Final answer:
Conceptual skills are essential for managers to understand the big picture and develop strategic thinking. These skills allow them to see how different parts of an organization interrelate and complement transferrable professional work skills.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skill that enables managers to take an overall view of how the various parts of an organization interrelate and to think strategically is conceptual. This skill is critical for managers to understand complex situations, to solve problems, and to make sense of situations that seemingly defy rational explanations. With a strong conceptual understanding, managers are able to see the big picture and implement long-term strategies. This type of thinking goes hand-in-hand with the development of other transferrable professional work skills, such as critical thinking, influencing, and advising, which can be applied across different job roles and industries.
An analogy to further explain conceptual skills might be that of a puzzle; a manager with strong conceptual skills is like someone who can not only place the individual puzzle pieces in the correct spots but also visualize the complete image even before it is fully assembled. This holistic view is what separates conceptual thinking from other managerial skills that might focus more on day-to-day operations or on technical aspects of a job.