Leadership - Competency
Definition: Leadership is the ability to guide and influence others through effective communication, inspiration, and decisive action, while upholding integrity and setting clear expectations to achieve organizational goals. A strong leader fosters accountability, empowers their team, and leads by example, creating an environment of trust, development, and collaboration. By demonstrating emotional intelligence, resilience, and transparency, leaders align efforts, recognize achievements, and drive high performance while mentoring and coaching individuals to reach their full potential.
360-Feedback Assessments Measuring Leadership:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
Survey 13 (4-point scale; numbers; floating anchors)
Survey 14 (4-point scale; N/A)
What is Leadership?
Leadership is the ability to guide, inspire, and influence others through a combination of integrity, vision, and accountability. An effective leader sets high expectations, communicates clearly, and empowers team members to achieve exceptional results while fostering an environment of transparency and trust. By demonstrating resilience and courage, leaders navigate challenges with decisiveness and emotional intelligence, ensuring alignment with organizational goals while maintaining ethical standards.
An exemplary leader motivates their team by coordinating efforts, setting clear goals, and mentoring individuals to develop their full potential. They lead by example, embodying hard work and excellence, while providing constructive feedback and encouraging open communication. Their persuasive approach and ability to influence others instill a shared commitment to success, fostering collaboration and innovation across the organization.
True leadership goes beyond managing tasksâit involves inspiring a sense of pride and shared ownership, cultivating a culture that values development, rewards achievements, and embraces diversity of thought. Through effective planning, strategic decision-making, and adaptive guidance, leaders drive organizational performance, ensure sustained progress, and create a thriving environment for employees to grow and excel. Why is Leadership Important?
Leadership, as defined here, is fundamental to the success of organizations and companies because it establishes the framework for achieving both strategic objectives and a cohesive workplace culture. Effective leaders set a compelling vision, align efforts through coordination and communication, and empower individuals, fostering accountability and high performance. This creates a resilient and adaptable environment, driving innovation and ensuring that the organization can navigate challenges while maintaining ethical and operational excellence.
By inspiring pride, collaboration, and shared ownership, leaders cultivate an engaged and motivated workforce. Their ability to mentor and develop employees enhances individual capabilities, which contributes to overall organizational growth. Moreover, the emphasis on transparency, integrity, and feedback fosters trust, enabling constructive relationships and encouraging employees to consistently reach their full potential.
In today's competitive and rapidly changing landscape, strong leadership is vital for sustainability and innovation. It allows organizations to maintain focus on long-term goals while balancing agility in decision-making and operations. Leadership that combines vision, resilience, and the capacity to empower others ensures that companies not only achieve their objectives but also thrive in creating value for employees, stakeholders, and customers alike. What are key aspects of Leadership?
- Effective Leadership
- Influential
- Persuasion
- Inspires
- High Expectations
- Integrity and Ethics
- Leads by Example
- Coordinates Efforts
- Sets Goals
- Empowers
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Clarity
- Communication
- Development
- Coaches and Mentors
- Gives Feedback
- Open to Feedback
- Resilience
- Courageous
- Rewards and Recognition
- Vision
- Manages Meetings and Time
- Managing Employees
- Organization and Planning
- Decision Making
How can I improve my Leadership?
- Inspire and Influence: Practice projecting optimism and a "can-do" attitude, especially during challenging times. Work on delivering compelling presentations or sharing stories that align with your organization's mission and vision, sparking pride and engagement among your team.
- Enhance Communication: Actively listen to employees and team members, fostering open dialogue and showing empathy for their perspectives. Practice delivering clear, concise messages while encouraging honest feedback to refine your clarity and transparency.
- Develop and Empower Others: Invest time in mentoring and coaching team members, focusing on their development and helping them achieve their potential. Delegate tasks with clear expectations, then allow others the autonomy to make decisions, stepping in only to provide guidance when necessary.
- Exhibit Accountability and Integrity: Hold yourself accountable for decisions and mistakes, modeling responsibility for others to follow. Be consistent in your actions and commitments, ensuring you remain trustworthy and ethical in all interactions.
- Foster Resilience and Courage: Develop the ability to remain composed and solution-oriented during setbacks, demonstrating resilience. Be prepared to make tough decisions or say "no" when required to maintain quality and long-term success.
- Refine Organizational and Planning Skills: Continuously improve your ability to allocate resources, align efforts, and establish realistic, meaningful goals. Create a structured plan for projects and ensure all team members understand their roles and responsibilities.
- Cultivate Emotional Intelligence: Show empathy for the challenges your team faces and create a supportive environment that reduces stress and encourages collaboration. Build strong relationships by understanding and addressing the emotional needs of your team members.
- Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer timely and actionable feedback to help others grow while also being open to receiving constructive criticism. Recognize and reward achievements to foster motivation and reinforce positive behaviors.
What are the benefits of Leadership?
Good leadership provides organizations with a strong foundation for achieving sustained success and growth. Leaders who inspire, communicate effectively, and foster accountability align teams toward common goals, creating a clear sense of direction and purpose. This enhances productivity, innovation, and collaboration, enabling the organization to adapt swiftly to challenges while maintaining its competitive edge.
Effective leadership also contributes to a positive workplace culture where employees feel empowered, valued, and motivated. By prioritizing development, mentoring, and recognition, leaders cultivate high-performing teams, improve retention, and build trust among team members. A supportive and inclusive environment driven by strong leadership encourages engagement, creativity, and collective effort toward organizational objectives.
In the long term, good leadership ensures stability and resilience within the organization, laying the groundwork for consistent performance and growth. Transparent decision-making, emotional intelligence, and a clear vision for the future enable organizations to anticipate changes, navigate risks, and seize opportunities. Strong leadership not only drives results but also establishes a thriving culture that benefits employees, stakeholders, and customers alike. What questions could you consider for including on a 360-degree feedback assessment regarding Leadership?
The questionnaire items below will measure competence in Leadership. These questions are grouped into different facets of leadership. When creating a 360-degree or other performance assessment, try to select one or two items from each group. 360-Feedback questions that measure Leadership
Effective LeadershipEffective Leadership emphasizes overall talent, skills, and impact as a leader. It involves demonstrating courage in critical situations, enhancing team productivity and work quality, and guiding others to achieve goals through strong and decisive leadership abilities. This dimension focuses on inspiring and empowering individuals, maximizing their efforts, and driving collective success across teams or the organization as a whole.
- Demonstrates leadership and courage in critical situations.
- Effectively leads others.
- Enhances the quality and productivity of the team.
- Highly effective supervisor.
- Able to lead the organization.
- Is a highly effective supervisor.
- Demonstrates effective leadership talent and skills
- Is a leader within the department.
- Effective leadership talent and skills
- Maximizes the efforts of all team members.
- Improves work quality for the team.
InfluentialInfluential focuses on the ability to persuade, guide, and shape decisions or behaviors. This dimension emphasizes using logical arguments, persuasion, and subtle guidance to align others with goals or actions. It is more action-oriented, concentrating on the leader's capability to affect decisions, drive performance, and foster change without the need for direct control or micromanagement.
- Influences others in a way that results in acceptance, agreement, or behavior change.
- Influences the work of employees within the department.
- Able to influence others.
- Can influence and persuade others to a course of action.
- Uses persuasion and influence instead of micromanaging employees.
- Influences the decisions made at the Company.
- Influences the organization.
- Influences the department.
- Influences others on his/her team to reach goals, improve performance, and try new things
- Leverages credibility and expertise to influence decisions and outcomes.
- Influences others.
- Influences [Company].
PersuasionPersuasion is about inspiring action, shifting perspectives, and gaining commitment. Leaders who excel in persuasion craft compelling narratives using logic, data, and emotional resonance to motivate others toward shared goals. They build alliances across teams, encourage questioning of norms, and use storytelling to make complex ideas accessible and energizing. Persuasion is inherently strategic--it seeks to move people from passive agreement to active engagement, often by challenging comfort zones and aligning individual motivations with organizational objectives. It's not just about being heard; it's about being convincing and catalytic.
- Uses storytelling to make complex ideas relatable and inspire action.
- Builds compelling arguments using data, logic, and examples that resonate with the audience.
- Gains commitment by persuasion.
- Can persuade other peers and team members.
- Builds coalitions and alliances across teams to gain support for initiatives.
- Encourages team members to step outside their comfort zones to achieve more.
- Motivates others to reach and exceed organizational goals and objectives.
- Guides individuals toward goal achievement using negotiation, teamwork/collaboration, motivation and staff development skills.
- Encourages others to question certain procedures which they may not understand and to communicate what they need.
InspiresInspires highlights the emotional and motivational aspects of leadership. This dimension revolves around instilling pride, shared values, and enthusiasm within the team or organization. It emphasizes creating a positive culture, fostering unity, and driving individuals to exceed expectations through encouragement and the projection of optimism, especially during challenging times.
- Inspires a sense of pride and shared ownership.
- Inspires a shared culture by keeping employees informed and working together.
- Inspires confidence by demonstrating conviction, authenticity, and passion for ideas.
- Gives inspiring presentations or discussions.
- Projects a "can-do" attitude when interfacing with peers, subordinates and customers(especially during difficult and challenging times).
- Leads team to achieve consensus, solve problems, and accomplish tasks.
- Signals commitment to critical processes.
- Incorporates the company Philosophy, Mission Statement, and Core Values into daily branch life so that co-workers accept them as more than just written documents
- Incorporates the company Philosophy, Mission Statement, and Core Values into the district's culture so that co-workers accept them as more than just written documents
High ExpectationsHigh Expectations focuses on setting standards for performance and excellence. It involves expecting above-average results, fostering commitment to exceptional work, and selecting highly capable individuals to meet these ambitious benchmarks. This dimension highlights a leader's dedication to cultivating a culture of excellence and pushing employees to deliver their best.
- Maintains high expectations for performance.
- Expects employees to achieve above average performance.
- Expects staff to work above average.
- Consistently challenges employees to exceed goals, not just meet them.
- Expects employees to proactively identify problems and propose solutions.
- Demands attention to detail and precision in all work.
- Believes each employee has the potential to excel and expects them to pursue it.
- Holds employees responsible for anticipating challenges and preparing accordingly.
- Holds team members accountable for delivering results on time and at a high standard.
- Expects employees to represent the organization with excellence at all times.
- Promotes a culture where everyone is expected to raise the bar for the group.
- Is totally committed to doing the best job possible.
- Expects employees to support peers in achieving excellence.
- Only accepts exceptional work.
- Selects the best and brightest people from inside or outside the company.
- Expects participation by all team members.
- Does not settle for mediocrity and quickly addresses underperformance.
Integrity and EthicsIntegrity and Ethics emphasizes adherence to moral principles and leading by example. This dimension centers on honesty, consistency, and maintaining high ethical standards in actions and decisions. It focuses on setting a strong moral foundation, avoiding office politics, keeping promises, and safeguarding confidentiality to earn the trust and respect of others. Leaders embodying "Integrity and Ethics" inspire confidence by exemplifying unwavering principles
- Is a role model for ethics and integrity.
- Maintains high ethical standards.
- Expects employees to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
- Upholds ethical standards despite pressure to compromise for short-term gain.
- Demonstrates core value behaviors in actions towards others and in work performed
- Maintains high standards of honesty and integrity.
- Maintains the confidence of others.
- Consistently follows commitments in dealing with others
- Always sticks to their word.
- Is a highly principled leader of strong ethics and integrity.
- Does what they say they will do.
- Is always honest with employees.
- Provides a moral standard of ethical and honest work.
- Keeps all promises.
- Never betrays the trust of confidential sources of information.
- Never divulges confidential information given by colleagues.
- Avoids getting involved in office politics.
Leads by ExampleLeads by Example focuses on demonstrating exemplary behavior that inspires others. Leaders in this dimension set high standards through their actions, consistently showcasing hard work, excellence, and a positive attitude. They serve as role models, encouraging others to emulate their commitment and dedication, and establishing a culture of integrity and excellence.
- Demonstrates the highest standards of conduct and behavior.
- Serves as a role model for others.
- Demonstrates hard work and excellence every day.
- Leads by example.
- Sets a positive example for others to follow.
- Sets a positive example.
- Sets a positive example admired by others.
Coordinates EffortsCoordinates Efforts highlights the practical management of team dynamics and task alignment. It includes assigning tasks based on skills and needs, establishing order, aligning work with organizational goals, and fostering team cooperation. This dimension emphasizes situational leadership, collaboration, and creating systems that effectively utilize team members' capabilities to achieve specific objectives
- Aligns work of employees to a common goal or objective.
- Focuses others on the necessary tasks that need completion.
- Considers duty positions, capabilities, and developmental needs when assigning tasks.
- Meets regularly with subordinates to align their work with the goals and objectives of the Company.
- Uses situational leadership employing the appropriate leadership style to maximize performance given the situation.
- Establishes a sense of order and control in the branch; co-workers know their roles
- Focuses team efforts on meeting the needs of the customers.
- Able to take advantage of the different capabilities and talents of team members.
- Fosters team cooperation, builds trust among team members and creates commitment to team goals.
- Able to align manpower, design work, and allocate tasks to achieve goals.
Sets GoalsSets Goals emphasizes the planning and structuring of objectives to guide performance. It includes clearly defining specific, measurable, and challenging goals, both short-term and long-term, and ensuring that team efforts are aligned toward these objectives. This dimension focuses on motivating individuals by providing clarity and direction, as well as organizing tasks to achieve consensus and results.
- Sets a high level of performance expectations and challenges others to do the same.
- Leads team to set goals, solve problems, and accomplish tasks.
- Sets goals and objectives that exceed those of peers or team members.
- Sets clear goals and objectives for subordinates.
- Assigns stretch goals that push employees to perform beyond current capabilities.
- Sets sort and long-term goals and objectives.
- Expresses clear goals and objectives.
- Sets specific, measurable, and challenging goals.
- Provides challenging assignments to employees.
- Motivates others to work together toward common objectives.
EmpowersEmpowers within the Leadership dimension emphasizes trust, autonomy, and growth. Leaders who empower others clearly define expectations but allow individuals the freedom to determine how best to achieve results. This competency involves creating opportunities for employees to lead, innovate, and take calculated risks--treating mistakes as learning experiences rather than failures. Empowering leaders provide the resources, authority, and support needed for team members to make decisions confidently within their roles. They encourage ownership, creativity, and self-direction, fostering a culture where individuals feel capable, valued, and motivated to stretch beyond their current capabilities.
- Clearly explains performance expectations and goals to be reached at the beginning of a project, then let's others decide how to achieve the goal.
- Provides employees with the authority and resources needed to make decisions within their roles.
- Encourages calculated risk-taking and treats mistakes as learning opportunities, not failures.
- Places trust in subordinates to succeed.
- Supports employees in taking on stretch assignments that expand their skills and confidence.
- Empowers others to succeed within their jobs.
- Encourages employees to develop their own solutions rather than prescribing answers.
- Empowers others to achieve results and holds them accountable for actions.
- Creates opportunities for employees to lead projects, teams, or initiatives to build leadership capacity.
- Encourages ownership of results and expects employees to take responsibility for outcomes.
- Encourages creativity and expects innovative contributions from everyone.
AccountabilityAccountability highlights ownership and responsibility for actions and performance. It involves holding oneself and team members accountable for meeting expectations, addressing issues like poor performance or behavioral challenges, and ensuring critical processes are followed. This dimension focuses on fostering a culture of responsibility and ensuring everyone contributes to achieving goals effectively
- Holds employees accountable for their actions and consequences of their failures.
- Holds core team members and DMs accountable to commitments made.
- Takes ownership and accountability for results
- Holds Supervisor and core team members accountable for commitments and assignments
- Provides early warning to subordinate leaders of tasks they will be responsible for.
- Holds others accountable for their actions.
- Accepts responsibility for mistakes made.
- Owns up to mistakes made.
- Holds team members accountable to commitments made
- Takes responsibility for and corrects poor performance.
- Accepts responsibility for organizational performance.
TransparencyTransparency centers on openness, accessibility, and trust-building. A transparent leader shares relevant information freely, explains the rationale behind decisions and tasks, and invites others to challenge assumptions or offer alternative perspectives. This behavior fosters psychological safety and cultivates a culture of mutual respect, where employees feel informed and included. Transparency is less about the precision of the message and more about the willingness to expose the reasoning, context, and intentions behind it. It's relational--focused on trust, inclusion, and the free flow of information across levels.
- Is transparent in all communications.
- Shares information with the employees in the department.
- Keeps subordinates informed.
- Gives subordinates the reason for tasks.
- Encourages peers and subordinates to challenge his/her views or opinions.
ClarityClarity emphasizes precision, structure, and actionable communication. A leader who demonstrates clarity avoids ambiguity, articulates expectations with specificity, and defines goals, roles, and processes in a way that enables confident execution. Clarity is about reducing confusion and aligning understanding--ensuring that everyone knows not just what to do, but why it matters and how to do it well. It's operational--focused on effectiveness, alignment, and the ability to translate vision into coherent action.
- Provides clear directions for others to follow.
- Clearly communicates company, area, and market objectives and inspires others to action
- Clearly articulates expectations.
- Defines requirements by issuing clear and concise orders or guidance.
- Insists on clear, professional communication in all contexts.
- Clearly communicates the importance and thought process behind the company and area vision, thus inspiring others to work toward key objectives
- Avoids vague statements; instead, explains what worked and why or what needs improvement and how.
CommunicationCommunication is the foundation for mutual understanding, alignment, and collaboration. It involves active listening, adapting style to audience needs, and maintaining clarity and professionalism even under stress. Communication ensures that expectations, roles, and decisions are understood and internalized across stakeholders. It's relational and operational--focused on building trust, facilitating dialogue, and ensuring that information flows effectively to support execution. While persuasion may aim to shift beliefs or behaviors, communication ensures that everyone is informed, connected, and equipped to act with confidence and clarity
- Actively listens to employees as they explain their understanding of problems and situations.
- Communicates frequently with entire core team to ensure inter-departmental alignment and collaboration to accomplish objectives
- Adapts communication style to different stakeholders to gain buy-in effectively.
- Communicates calmly and honestly with co-workers, customers, and supervisors, even when stressed.
- Encourages dialogue to clarify decision making and inform staff
- Encourages employees to ask questions and engage in dialogue about feedback.
- Identifies and shares information that is useful to promote prompt response to business needs.
- Communicates calmly and honestly even when stressed.
- Communicates with others how they contribute to and support the company's mission.
- Adjusts communication style to fit the needs and learning preferences of the individual.
- Consistently communicates why something needs to be done or changed and relates current initiatives to Company vision and goals.
- Pays attention to and conveys understanding of the comments and questions of others.
DevelopmentDevelopment emphasizes the systematic and ongoing enhancement of skills and performance. It involves creating an environment that supports professional growth, addressing performance barriers, providing resources for learning, and meeting individual developmental needs. Leaders focused on development ensure that employees evolve over time through structured activities, self-improvement, and formal support mechanisms.
- Provides resources to enable individuals to develop professionally.
- Creates an environment that supports learning and development.
- Supports Company sponsored training and development initiatives.
- Meets the developmental needs of subordinates.
- Demonstrates commitment to long-term development of self and associates.
- Able to increase the performance of under-performing employees.
- Helps co-workers/teams understand the vision and priorities of the company, area, and market.
- Encourages self-development for employees at all levels of the organization
- Expects continuous learning, skill-building, and professional growth from employees.
- Uses knowledge of individual strengths, weaknesses, and styles to facilitate effective learning
- Helps to develop team members
- Able to develop average employees into high performing employees.
- Explains important concepts to the employees.
- Critiques own performance as a means of self-improvement and initiates self-development activities
- Removes performance barriers by providing necessary systems, information, tools, and resources people need to do their jobs and develop.
Coaches and MentorsCoaches and Mentors emphasizes personalized guidance and relationship-based support. This dimension includes coaching teams to achieve accountability, mentoring employees for current and future demands, and fostering a learning environment where individuals are encouraged to take risks and grow. It is more about one-on-one interactions, offering tailored advice, and building mentoring relationships to support decision-making and career progression.
- Provides individual coaching for employees as needed.
- Provides coaching and guidance when needed but avoids micromanaging.
- Coaches others and prepares them for current and future business demands.
- Coaches the team to document and hold co-workers accountable for assignments and commitments
- Guides and mentors others as they proceed throughout their decision-making process.
- Mentors others.
- Suggests resources, training, or strategies to help employees grow.
- Coaches employees about the significance of the Company within our industry.
- Uses feedback sessions as opportunities for coaching and mentoring.
- Sits down regularly with employees to review their job performance.
- Helps employees set clear action steps to improve performance.
- Mentors employees.
- Encourages mentoring relationships.
- Creates a supportive learning environment that encourages employees to take risks and try new things.
Gives FeedbackGives Feedback focuses on the leader's ability to deliver timely, specific, and constructive input that drives individual and team performance. It's about setting clear expectations, reinforcing strengths, and addressing gaps in a way that motivates growth. Leaders who excel in this area treat feedback as a continuous process, not a one-time event, and ensure it's tied to observable behaviors and organizational goals. They balance encouragement with accountability, offering actionable insights that help others improve while maintaining fairness and impartiality. This competency is fundamentally about guiding others--clarifying standards, reinforcing progress, and enabling development through direct communication.
- Gives direct, constructive, and actionable feedback.
- Gives feedback promptly so employees can act on it while the situation is still fresh.
- Provides feedback that is specific, clear, and tied to observable behaviors.
- Provides feedback impartially, based on performance and results, not personal bias.
- Provides accurate, timely, and (where appropriate) positive feedback.
- Ensures that feedback is an ongoing process rather than a once-a-year event.
- Provides positive reinforcement and honest feedback to subordinates.
- Balances positive feedback with constructive criticism to motivate while developing skills.
- Frames feedback in a way that supports learning and professional development.
- Encourages employees to reflect on feedback and take ownership of improvement.
- Links feedback to established goals, expectations, and organizational standards.
- Provides feedback consistently, not only during formal reviews but throughout projects.
- Embeds feedback into the team's regular workflow, making it part of how the group improves together.
Open to FeedbackOpen to Feedback reflects a leader's receptiveness, humility, and commitment to personal and organizational learning. It involves actively soliciting input, listening without defensiveness, and integrating others' perspectives into decisions. Leaders who are open to feedback create psychologically safe environments where team members feel heard and valued. They model vulnerability by acknowledging their own areas for growth and encouraging dialogue across all levels. This competency is about being influenced--welcoming critique, adapting based on input, and fostering a culture where feedback flows in all directions, not just top-down.
- Creates an environment where feedback is normalized and welcomed, not feared.
- Actively seeks input from employees and incorporates their ideas into decision-making.
- Remains open to suggestions, ideas, and opinions of others.
- Is accessible and approachable to associates.
- Regularly asks employees for their input, suggestions and ideas.
- Values upward feedback from subordinates and peers and solicits it actively.
- Solicits performance feedback from others.
- Models openness by also seeking feedback from subordinates.
- Encourages and is receptive to working out problems and challenges --- no reluctance from team members to come forward with concerns/issues.
- Actively listens for feedback from subordinates.
- Keeps an open mind to receiving feedback from others.
- Listens actively to employee perspectives during feedback discussions.
- Seeks input and ideas from employees by involving them in decisions.
- Encourages peer-to-peer feedback and open communication across the team.
- Responds to performance feedback, identifying development opportunities (i.e., training) related to current job
ResilienceResilience highlights the ability to endure and thrive under pressure. This dimension emphasizes maintaining composure, optimism, and effectiveness in the face of setbacks, challenges, or adversity. Resilient leaders display the mental and emotional strength to persevere, recover quickly from failures, and continue to perform at a high level even in difficult circumstances
- Maintains composure, optimism, and effectiveness in the face of setbacks.
- Maintains a positive attitude even in the face of adversity.
- Has resilience to pick themselves up after a defeat.
- The willingness to persevere despite uncertainty.
- Doesn't show discouragement when facing setbacks.
- Performs effectively, even under frustrating or challenging work conditions
- Anticipates objections and addresses concerns in a respectful, solution-focused manner.
CourageousCourageous leadership emphasizes moral fortitude, principled action, and the willingness to confront discomfort in service of long-term integrity and organizational health. Leaders who demonstrate courage are willing to say "no" to ideas, goals, or strategies that compromise standards--even when doing so is unpopular or politically risky. They initiate difficult conversations, challenge authority respectfully, and protect their teams from unjust treatment, often at personal cost. Courage is not just about boldness; it's about conviction--standing firm in the face of resistance, uncertainty, or adversity to uphold values, drive necessary change, and model ethical resilience.
- Has the courage to face difficult issues head on.
- Initiates difficult conversations to resolve interpersonal tensions rather than avoiding them.
- Demonstrates bravery in addressing challenging matters directly and effectively.
- Stands firm in the face of resistance when driving necessary change.
- Has the moral strength to overcome adversity, fear, and anxiety.
- Challenges senior leadership respectfully when their decisions conflict with core values or long-term goals.
- Encourages team members to take calculated risks and learn from failure.
- Voices dissenting opinions in high-stakes meetings, even when unpopular or politically risky.
- Protects team members from unjust treatment, even at personal or professional risk.
- Able to say "no" when it is essential to maintaining quality and high standards.
- Says "no" to ideas that will result in lost time and effort.
- Says "no" to goals that will detract from the organization's objectives.
- Able to say "no" when necessary to effectively execute business strategy and meet long-term objectives.
- Says "no" to strategies that will detract from the organization's objectives.
Rewards and RecognitionRewards and Recognition is primarily motivational, focusing on reinforcing desired behaviors and celebrating contributions. Leaders who excel in this area actively acknowledge individual and team accomplishments, using both formal and informal mechanisms to highlight initiative, innovation, and customer-centric efforts. This competency builds morale, fosters engagement, and encourages discretionary effort by making employees feel seen, valued, and appreciated. It's about cultivating a culture where achievement is celebrated and where recognition becomes a strategic lever for reinforcing organizational values and driving performance beyond baseline expectations.
- Celebrates initiative and recognizes employees who take ownership beyond their core responsibilities.
- Recognizes individual and team accomplishments and reward them appropriately.
- Finds creative ways to reward employees for hard work.
- Recognizes and appreciates the work of others.
- Utilizes recognition, and non-monetary rewards, as well as financial compensation, to reward excellent performance
- Rewards employees for innovation and calculated risk taking
- Credits subordinates for good performance.
- Recognizes and rewards employee contributions to the team effort.
- Rewards employees for contributions toward meeting the needs of customers.
- Recognizes and celebrates accomplishments while addressing areas for growth.
- Recognizes and rewards employees for their accomplishments.
- Rewards individuals who demonstrate initiative (e.g., sets up recognition programs)
- Is more likely to recognize employees for good performance rather than to criticize them for a performance problem
- Encourages managers to set up recognition programs to reward individuals who demonstrate initiative and "live out" company values.
VisionVision in leadership represents the aspirational, values-driven direction that galvanizes individuals and teams toward a shared future. It's about crafting and communicating a compelling narrative that aligns personal motivations with organizational purpose. Leaders who excel in vision articulate mission-based initiatives, inspire excellence, and embed core values into the cultural fabric of their teams. They don't just set a destination--they ignite belief in it, cultivating emotional commitment and long-term engagement. Vision is expansive, motivational, and deeply tied to identity and meaning within the organization.
- Creates a shared vision that aligns individual motivations with organizational goals.
- Inspires a shared vision of being the best.
- Instills important values and vision within the department employees.
- Motivates and challenges employees to attain a shared vision.
- Implements Philosophy/Mission-based initiatives within work environment and monitors results
- Inspires, encourages, and guides others toward the vision, mission, and goals.
Manages Meetings and TimeManages Meetings and Time reflects a leader's ability to create structure, rhythm, and operational clarity across their daily responsibilities and team interactions. This competency emphasizes disciplined planning, purposeful scheduling, and the facilitation of efficient meetings that drive alignment and accountability. Leaders who excel here prioritize tasks, maintain agendas, and ensure that meetings are outcome-driven. They have clear action items, roles, and follow-ups. It's a tactical skillset that governs how time and collaborative spaces are used to maintain momentum and focus across the organization.
- Runs efficient and effective meetings with agendas, action items, and accountabilities clearly spelled out
- Maintains an agenda of important tasks to complete each day.
- Regularly attends to and contributes at meetings.
Managing EmployeesManaging Employees centers on the relational and developmental aspects of leadership. It involves selecting and retaining high-performing individuals, recognizing achievements, and addressing behavioral or performance challenges with fairness and clarity. Leaders in this domain foster trust, psychological safety, and a culture of growth by actively supporting their teams and navigating interpersonal dynamics. While time and meeting management create the scaffolding for execution, managing employees ensures that the people within that structure are empowered, accountable, and aligned with the organization's goals.
- Effective in selecting and retaining high performing employees.
- Identifies and addresses employee behavioral problems.
- Recognizes poor performance and address it appropriately.
- Has the trust and support of the Supervisor and district core teams
- Expresses pride in the accomplishments of employees or the department.
Organization and PlanningOrganization and Planning is operational and structural. It reflects a leader's ability to design, coordinate, and execute work effectively--ensuring that resources, time, and people are aligned toward clear objectives. Leaders strong in this area provide frameworks, establish procedures, and maintain focus amidst competing priorities. They help others stay organized, allocate time wisely, and adapt plans based on feedback and evolving needs. This competency ensures that initiatives are not only well-intentioned but also well-executed, creating the conditions for sustained productivity and strategic alignment.
- Establishes methods and procedures for the department.
- Able to conceptualize, organize, staff and manage a program with results.
- Helps employees to focus on the tasks that need to be completed.
- Is able to get the appropriate resources to support individual or team initiatives.
- Can organize efforts of other employees.
- Allocates as much time as needed for task completion.
- Able to organize the work of others.
- Provides structure.
- Maintains focus on the current plan even if it means saying "no" to unnecessary, or unrelated, projects.
- Uses feedback to modify duties, tasks, requirements, and goals when appropriate.
- Can organize others.
- Volunteers to participate on special projects, teams, or events.
- Has own self-development plan; seeks opportunities for self-development on an ongoing basis
Decision MakingDecision Making focuses on the process and execution of choosing among alternatives to achieve desired outcomes. It involves gathering and analyzing data, engaging others in collaborative deliberation, and acting decisively with confidence and clarity. Effective decision makers balance instinct with evidence, assess capabilities before committing, and guide others through structured reasoning and follow-through. While courage may shape why a decision is made (especially in ethically complex or high-stakes scenarios) decision making defines how that choice is formulated, communicated, and implemented. It's about navigating options, aligning resources, and ensuring that decisions are both sound and actionable.
- Gathers and analyzes data and develops rationale for decision.
- Gets others to participate in making decisions and in setting goals for project completion without dictating or providing answers.
- Acts decisively in implementing decisions.
- Shares information regarding decision making so that others understand the relevant positions.
- Implements decision and evaluates results.
- Appears to trust own instincts and insights.
- Expects every team member to contribute ideas during discussions and decision-making.
- Guides decision-making by coaching, counseling and rewarding.
- Assesses current capabilities before committing to new requests.
- Is able to decline bad ideas to avoid making poor decisions.
Emotional Intelligence
- Demonstrates empathy for the impact of change on people and processes
- Suggests methods to reduce stress within work environment.
- Gains cooperation, support, and buy-in of others.
- Takes an active interest in the success of others.
- Confronts underperformance or misalignment with candor and compassion.