Reading: Three types of managerial skills

Business owners are entrepreneurs until they become managers. When they become managers, they will feel frustrated because they will need to deal with new problems like managerial problems. And management is not a simple task. It needs knowledge and experience.

Because of that, there is the existence of hierarchy, organisational structure and possibilities for each organizational member with adequate knowledge, experience and skills to move from the bottom to the middle and top level of the managerial pyramid.

What are managerial skills?

Simply, managerial skills are the knowledge and ability of the individuals in a managerial position to fulfil some specific management activities or tasks. This knowledge and ability can be learned and practiced. However, they also can be acquired through practical implementation of required activities and tasks. Therefore, you can develop each skill through learning and practical experience as a manager.

When we talk about managerial skills, we talk about the skills of a manager to maintain high efficiency in the way how his or her employees complete their everyday working tasks. Because of that, managers will need skills that will help them to manage people and technology to ensure an effective and efficient realisation of their working duties.

Types of managerial skills

Robert Katz identifies three types of skills that are essential for a successful management process:

• Technical skills

• Conceptual skills

• Human or interpersonal management skills

Technical skills

As the name of these skills tells us, they give the manager knowledge and ability to use different techniques to achieve what they want to achieve. Technical skills are not related only for machines, production tools or other equipment, but also they are skills that will be required to increase sales, design different types of products and services, market the products and services, etc.

Technical skills are most important for first-level managers. Whet it comes to the top managers, these skills are not something with high significance level. As we go through a hierarchy from the bottom to higher levels, the technical skills lose their importance.

Conceptual skills

Conceptual skills present knowledge or ability of a manager for more abstract thinking. That means he can easily see the whole through analysis and diagnosis of different states. In such a way they can predict the future of the business or department as a whole.

Conceptual skills are vital for top managers, less critical for mid-level managers and not required for first-level managers. As we go from the bottom of the managerial hierarchy to the top, the importance of these skills will rise.

Human or interpersonal managerial skills

Human or interpersonal management skills present a manager’s knowledge and ability to work with people. One of the most critical management tasks is to work with people. Without people, there will not be a need for the existence of management and managers.

These skills enable managers to become leaders and motivate employees for better accomplishments. Additionally, they help them to make more effective use of human potential in the company. Simply, they are essential skills for all hierarchical levels in the company.