What Are Managerial Skills?

Simply, managerial skills represent a knowledge and ability of the individual on

a managerial position to fulfill some specific managerial activities or tasks . This
knowledge and ability can be learned and practiced. However, they also can be
acquired through practical implementation of required activities and tasks. Therefore,
each skill can be developed through learning and practical experience from the
individuals.

When we talk about managerial skills, we talk about skills of an 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 realization of
their working tasks.

According to Professor Robert Katz, there are three managerial skills, viz.,

Conceptual Skills,
Human Relations Skills, and
Technical Skills.

According to Prof. Robert Katz, all managers require above three managerial skills.
However, the degree (amount) of these skills required varies (changes) from levels of
management and from an organisation to organisation.

1. Conceptual Skills
A conceptual skill are abilities to work with ideas and concepts. These skills enable
us to understand and better decide the actions and measures that has to be taken in a
particular field of work.
Conceptual skill is the ability to visualise (see) the organisation as a whole. It
includes Analytical, Creative and Initiative skills.
It helps the manager to identify the causes of the problems and not the symptoms.
It helps him to solve the problems for the benefit of the entire organisation.
It helps the manager to fix goals for the whole organisation and to plan for every
situation.
According to Prof. Robert Katz, conceptual skills are mostly required by the top-level
management because they spend more time in planning, organising and problem
solving.

2. Human Relations Skills

A human skill is one that enables to work with people. It is different from technical
skills which has to do with working with things.
These abilities help us to get along with people and to communicate and work
within teams.
Human relations skills are also called Interpersonal skills. It is an ability to work with
 people. It helps the managers to understand, communicate and work with others.
It also helps the managers to lead, motivate and develop team spirit. Human
relations skills are required by all managers at all levels of management , since all
managers have to interact and work with people.

3. Technical Skills

A technical skill is the ability to perform the given job. Technical skills help the
managers to use different machines and tools. It also helps them to use various
procedures and techniques.
The low-level managers require more technical skills. This is because they are
incharge of the actual operations.
Apart from Prof. Robert Katz's three managerial skills, a manager also needs
(requires) following additional managerial skills.
A technical skill is knowledge about and competency and proficiency in a specific
work or activity.