Where Do You Want to Grow? Evaluating Your Professional Competencies

Curious about your workplace strengths and blind spots, but don't have time to wade through books on leadership or to take professional development seminars? Let me make it simple for you.

Research shows there are 5 competencies required for professional and leadership roles - you could call these "the price of admission" as you need them in place before you accept a leadership role. These professional competencies are listed below. 

Now comes the self reflection part. Be honest. Which actions do you regularly demonstrate? Your ability to self evaluate is vital to your growth.

That being said, we all have blind spots. If you want a more accurate picture of your leadership potential, share this tool with a few colleagues and ask them to give you feedback. To make this easier for you, click here to download the PDF of my Professional Competencies Worksheet.

See some areas you want to improve? Choose one and make it a goal to get dramatically better in the next 30 to 60 days. Make a commitment to revisit these competencies every 3 months during 2014 to check your progress. 

The real test of your leadership potential will be in your willingness to invest time and energy in overcoming your blind spots once you identify them. This could be the best gift you give yourself this holiday season!

Now is the time to take charge of your own professional development! Please let me know if the Professional Competencies Worksheet proves to be a useful tool in furthering your growth as a Star Performer and Builder of High Performing Teams.

Professional Competencies

  1. Personal Accountability - Accepts responsibility; avoids blaming others; learns from mistakes; keeps commitments.
  2. Self-Management - Prioritizes tasks; completes tasks responsibly; regulates emotions (channels emotions productively; thinks before taking action; avoids outbursts or blow ups that create negative emotional wake); processes feedback constructively; demonstrates self-awareness (recognizes and understands emotions and their effects). 
  3. Goal Achievement - Sets goals for high performance; perseveres through problem-solving to attain goals; known for getting things done; motivated to pursue goals with energy, persistence and passion beyond the need for money or status.
  4. Interpersonal Skills - Interacts with others in a positive manner; demonstrates active listening; manages conflicts to successful conclusion; channels people toward accomplishing goals; cultivates a network. 
  5. Influencing Others - Personally affects others using collaboration, trust, integrity and ethics; adapts to work with various communication styles effectively; known for being a good listener.