Page 4 - MS Perspectives 2014 YIR

Role Concept

A "role concept" is an idea that a person holds of his or her role, and what is
important in that role. A role concept might (but is not typically) be consistent with
a person's job description. A job description is a hiring oriented document, while a
role concept is about the performance of a person in a role.

Skills

"Skills" refers to the competencies required by a role. They include technical skills,
managerial skills, and leadership skills.

The Inner Game of Management

The third critical dimension that a person must manage effectively in order to be
successful in an organization is the psychological dimension that we term the "The
Inner Game of Management." This refers to the psychological aspects of being a
leader or manager. Specifically, it refers to three psychological factors or
dimensions:

 a person's source of self-esteem (esteem needs),
 The need for control (power needs) , and
 The need to be liked (affiliation needs).

Bottom Line: Why do MBAs Fail?

In brief, MBAs fail because MBA programs by their very nature cannot deal with two
of the three critical dimension of managerial and leadership success. MBA programs
can help build a person's skills or competencies. However, they are not person
specific or job specific, and as a result they cannot deal with creation of the correct
role concept or the three psychological dimensions comprising the inner game of
management.

How can these other dimensions be developed? For more than 35 years we have
been assisting individuals to develop these three critical dimensions, as part of our
coaching and leadership development programs

For information about the leadership training and development and coaching
programs offered by Management Systems, see Leadership Development and
Coaching.

2