LEAD Competencies Introduction

Hearing what is being said and observing nonverbal cues to prevent miscommunication, promote understanding, gathering and receiving feedback, and demonstrate a sense of caring about what others want to communicate.

Selecting, sorting, and combining information to capture and reflect on important facts, concepts, and processes leading to increased comprehension and the ability to convey information in a concise and coherent manner. 

Using written formats to share information with others in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.

Using spoken and/or signed communication to share information with others one-on-one, in small groups, and/or in front of a large audience in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.

Using body language, gestures, other cues, and visual aids to support the conveyance of meaning.

Understanding one’s beliefs, values, culture, actions, personality, strengths, and weaknesses.

Accepting ownership for not meeting expectations or achieving desired outcomes, receives feedback from others and is able to consider it to develop competencies and effectiveness. 

Facing challenges, adversity, and major setbacks and learning from the experience, taking corrective action, and rising to the next challenge.

Taking charge of a situation either individually to fill a need or motivating others to take action. Completing tasks without having to be followed up with or reminded and can be relied upon and trusted to carry out commitments.

Committing to constant expansion and improvement of skills, abilities, knowledge and understanding by adopting continuous learning strategies (e.g., seeking feedback, observing others, exploring alternatives, practicing current skills, seeking training and education, etc.).

Understanding the importance teamwork has for the effectiveness of groups and organizations and using that understanding to foster a culture of helping others and working together.

Understanding how varied perspectives and experiences can enhance a group's effectiveness and foster an environment in which people are able to contribute to the purpose of the work.

Understanding how varied perspectives and experiences can enhance a group's effectiveness and foster an environment in which people are able to contribute to the purpose of the work.

Understanding how groups develop; anticipating, navigating, mitigating, and responding to behaviors of a group and the people in it to foster group development to enhance the group’s efficiency and effectiveness.

Understanding the obligations one has to intentionally contribute to the greater good through responsible decision making and ethical actions.

Developing new and/or novel ideas through critical thinking and creative processes that address issues and/or lead to change.

Considering the past and learning from successes and failures –own and others’ – to understand a situation, strategies used, and the impact of decisions. Employing critical, practical, and creative thinking skills within an ethical framework to connect disparate information; understanding the context of the situation from multiple perspectives; synthesizing information; being open-minded and flexible while considering multiple possible solutions.

Defines a problem or issue; identifies its potential causes; specifies a desired outcome; employs critical, practical, and creative thinking skills to generate possible solutions; and identifies and implements effective criteria for choosing amongst possible solutions.

Understanding standards and expectations for personal and professional ethical behavior by acting in accord with an appropriate set of social norms, beliefs, and cultural values (e.g., trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship). Considers implications of actions and shows an awareness of the need to hold oneself to a higher standard.

Identifying tasks and setting deadlines to design, evaluate, and implement strategies to answer questions or achieve desired goals. Assessing a situation, organization, or network through examination of the linkages, interconnections, and/or interactions of it component parts – both internal and external – to better understand how it works, to be able to navigate through ripple effects of others’ decisions, and to make decisions that consider impact on a larger network or system.