Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
Chapter 3 – Skills Approach
Discussion Questions and Exercises
1. What is the skills approach? What are the three basic personal skills that Katz outlines? Define
2. How might group size affect the relative importance of each of the three skills in Katz’s model?
3. When the skills model was developed, what were Mumford and the other researchers trying to
explain? This model delineated components of effective leader performance. List the three
5. Complete Case 3.1. (or 3.2. or 3.3.) and answer all questions.
6. Rate yourself on the Skills Inventory. What are your leadership competencies? Do your scores
suggest that one or two of the skills are stronger? Do you agree with this assessment? Give a
7. How do the problem-solving skills of leaders and managers differ?
8. Are social judgment skills the same as emotional intelligence?
9. How does the skills approach fit with the processual nature of leadership? Influence? Group
context of leadership? Goal attainment?
12. How would leadership skills (technical, human, and conceptual) be used and expressed in an
online environment?