based on the information provided within the question it can be said that the skills being mentioned are technical skills. These are the abilities and knowledge that an individual must acquire in order to be able to efficiently complete the tasks required of a job. Managers most of all need these skills in order to guide employees and know how to fix solutions that require these skills. Having this knowledge will allow them to rise up in the ranks faster.
This phobia is one when people are afraid of a type of food. It may be bad memories from the past or they simply don't like that specific category of food.