1.6 Management Skills

Managers need certain skills to perform the challenging duties and activities associated with being a manager.

Robert L. Katz found through his research in the early 1970s that managers need three essential skills.

Technical skills: these are job-specific knowledge and techniques needed to proficiently perform specific tasks.

Human skills: these are the ability to work well with other people individually and in a group.

Conceptual skills: these are the ability to think and to conceptualize about abstract and complex situations. These skills reflect a broad cross-section of the important managerial activities that are elements of the four management functions.