The Skills Approach and Situational Approach

The Skills Approach reading I found to be very applicable and relatable to real life and very helpful when tailoring what jobs and what tasks some people would be better at than others. I especially found the idea of the three-skill approach especially interesting since it really does kind of divide people up into the three different sections/types (human, conceptual, and the technical). I found this especially true when we were doing the activity in class where we were trapped on a deserted island and had to decide who would make the best leader out of five eligible individuals. From the reading, I found someone that was very visionary and saw the big picture to be especially a great leader since they would not focus simply on the small details but rather the overall situation and its context. This was an interesting exercise to me since it allowed me to self-reflect and think about the ways I act in certain situations and it also made me realize how big of a detail person I am. I found myself describing possible scenarios or stressing on minor details or the skill set an individual possessed that could affect the choice in leader rather than who could get them off the island the fastest. However, ultimately it made me realize that when in a situation the most important skills to have (contrary to what I had previously believed) are human and conceptual skills rather than technical. I found this true when we were placed in a group and although one of the guys had very good ideas and reasons for his choice his delivery and communication wasn’t completely clear, however I felt by me and the other group members talking him through it (human/communication skills) we agreed with his decision and found it very wise, thus reinforcing the idea that human skills are the most valuable skill to possess.

When looking at the situational approach, I found this one extremely relatable, applicable and easy to understand since I felt like this is how I make day-to-day decisions. I felt like this was especially true when I reflect back on how I responded very differently to the two people who had asked me the same question and simply based on the situation I had changed my response.. When the first person (a friend) asked me if I needed to talk about something (I guess I looked upset, and I actually was,) I snapped at them and said, “No I’m fine.” However, later on when my teacher asked me if I was okay, I did not snap at her, but rather tried to mask my sadness and say I was fine. Thus leading me to realize that based on the circumstance I adapted my style/attitude based on who I was talking to. Leading me to realize that although there was not a task that needed to be accomplished and I didn’t need to be directed and supported based on the situational differences model, the situations and people themselves (the position they held- one a friend the other authority) caused me to react differently.