KSA OR Reverse of ASK

During one of the corporate training, one of the speaker talked about the KSA theory. The theory talks about how employees can contribute to the work culture of the company. K stands for knowledge, S stands for Skill & A stands for attitude. When anyone fresh from college joins any work, he may not have the knowledge & skill of the job that he is taking. Everything is new to him. For an experienced hand, they may have the knowledge and the skill when they join a same industry competitor. When some employee joins an organization, he may not have knowledge. The knowledge can be imparted to him through various training program. After getting the knowledge, he might know how to operate the tool or the operations, but he may not have the skill to do it. The skill might be given after practice. Lots of practice can make people skilled. Thus, the employee gets ready for the work as he has got the knowledge & skill, both of which are required to do work. 

Yet, if you see that the employee is not working as per desired results, it may be because he does not have the attitude to work. Attitude is such a thing, which can make or break a man. The person with the right attitude can go to any extreme because he is willing to go. It does not matter whether he has the knowledge or skill to do it. If he has the attitude, he will be quick to seek knowledge and very fast to upgrade his skills. It is only a matter of attitude. Watch a person who does not have attitude. A person who has knowledge & skill will not work if he does not have the attitude to work. He will waste his time. They will act as if they are working. They just do not understand that it requires lesser energy to actually work than to act. They are just happy that they are getting paid without working. 

Mind you, knowledge and skill can be imparted. But the right attitude is difficult to be imparted until it comes from within. While recruiting, it is important to look for attitude rather than knowledge & skill. They can come anytime, not the attitude.