principle and practices of management

Essential skills of a manager

Skills are the various talents managers need to perform their roles effectively.  These skills are grouped into 4 categories.  

Technical skills – the ability to use methods, equipment and techniques involved in performing specific tasks within the organization. Technical skills are critical for low-level or operational managers.

Conceptual Skills – the ability to see the whole organization as a single unit of operation, to visualize the interrelations between different components of the organization and how they should collaborate for achieving its mission; to deeply understand the external environment of the organization as well as the new possibilities, threats and challenges it presents for the organization.

These skills are more important for the top level management.

Diagnostic Skills – These are skills used to define and understand situations.  They are most important at the top, moderately important in the middle and least important at the bottom of the managerial hierarchy.

Human Skills– the ability to work effectively with others in a personalised manner. This requires a sense of feeling for others an appreciation of their rights, which can be demonstrated by the way the managers interact with their subordinates, equals and superiors. Human skills also refer to the ability to succeed, to cooperate with others for a common goal, to delegate tasks and authority in ways to empower others, to deal with conflict situations and generate consensus, and to build an enjoyable work environment. These skills are necessary for all levels of management