Competencies - Interpretations

Question 1

Action oriented – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 1

• Spends too much time planning
  and looking for information.
• Shows little or no initiative in tough
  situations.

Question 2

Action oriented – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 2

• Wastes energy by immediately
  tackling an issue, forcing rework
  along the way.
• Acts without purpose,
  consideration of consequences, or
  buy-in from others

Question 3

Balances Stakeholders – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 3

• Tends to focus on pleasing
  individual stakeholders.
• Tends to rely on stakeholder input
  to justify decisions already made.
• Defines stakeholders narrowly

Question 4

Balances Stakeholders – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 4

• Relies too much on stakeholder
  consensus for decision making.
• Allows stakeholders more than ideal
  amount of sway in determining
  strategic direction.
• Is too focused on building
  consensus.
• Is more accommodating than ideal.

Question 5

Being Resilient – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 5

• Gets rattled in high-pressure
  situations.
• Does not learn from adversity.

Question 6

Being Resilient – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 6

• Allows stress to pile up, risking
  burnout.
• Is overconfident, minimizing
  severity of trouble.

Question 7

Builds Effective Teams – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 7

• Rewards individual effort rather
  than team achievement.
• Does not assemble the right talent.

Question 8

Builds Effective Teams – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 8

• Focuses so much on teaming
  behavior that results may suffer.
• Does not develop individual
  leaders.

Question 9

Builds Networks – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 9

• Does not act as quickly as ideal to
  remove organizational barriers to
  informal networking.
• Misses opportunities to connect the
  right people to each other.
• Does not spend an ideal amount of
  time building relationships outside
  the organization.

Question 10

Builds Networks – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 10

• Overemphasizes focus on
  relationships.
• Continues to broker relationships
  long after introductions have been
  made.
• Is perceived as “too political”.

Question 11

Collaborates – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 11

• Values own interest over others.
• Does not encourage
  communication between groups

Question 12

Collaborates – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 12

• Is overly consensus-driven,
  struggling to make decisions in a
  timely manner.
• Is too accommodating, finding it
  difficult to make tough decisions.

Question 13

Communicates Effectively – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 13

• Does not take the time to listen to
  others’ viewpoints.
• Is not timely with the information
  they share.

Question 14

Communicates Effectively – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 14

• Overinforms, giving out information
  that isn’t helpful or harms
  productivity.
• Invests too much time in crafting
  communication.

Question 15

Courage – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 15

• Is not direct enough in addressing
  difficult issues.
• Prefers not to take a strong stand
  on highly visible, conflict-ridden
  issues.
• Is more conservative in sharing
  strong opinions and beliefs.

Question 16

Courage – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 16

• Communicates rather bluntly when
  a more nuanced approach might be beneficial.
• Is less likely to allow difficult issues
  to resolve themselves.

Question 17

Customer Focus – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 17

• Does not consider customer
  feedback important when making
  product or service improvements.
• Focuses on internal activities
  instead of the customer.

Question 18

Customer Focus – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 18

• Prioritizes information about
  customers over other important
  business realities.
• Makes promises to the customer
  that the organization is unable to
  keep.

Question 19

Cultivates Innovation – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 19

• Favors incremental over
  revolutionary changes.
• Relies on proven methods for
  generating value.
• Is less comfortable experimenting.
• Is skeptical of the new or different.

Question 20

Cultivates Innovation – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 20

• Gravitates toward the new in favor
  of the old.
• Relentlessly pursues change,
  potentially at the cost of efficiency
  and reliability.
• Pushes for breakthroughs that
  the organization is not ready to
  implement.

Question 21

Decision Quality – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 21

• Approaches decisions haphazardly
  or delays decision making.
• Makes decisions based on
  incomplete data or inaccurate
  assumptions.

Question 22

Decision Quality – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 22

• Is overly confident about own
  decision-making capability.
• Is excessively methodical or slow.

Question 23

Develops Talent – what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 23

• Concentrates on the development
  of a few at the expense of many.
• Undervalues or overlooks people
  with potential.
• Over-relies on talent systems.

Question 24

Develops Talent – what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 24

• Over-relies on building all talent
  capabilities from scratch.
• Has unrealistic standards for talent.
• Overestimate people’s capacity or
  potential for growth.

Question 25

**Directs Work** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 25

* Saves high-profile for self. * Does not measure progress in a structured way.

Question 26

**Directs Work** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 26

* Is overly directive, stifling creativity and initiative. * Is too liberal in giving authority to those that shouldn’t have it.

Question 27

**Drives Engagement** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 27

* Assumes a vision will “cascade” throughout the organization. * Pushes and drives more than inspires.

Question 28

**Drives Engagement** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 28

* Leaves others behind by being focused too far into the future. * Takes too much responsibility for other people’s motivation and commitment. * Cheer others on at the expense of holding them to high standards.

Question 29

**Drives Results** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 29

* Does the least to get by. * Procrastinates. * Is reluctant to push for results.

Question 30

**Drives Results** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 30

* Is so deadline oriented that s/he pushes to get something done rather that pausing to “do it right”. * Sticks with effort beyond reason.

Question 31

**Ensures Accountability** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 31

* Holds others accountable, but not consistently. * Takes less action based on “dashboard metrics”. * Does not promote a sense of urgency.

Question 32

**Ensures Accountability** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 32

* Holds people accountable in a way that decreases intrinsic drive to perform. * Promotes a constant sense of urgency that does not allow for prioritization. * Enforces accountability without considering what is needed to deliver.

Question 33

**Global Perspective** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 33

* Lands on a preferred approach rather than multiple options when addressing global issues. * May default to a home region or local point of view. * Prefers things to be done consistently worldwide. * Is slower to bring regions into the fold.

Question 34

**Global Perspective** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 34

* Minimizes local needs, overemphasizing global issues. * Pushes for opportunities on a global scale that the organization may not be prepared for. * Calls upon global experience that does not apply to the current situation.

Question 35

**Instills Trust** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 35

* Covers up mistakes. * Is not open and transparent.

Question 36

**Instills Trust** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 36

* Pushes openness and honesty to the point of being disruptive. * Is extremely direct, appearing overly judgmental.

Question 37

**Interpersonal Savvy** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 37

* Expresses views in a blunt or insensitive manner. * Builds few relationships.

Question 38

**Interpersonal Savvy** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 38

* Makes ineffective decisions due to a strong need to be liked. * Is seen as lacking authenticity.

Question 39

**Manages Ambiguity** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 39

* Adds to the uncertainty and stress. * Does not help others manage ambiguity. * Has a high need for concrete information before acting. * Likes the familiar, sure path.

Question 40

**Manages Ambiguity** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 40

* Draws conclusions too soon. * Changes directions and priorities too often. * Takes action without adequate information. * Be overly tolerant of risk.

Question 41

**Manages Conflict** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 41

* Accommodates, and wants everyone to get along. * Avoids tough conversations. * Seeks to “win” arguments rather than find consensus. * Takes sides before knowing all information.

Question 42

**Manages Conflict** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 42

* Push for resolution before others are ready. * Become too involved in every disagreement.

Question 43

**Nimble Learning** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 43

* Shows lower tolerance for failure. * Lacks optimal patience for experimentation. * Is less likely to reflect on successes and failures.

Question 44

**Nimble Learning** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 44

* Is overly willing to invest in riskier, experimental approaches. * Is overly tolerant of risk to the bottom line. * Takes unnecessary risks.

Question 45

**Optimizes Work Processes** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 45

* Works in a disorganized fashion. * Accepts processes as they are, paying little attention to improvement.

Question 46

**Optimizes Work Processes** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 46

* Oversimplifies processes. * Tinkers with processes that are working sufficiently well already. * Is overly focused on efficiency.

Question 47

**Persuades** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 47

* Relies on hierarchical power to influence. * Does not take enough time to convince others. * Does not provide enough supporting evidence when communicating direction. * Is less skilled at articulating a compelling argument.

Question 48

**Persuades** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 48

* Persuades people to commit to something they are not prepared for. * They oversell. * Reluctant to take an unpopular stance.

Question 49

**Plans and Aligns** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 49

* Shifts priorities too frequently. * Does not always clearly communicate strategic objectives to all levels of the organization. * Does not prioritize contingency planning. * Is too flexible on goals and timeframes.

Question 50

**Plans and Aligns** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 50

* Sets direction and does not deviate from established goals even when new information becomes available. * Intercedes when organizational systems could have addressed barriers. * Engages in overly rigorous budgeting and resource allocation, distracting attention from the “bigger picture”.

Question 51

**Resourcefulness** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 51

* Does not think creatively to get what is needed. * Relies on the same resources over and over, not adjusting swiftly enough.

Question 52

**Resourcefulness** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 52

* Stretches available resources beyond capacity. * Uses resources inefficiently or wastes them.

Question 53

**Self-Development** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 53

* Is comfortable with current skills. * Avoids stretch assignments. * Is fearful of making mistakes that accompany development.

Question 54

**Self-Development** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 54

* Focuses on own development at the expense of meeting other obligations. * Jump from one self-help solution to another

Question 55

**Situational Adaptability** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 55

* Pauses before adapting to a changing environment. * Prefers that organizational structures and systems stay relatively stable. * Slower to notice changing situational demands.

Question 56

**Situational Adaptability** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 56

* Adapts quickly and may leave others behind. * Makes more changes than the organization can readily absorb. * Is more changeable and unpredictable than ideal.

Question 57

**Strategic Mindset** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 57

* More focused on short-term tactics. * Less confident in projecting future scenarios. * Prefers to focus on the here and now.

Question 58

**Strategic Mindset** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 58

* Gravitates toward future possibilities and focus less on current realities. * Pushes for breakthroughs that the organization is not ready to implement. * Is too theoretical, think too big.

Question 59

**Values Differences** -- what does it mean when low? (aka, potential underuse)

Answer 59

* Treats everybody the same without regard to their differences. * Stereotypes people. * Believes their way is the “best” way.

Question 60

**Values Differences** -- what does it mean when high? (aka, potential overuse)

Answer 60

* Prioritizes valuing difference over-achieving results.