What Are Conceptual Skills?

Conceptual skills are skills that utilize the ability of a human to form concepts. Such skills include thinking creatively, formulating abstractions, analyzing complex situations, and solving problems. In the business world, these skills are considered an integral requirement for executives in top-level management positions.

In general, conceptual skills involve abstraction. It is easier to think abstractly about a concrete, physical item, such as a car or house, than an abstract idea, such as justice or happiness. Conceptual skills can also require analysis, such as looking at patterns in events or objects.

Individuals with conceptual skills can examine how ideas are interrelated. They effectively see individual elements in relationship to the whole. Examining complex situations and issues are important conceptual skills. In addition, problem solving is an important conceptual skill that involves both analysis and creativity.

People with strong conceptual skills are often identified as effective leaders or managers. This generally is due to their abilities to understand the organization as a whole and develop creative strategies. Experts have identified three key skills for managers to possess: technical skills, human skills, and conceptual skills.

Technical skills involve knowing about things. Individuals with technical skills know the process. For example, if three steps are required in a waste management process, individuals with technical skills would know how to implement each of these three steps. People often obtain technical skills either through job training or technical colleges. Supervisors over departments are usually managers with strong technical skills.

Human skills involve knowing how to interact well with people. Typically, no one enjoys working for a manager who is rude or inconsiderate. A manager without human skills can reduce both morale and productivity.

On the contrary, managers with effective human skills often have employees with a positive attitude and a strong desire to increase company productivity. In a business environment, it typically is important for managers to work effectively with peers, subordinates, and supervisors. Other skills in this area are the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with teams.

Conceptual skills also involve knowing how to formulate ideas. Individuals with strong skills typically have excellent cognitive abilities to think creatively and solve problems. In a business environment, managers with these skills are able to examine a complex issue and formulate specific, effective courses of action.

For example, a leader in the automobile industry needs to know the technical aspects of car production, but he or she also needs to know how to successfully market cars and how to compete against other car manufacturers. In a sense, he or she needs to be able to conceptualize the totality of the automobile industry. Because of modern business complexity, many management programs stress the ability for top executives to gather information, reflect, and then use critical analysis in their leadership.