Skills of a successful manager

A manager’s job multidimensional and requires a range of skills. They can be summarized in three categories: conceptual, human, and technical. The degree of each skill needed at different levels of an organization may vary. However, managers at all levels should possess these skills to some extent in order to be successful.

Conceptual skill is the cognitive ability to see the organization as a whole and the relationship among its parts. Conceptual skill involves the manager’s thinking, information processing, and planning abilities. This skill is especially important for top managers. Many of the responsibilities of top managers, such as decision making, resource allocation, and innovation, require a broad view. For example, Microsoft Corporation, the giant software company, reflects the conceptual skills of its founder and chairman, Bill Gates. As Scott Oki, senior vice-president for U.S. sales and marketing, pointed out. “Each part of the company has a life of its own now, but Bill [Gates] is the glue that holds it all together.” (Daft, page 15)                                                      

Human skill is the manager’s ability to work with and through other people and to work effectively as a group member. This skill is demonstrated in the way a manager relates to other people, including the ability to motivate, facilitate, lead, communicate, and resolve conflicts. A manager with good human skills likes other people and is liked by them. A manager with human skills allows subordinates to express themselves without fear of ridicule and encourages participation. Effective human skills enable

managers to unleash subordinates’ energy and help them grow professionally. For example, former auto racer Roger Penske, who purchased struggling Detroit Diesel Corporation from General Motors, focused on people to turn the company around. He answered questions from hundreds of employees and met regularly with union workers to solve problems. Penske used his human skills to motivate workers toward speedy and courteous response to customers. The result was a 25 percent increase in Penske ‘s share of heavy-truck engine sales during the first year.

Technical skill is the understanding of and proficiency in the performance of specific tasks (in engineering, manufacturing, finance etc.). Technical skill includes specialized knowledge, analytical ability, and the competent use of tools and techniques in a specific discipline. Technical skills become less important than human and conceptual skills as managers move up the hierarchy.

So, all managers use the skills we have just discussed.