Which pairing correctly matches skill type with the described example?

• A. Conceptual skills — planning steps for long-range goals
• B. People skills — relating facility goals to staff
• C. Technical skills — maintaining rapport with upper management
• D. Communication skills — planning steps for long-range goals

Answer: (A)

Conceptual skills focus on big-picture thinking, seeing how different parts of the operation connect, and planning for future directions. Planning steps for long-range goals is a clear example of that: it involves analyzing the facility’s objectives, identifying what needs to happen, and outlining a sequence of actions to reach distant targets. In practice, this helps a LATG think strategically about program development, resource needs, and policy changes that shape the lab over time. The other pairings pull in interpersonal rapport (people skills) or day-to-day interactions (communication skills), which belong to those areas rather than the strategic, integrative planning aspect that conceptual skills emphasize.