Competencies

Competencies are the skills, behaviours, and attributes that enable someone to perform a job effectively. They go beyond technical know-how to include qualities like communication, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. In short, competencies reflect not just what you do, but how you do it. They're measurable, observable, and critical to performance and potential at work.

Looking A Little Bit Closer

Here's a brief explanation of each of the sixteen main competencies.

Achievement Orientated
Driven to meet or exceed goals, with a strong focus on delivering results and maintaining high performance standards.

Analytical Ability
Able to break down complex information, identify patterns, and draw insightful conclusions to inform decisions.

Communication Skills
Effectively conveys information in a clear, concise manner, both verbally and in writing, while also being a good listener.

Creativity / Innovation
Generates original ideas and embraces novel approaches to improve processes, solve problems, or seize opportunities.

Decision-Making Skills
Makes sound judgments based on data, insight, and experience, even under pressure or in uncertain conditions.

Integrity / Honesty
Acts ethically and transparently, earning trust by doing the right thing, even when it’s not the easy choice.

Flexibility / Adaptability
Responds positively to change, adjusting quickly to new challenges, priorities, or environments.

Initiative
Proactively identifies opportunities and takes action without being prompted, demonstrating self-motivation.

Interpersonal Skills
Builds and maintains positive relationships, showing empathy, diplomacy, and respect in all interactions.

Leadership
Inspires, guides, and motivates others toward a common vision, fostering engagement and accountability.

Management Skills
Effectively allocates resources, sets clear objectives, and oversees execution to deliver results through others.

Persuasiveness / Influencing
Skillflully shapes opinions and gains buy-in by presenting compelling arguments and understanding others' perspectives.

Planning and Organising
Prioritises tasks, sets realistic timelines, and coordinates resources efficiently to meet goals.

Problem-Solving Skills
Approaches challenges logically and creatively to identify root causes and implement effective solutions.

Team Building / Team Work
Collaborates well with others, fostering a positive team environment and leveraging diverse strengths to achieve shared outcomes.

Time Management
Uses time effectively by setting priorities, managing deadlines, and minimising distractions to maintain productivity.

Competencies Required In Job Functions

CEO / General Management

Leadership – Driving vision, aligning teams, and setting the tone.
Decision-Making Skills – Making strategic calls under uncertainty.
Integrity / Honesty – Leading with trust and transparency.
Planning and Organising – Orchestrating across departments.
Communication Skills – Aligning stakeholders, internally and externally.
Analytical Ability – Interpreting data, market trends, and performance.

Sales

Achievement Orientated – Focused on targets and results.
Persuasiveness / Influencing – Winning customers and stakeholders.
Initiative – Proactive prospecting and opportunity creation.
Interpersonal Skills – Building relationships with clients.
Time Management – Managing a sales pipeline effectively.

Marketing

Creativity / Innovation – Developing campaigns and brand messaging.
Analytical Ability – Evaluating campaign effectiveness and market insights.
Communication Skills – Crafting compelling messages.
Planning and Organising – Managing campaigns and go-to-market plans.
Flexibility / Adaptability – Adjusting to trends and feedback.

Design & Product Development

Creativity / Innovation – Ideating and iterating new concepts.
Problem-Solving Skills – Translating needs into functional designs.
Analytical Ability – Understanding user data and feedback.
Team Building / Team Work – Collaborating across tech, design, and product.
Flexibility / Adaptability – Navigating evolving product requirements.

Engineering

Problem-Solving Skills – Tackling complex technical issues.
Analytical Ability – Understanding systems, code, and architecture.
Time Management – Balancing sprints, bugs, and tech debt.
Initiative – Driving improvements and optimizations.
Team Building / Team Work – Working collaboratively in agile environments.

Service / Customer Success

Interpersonal Skills – Managing customer relationships with empathy.
Problem-Solving Skills – Resolving customer issues effectively.
Flexibility / Adaptability – Handling varied customer needs.
Communication Skills – Clear, helpful client interactions.
Integrity / Honesty – Building long-term trust.

Finance

Analytical Ability – Interpreting financial data and trends.
Integrity / Honesty – Ensuring compliance and transparency.
Decision-Making Skills – Advising on investment and spend.
Planning and Organising – Budgeting and forecasting.
Time Management – Meeting critical deadlines.

HR

Interpersonal Skills – Supporting people and navigating relationships.
Integrity / Honesty – Ensuring fairness and trust.
Communication Skills – Handling sensitive topics with care.
Team Building / Team Work – Supporting healthy team dynamics.
Flexibility / Adaptability – Managing diverse people challenges.

Operations

Planning and Organising – Optimising processes and resources.
Time Management – Keeping things running on schedule.
Problem-Solving Skills – Tackling inefficiencies and bottlenecks.
Management Skills – Coordinating people and systems.
Flexibility / Adaptability – Reacting to supply chain or process shifts.

High Potential, High Performance

Whilst competencies are underlying abilities, activity types we do naturally well they're not singular indicators of high performance, in complex, senior and specialist job types you need acquired knowledge and skills too. Together with motivations, and it's when these come together that you have scope for high potential, and high performance.

Career Growth, Mobility & High Performance

For you, and for those who work with you.
When individuals have clear insight into their own competencies, skills, and motivations, they unlock the potential for personal growth and high performance.

From an employer's perspective, this clarity enables greater flexibility and career mobility — opening up opportunities to keep people engaged with new challenges, while also providing the agility to cover vacancies through deputising, temporary responsibilities, or internal moves.

Identifying These Qualities

Identifying Competencies...

You'll have observations about them.

If the person is an existing employee you may know them well otherwise if they're a new potential hire, you'll have interviewed them and seen their CV/Resume. With existing employees, if the person reports into you may wish to ask HR or them for a copy of their CV alternatively you may wish to browse their LinkedIn profile, to observe educational background, career experiences, trajectory etc of course some are substantive and others lacking in detail.

Ask them

“Tell me about a time when…”

Feedback
Review 360° feedback and performance appraisals. Pay attention to how someone responds to feedback, adapts to change, or handles setbacks. Self-assessments - people will have a pretty good idea what their competencies are, manager observations, and peer input all help uncover core competencies.

Online Formal Assessments

Here are a few of the most popular and widely adopted:

Gallup CliftonStrengths – Focuses on identifying natural strengths and talents.
DISC Assessment – Measures behavioural styles and communication preferences.
Hogan Assessments – Used for leadership potential, derailers, and personality-based competencies.
SHL (formerly CEB/Gartner) – Offers a broad range of competency-based tests used in hiring and development.
Thomas International – Offers personality and emotional intelligence assessments tied to workplace performance.