Robert katz’s managerial skills
Simply, managerial skills are the knowledge and ability of the individuals in a managerial position to fulfil
some specific management activities or tasks. This knowledge and ability can be learned and practised.
However, they also can be acquired through practical implementation of required activities and tasks.
Therefore, you can develop each skill through learning and practical experience as a manager.
When we talk about managerial skills, we talk about the skills of a manager to maintain high efficiency in the
way how his or her employees complete their everyday working tasks. Because of that, managers will need
skills that will help them to manage people and technology to ensure an effective and efficient realisation of
their working duties.
Types of managerial skills
Robert Katz identifies three types of skills that are essential for a successful management process:
Technical skills
Conceptual skills
Human or interpersonal management skills
Technical skills
As the name itself indicates, these skills give the manager knowledge and ability to use different
techniques to achieve what they want to achieve. Technical skills are not related only to machines, production
tools or other equipment, but they are also skills that will be required to increase sales, design different types of
products and services, market the products and services, etc.
Technical skills are most important for first-level managers. When it comes to the top managers, these skills
are not something with a high significance level. Therefore, as we go through a hierarchy from the bottom to
higher levels, technical skills lose their importance.
Human or interpersonal managerial skills
Human or interpersonal management skills facilitate a manager’s knowledge and ability to work with
people. One of the most critical management tasks is working with people. Without people, the existence of
management and managers becomes redundant.
These skills enable managers to become leaders and motivate employees for better accomplishments.
Additionally, they help them to make more effective use of human potential in the company. Simply said, they
are essential skills for all hierarchical levels in the company.
Conceptual skills
Conceptual skills enable a manager to use their knowledge or ability for more abstract thinking. That
means they can easily envisage the whole by means of analysis and diagnosis of the different states. As such,
they would be in a position to predict the future of a business or department as a whole.
Conceptual skills are vital for top managers, less critical for mid-level managers and not required for first-level
managers. As we go from the bottom of the managerial hierarchy to the top, the importance of these skills will
rise. Personnel with high conceptual skills have the following abilities.
Logical thinking
Lateral thinking
Critical thinking
Multifaceted view
Intellectual curiosity
Spirit of inquiry
Application ability
Flexibility
Receptivity, etc.
