Knowledge, Skill or Attitude? Which factor gives actual performance.

Which factor gives actual performance: Knowledge, Skill or Attitude?

Every company prefers to hire employees that have knowledge, skill and attitude all rolled into one. However, in the event that they would have to pick one of the three, which one would be the most important?

Which of the three can be taught?

According to the experts, the only one of the three that cannot be taught is attitude. Attitude, it seems, is the important motivator for gaining knowledge and skills. Skills and knowledge can both be mastered quickly with the right attitude. However, improving attitude is linked to behaviour and behaviour is very difficult to change. Change of behaviour can only really happen if the individual has the right attitude, something quite difficult to achieve.

Attitude affects performance

When employees have the wrong attitude, they don’t fit in easily. This leads clashes with the culture of the organization and often disrupts teamwork.  This causes a lowered overall performance on their part and often leads to tension with other team members.

The term “addition by subtraction” is often used in scenarios where someone very intelligent or a very good sportsperson cannot fit in and causes problems and discontent, affecting the performance of everyone else.

Attitude overrides problems

During moments of crisis in a work situation, determination, tenacity and resilience are needed. In the event that a highly skilled worker does not offer these then challenges cannot be overcome in the workplace.

Challenging questions to determine attitude

HR departments, trainers, and employers need to determine more than just the knowledge and skills a future employee has. They need to focus more questions on attitude rather than aptitude. Some important employee attributes that need to be determined are honesty, initiative, determination, staying power and resilience.

Hiring employees that make a good fit for an organization is the best way to ensure that business in Malaysia will continue to compete efficiently in the global economy.