Skills in the workplace could be one of the most important factors of a job besides the workers themselves. Specifically, Katz (1955) discusses the “Three Skills Model” as Technical, Human, and Conceptual. When considering this model, we need to consider what they mean and who in the workplace hierarchy needs more of each skill. While everyone should have some level of all of these skills, different levels needs more of one or two than another.
Human is often commonly known as “people skills.” Working with others on anything or in order to complete a task or goal, or just interacting with them. Also, possibly understanding their emotions can be a part of human skills. This is something that everyone in the hierarchy should have, but more so the employees, and some managers. They are doing most of the interaction. The employees are interacting with the customers and other employees. Managers are doing less interaction – usually just the employees if needed, their supervisor, and a few problematic customers here and there.
Technical skills are more about the job in itself. Being able to train how to do the job and complete it successfully are some major parts of this aspect. While the employees need to be able to complete and perform the task or job, the managers are the ones that really need to be able to train these employees how to complete a job or task. The employees need to be able to perform the task after being trained, but the manager is the one that is going to come in and fix any technical issues that may arise during the process of the job.
Lastly, there is the Conceptual skill aspect. generally, it is probably the higher level managers, supervisors, and officers of the company that will need this particular set of skills. These are the people that are going to be the ones in the offices coming up with policies, goals, etc. for the company to reach for and follow. The managers may come up with smaller short term goals for his or her particular store or team, but the higher levels will be coming up with concepts for anything from districts to regions or the like.
All of these skills are important to running a company or business. Each section of people have what they are skilled or proficient in, and that is one of the reasons of why they are in the placements that they are. A company needs every level, though. It can not function with just CEO level, just manager level, just employees, or a combination of only two. All three levels help to create that successful team for a successful business.
References:
Katz, R.L. (1955). Skills of an effective administrator. Harvard Business Review, 33(1), 33-42.
Pennsylvania State University (2014). PSYCH 485: Skills Approach