The Skills Approach emphasis is “on skills and abilities that can be learned and developed” (Northouse, 2012/13, pg 43) for future leadership.
Why are some people good at solving problems better than others?… what skills do top leaders exhibit?… Many years ago I was mentored by someone who I still consider to be wise….he asked me if I “knew the difference between being smart and being wise?” He replied that some one who is smart asks the questions, yet may fall into the traps….the wise person learns from other peoples mistakes and capitalizes on them. He also told me that none of “this” matters if the person is not willing to, or ready to, take in “this” information. The leader who uses skills as an approach to lead has formulated a plan of action based on his assessment of his surroundings.
I believe its in the way the leader sees life……its survival, and the more and more he uses these skills and keeps them sharp, they become instinct…..it’s the instinct of survival and wanting to “go further” and “do more” that drives the leader to acquire and use more and more skills. Along the way there are personal gates, achievements/goals that are met, and once that goal is met, the leader begins a new goal, with potential challenges that he/she is already war gaming for the next accomplishment. This is a constant process that is always being modified, adjusted and calculated for. This is much like the “Pilot”…the pilot is always scanning the horizon, checking his instruments, reading his map, looking at the ground confirming his direction of travel, communicating to the different towers and aircraft around him regarding his intent, while not forgetting to fly the airplane all at once. In the beginning it is overwhelming, but as the pilot flies more and more, he becomes good at what he does. Yet, not everyone will become a pilot, and not all pilots are good pilots.
As stated in Nothouse’s Leadership: Theory and Practice, the three components of the Skills Model are Individual Attributes (General Cognitive Ability, Crystalized Cognitive Ability, Motivation and Personality) Competencies (Problem Solving Skills, Social Judgment Skills and Knowledge) and Leadership Outcomes (Effective Problem Solving, Performance). The leader who masters these has an arsenal of skills ready to take on the challenges with confidence that lay before him/her.
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and Practice, 6th Edition. SAGE Publications, Inc, 02/2012. VitalBook file.