After reading the skills chapter in the text Leadership:theory and practice, it is clear to me that I have some improvements to make. Upon embarking in this journey into leadership as a study, I considered myself to be a proficient leader, able to motivate people, and an organized individual able to organize others to achieve a goal. I am a leader in my personal extra curricular activities and am a manager in my professional life. I have learned a significant amount of information about myself as a person regarding the psychodynamic dynamic approach to leadership, as well as with which skills I am strong and weak.
As far as the skills approach to leadership, there are three skills (things leaders can accomplish); technical skills, human skills, and conceptual skills. Technical skills are specific abilities to accomplish the details of a task. Human skills are social abilities to work with people effectively. And conceptual skills are abilities to work with strategic plans or visions and the ability to communicate these concepts and visions to subordinate followers (Northouse,p.46).
Personally, I was shocked upon completion of the survey at the end of chapter three in Leadership: Theory and Practice, when I learned that I scored only 20 for Human skills and 17 for conceptual skills. I did however rate 23 in technical skills. Does this mean that I should not be a leader at all at this point? Clearly, I have a significant amount to learn in order to improve my human skills so that I can affectively lead the followers who depend on me, and to effectively interact with them. Additionally, I need to improve my conceptual skills since as a leader, my organization is depending on me to develop visions and strategies as well as improve policies and concepts for the organization.
It was extremely enlightening to learn of the skills which I have and those where I need improvement.
Sources:
Northouse,P.G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. California: Sage Publishing
STEPHANIE MARIE ZAENGLE says
The idea of implanting the Skills Approach to improve your leadership skills would be a great place to start. I believe that the Skills Inventory is a great place to figure out a person strengths and weakness for a particular leadership situation. I believe that as situations change and one relates to a particular leadership role will ultimate affect the final “grade” that one would receive. While the skills inventory can provide a starting point to really look at your approach and areas that need improved, it’s just that a starting point and believe that leadership is too complex for one questionnaire to have a person questions ones abilities to be a great leader.
When you also consider the three-skill approach which states that the importance of certain leadership skills varies depending on where the leaders are in management hierarchy (Northouse,p.57) could easily convey why your scores are higher in one section and a little lower in another. As one move up into a leadership their skill sets grow within mainly due to the fact that different situations are presented to them which require different skill sets. Since a person can improve their capabilities in these areas through training and experience (Northouse,p.57), I would not stress about one questionnaire “guiding” your personal or work life.
Reference
Northouse,P.G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. California: Sage Publishing