HROB 2010 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Problem Solving, Divergent Thinking, Hierarchical Organization

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour
• Course: HROB 2010
• Professor: Michelle Bowring

Document Summary

Like the trait approach, the skills approach takes a leader-centered perspective on leadership. In the skills approach we shift our thinking from a focus on personality characteristics, which usually are viewed as innate and largely fixed, to an emphasis on skills and abilities that can be learned and developed. The skills approach suggests that knowledge and abilities are needed for effective leadership. Katz(cid:859)s approa(cid:272)h (cid:449)as a(cid:374) atte(cid:373)pt to tra(cid:374)s(cid:272)e(cid:374)d the trait pro(cid:271)le(cid:373) (cid:271)e addressi(cid:374)g leadership as a set of developable skills. Katz suggested that effective administration (leadership) depends on three basic personal skills: technical, human and conceptual. Katz argued that these skills are quite different from traits or qualities of leaders. Skills are what leaders can accomplish, whereas traits are who leaders are (their innate characteristics) Technical skill is knowledge about and proficiency in a specific type of work or activity.