Skills approach perspective Three Skill Approach

Overview
How does the Skill Approach
works
Skiils- Based Model -Strengths
-Weakenss
-Application
 • Perspective
• The skills approach to
Skills leadership focuses on • Definition
the belief that specific • Leadership skills-
Approach abilities, knowledge,
The ability to use
and skills can be learned
Description or developed. one’s knowledge
• Leadership includes and competencies
many different skills to accomplish a set
that an individual can of goals and
not only always possess pobjectives
but also can be taught
since they all play a part
in being a leader.
Three- Skill Approach

Technical Skill Human Skill Conceptual Skill

Technical Skill
• Technical skill- is knowing about and being
proficient in a specific type of work or activity.
-Specialized competencies
-Analytic ability
-Capability to use appropriate tools and
techniques
• Technical skills involve hands on ability with a
product or process
• Most important, at lower levels of
management
Human Skill
• Human skill is knowing about and being able
to work with people.
• Awareness of one’s perspective and others’
perspective at the same time
• People skills allow a leader to assist group
members in working cooperatively to achieve
common goals.
• Creates an atmosphere of trust where
members feel they can become involved and
impact decisions in the organization
• Important at all levels of the organization
 • Conceptual skills- The ability to do the mental
work of shaping the meaning of
organizational; policy, or issues ( what the
company stands for and where it’s going)
- works efficiently with abstraction and
hypothetical notions
-Central to creating and articulating a vision and
strategic plan for an organization
-Most important at top management levels

Conceptual Skill
Skills- Based Model
• Skills Model Perspective
• Skills-Based Model
-Competencies
-Individual; Attributes
-Leadership Outcomes
-Career Experiences
-Environmental Influences
 • Perspective
Research studies(the 1990s) goal: To identify the
leadership factors that create exemplary job
performance in an organization
Emphasizes the capabilities that make effective
leadership possible rather than what leaders do
• Skills-Based Model of Leadership
Capability model- Examines the relationship
between a leader’s knowledge, skills, &
performance.
Suggests many people have the potential for
leadership

Mumfors,Zaccaro,Harding,Owen
Jacobs, & Fieshman(2000)
Skills
Model of
Learning
Competency
Skills
Leadership Outcomes
Career Experiences
What is the focus of
the Skills Approach ?
• Focus
Focus is primarily descriptive- Describes leadership from a skills perspective
Provides a structure for understanding the nature of effective leadership.
• Principal Research Perspectives
Katz (1995) suggests the importance of particular leadership skills varies
depending on where leaders reside in a management hierarchy.
Mumford et al. (2000) suggest leadership outcomes directly result from a leader’s
skilled competency in problem-solving, social judgment, and knowledge.
Strengths

• The first approach to conceptualize and

create a structure of the process of
leadership around skills
• Describe leadership in terms of skills that
make it available to everyone
• Provides an overarching view of
leadership that incorporates a variety of
complement( that is, problem-solving
skills, social judgment skills)
• Provides a structure consistent with
leadership education programs
Weaknesses

• The breadth of the skills approach extends beyond the

boundaries of leadership. Therefore, since it involves
many other components, it becomes more general and
less precise in explaining leadership performance.
• The skills model is weak in predictive value. It does not
explain how having the skills can lead to effective
leadership.
• The skills model is partially trait-driven. Thus, it shifts
the model from strictly a skills approach to leadership.
• This approach might not be suitable or appropriately
applied to other leadership contexts. Thus, it cannot
withstand external validity.
 The skills is applicable to leaders at all levels
within the organization

The skills inventory can provide insights into the

individuals leadership competencies
Applicatio
n Test scores allow leaders to learn about areas in
which they may wish to seek further training

The skills approach provides a way to delineate

the skills of a leader.
• References
• Future Learn. (n.d.). Skills approach – Leadership Theory: The Basics. Retrieved
February 8, 2020, from
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/fundamentals-of-leadership-theory/0/steps/5
6184
• Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA:
SAGE Publications, Inc.
• Oakleaf, L., & Baez, M. (n.d.). Organization and Administration in Recreation,
Sport and Leisure Management. Retrieved February 8, 2020, from
https://oer.missouriwestern.edu/rsm424/chapter/skills-theory-of-leadership/
• The Pennsylvania State University (2020). Leadership in Work. PSYCH 485.
Lesson 4: Skills Approach. Retrieved from
https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2045005/modules/items/28166564