates at lower levels, conceptual at higher, and human skills are always important.
Expanded Skills Model (Mumford et al., 1990s–2010s)
- Five components of effective leadership: competencies, individual attributes, career experiences, environmental influences, and leadership outcomes.
- Competencies include: problem-solving skills, social judgment skills, and knowledge.
- Individual attributes: general cognitive ability (intelligence), crystallized cognitive ability (experience-based knowledge), motivation, and personality.
- Career experiences and environmental influences (internal/external) also shape competencies.
Key Leadership Competencies
- Problem-solving skills: ability to resolve complex, organizational challenges.
- Social judgment skills: understanding people and social systems.
- Knowledge: expertise and information relevant to one’s field.
Nine Problem-Solving Skills (Mumford et al., 2017)
- Problem definition: identify main issues.
- Cause/goal analysis: analyze causes and related goals.
- Constraint analysis: recognize limiting factors.
- Planning: create and mentally simulate solutions.
- Forecasting: anticipate implications of actions.
- Creative thinking: devise alternative solutions.
- Idea evaluation: assess viability of options.
- Wisdom: contextually apply knowledge and solutions.
- Sense making/visioning: articulate vision so others can understand and act.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Skills Approach
- Strengths: Focuses on learnable skills, makes leadership development accessible, and provides a framework for training leaders.
- Weakness: Descriptive rather than predictive; does not explain how skills translate directly into performance.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Skills Approach — Leadership theory focusing on developable abilities rather than fixed traits.
- Technical Skills — Task-specific knowledge and proficiency.
- Human Skills — Interpersonal and relational abilities.
- Conceptual Skills — Capacity to work with ideas and visions.
- Competencies — Core skills required for effective leadership: problem-solving, social judgment, knowledge.
- Crystallized Cognitive Ability — Knowledge gained through experience.
- Environmental Influences — Internal and external factors shaping leadership effectiveness.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review your current leadership strengths and identify areas for skill development.
- Prepare for intensive sessions to further develop social judgment and problem-solving skills.
- Reflect on how your environment and experiences influence your leadership competencies.