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One thing that many of us hear from the time we’re in grade school is the importance of continuous learning. Every day, in every aspect of our lives, it’s essential to gain all the knowledge we can about the world around us. This is especially true during the phase of life in which you’re launching and building your career. But what about folks who have already achieved a level of success in their professional likes, such as managers and supervisors? Keep reading to learn more about why technical skills are so important for management level employees and how the Professional Development Center of Glendale Community College in Montrose can help you continue your quest for knowledge.

What Are Technical Skills, Anyway?

Before we get too far into our discussion of why managers should expand their technical skills, let’s clarify what they are. According to expert Robert Katz, there are three types of skills that every manager should have: technical skills, human skills, and conceptual skills. “A technical skill is defined as a learned capacity in just about any given field of work, study, or even play,” explains Boundless.com. Without technical knowledge that allows them to communicate effectively both up and down the chain of command, management professionals will find their jobs are significantly more difficult. The technical skills needed by management will obviously vary from industry to industry, but some examples include: equipment operation, software utilization and security, administrative operations, and logistics.

Reasons To Advance Your Technical Skill Set

  1. Communication – As we alluded in the previous section, one of the most important reasons to invest time in the development of your technical skills is clear communication. For example, managers need to be able to communicate with machine shop operators about problems with a piece of equipment while also communicating the larger picture implications of that malfunction with executives.
  2. conference-side-page-content-image-12-13-16Efficiency – Without a working knowledge of how different technologies or processes operate, it’s almost impossible to identify opportunities to increase efficiency. To continue with the machining example, it would be very difficult for a manager with no knowledge of a particular piece of equipment to determine if current processes are wasting valuable time during operation. You’d just have to take your machine operator’s word for it.
  3. Respect – Another very important reason to invest in your technical skills is the fact that they’ll earn you respect among your subordinates. For many new managers, commanding respect from those they supervise is one of the most challenging tasks. If you’re able to demonstrate to your team that you have an intimate knowledge of everything they’re required to do during their workday, you’re more likely to be greeted with trust when you give them feedback or make changes.

How To Gain New Technical Skills

Now that you have a better idea of what technical skills are and why management professionals should be concerned with their constant development, it’s time to talk about exactly where you can obtain these skills!

Many managers spend a lot of time reading professional news regarding their chosen field. Simply subscribing to trade magazines or reading the most popular blogs can help you stay up to date on trends and technical skills that may be changing.

Another way to improve your technical skills is to attend training events, conferences, and workshops that provide a deep dive into a particular device or digital tool. Additionally, attending these types of events is a great way to network with others in your field!

Enrolling in classes here at the Professional Development Center in Montrose is another great way to ensure that you have a firm grasp on the skills you need to succeed as a manager in your chosen field. Browse our full selection of course offerings or contact us for more information.