What is the main focus of the skills approach in leadership?

The skills approach in leadership centers on understanding the specific skills and competencies that effective leaders possess. This approach emphasizes the behaviors, capabilities, and strategies that leaders employ to influence and guide their teams toward achieving goals. By focusing on what leaders do rather than who they are, this perspective highlights the importance of developing leadership skills such as technical, human, and conceptual abilities.

In practice, this means identifying and cultivating the practical skills that can enhance leadership effectiveness, rather than assessing leaders solely based on innate traits or background experiences. This focus on skills allows for a more comprehensive view of leadership that is applicable across different contexts and can lead to improved leadership development programs.