Using Competencies
Successfully
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Learning Objectives
After this session, you will be able to:
• Explain what competencies are and why we
use them.
• Devise a plan to achieve high scores in
appraisal.
• Devise a plan to achieve success in
promotion interviews.
• Devise a personal development plan using
your competency framework.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Discuss…
What is the purpose of competencies in
your view?
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View author’s notes
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Look at the competency framework.
Identify at least three things that you
notice about it.
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Competency framework
• Behaviors
• Observable – what someone actually
does
• Competency
• Made up of one or more behaviors
• Cluster
• Group of related competencies
• Levels
• One or more level for each competency
• Described in terms of observable
behavior
• Job Profile
• Describes competencies and levels for
each job
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Characters
Chris
Paige
James
Judi
David
Eddie
Tracy
Haq
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
The Story
Chris and Paige meet on the stairs at a busy time – two days before
the end of the quarter. Chris is preoccupied with his appraisal, due later
that day, and Paige is anxious about her promotion interview, also later
that day.
Play Movie…
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Using Competencies in Appraisal
Discuss…
What is your manager looking for when he
or she appraises you?
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PROBE Approach
Position
Responsibility
STAR Approach
Situation
Task
Action
Result
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Objectives
Behavior
Effect
Discuss…
How should you prepare for a competencybased appraisal?
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Preparing for appraisal
• Begin as soon as the
previous appraisal is
over.
• Start with the
competency framework.
• Study each behavior
indicator.
• Ask yourself, “Could I
convince people that I do
this now? – what is my
evidence?”
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
If you have the skills…
• Look for opportunities to display the
behaviors.
• If they do not readily present themselves
– create the opportunities yourself.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
If you do not have the skills…
• Identify the aspects of the behaviors that
are causing you difficulty.
• Discuss these with your manager.
• Devise a personal development plan.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
In summary…
• To succeed in appraisal:
– Demonstrate those behaviors that your job
calls for.
– Prepare specific and convincing evidence.
– Look for opportunities.
– Create opportunities.
– Develop yourself.
– Record specific examples.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Pairs Exercise
Look at the behaviors required for each
of your jobs. Take turns asking each
other the following question:
“I am looking for evidence that you display
such and such a behavior? Can you give
me an example of when you have done
so?”
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Pairs Exercise
For each behavior that you have identified
as a weak area – one with unconvincing
evidence:
Discuss what opportunities might currently
exist to display the behavior.
Discuss how you might create opportunities
other than those that exist already.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Pairs Exercise
For each behavior where you are not confident
that you could display the required
behaviors:
Discuss ways in which you might be able to develop
yourself in order to display the required behaviors.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Using Competencies in Promotion
Interviews
What are interviewers looking for?
How does this differ from what managers
are looking for in appraisal?
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Getting promoted
• Look at the higher level
competencies.
• Identify those behaviors that
you will need to demonstrate.
• Look at the differences between
what you do now and what is
required in the senior job.
• Write down those differences.
• Plan to develop your behavior.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Using Competencies for
Self-Development
How can we use our competency framework
to devise effective personal development
plans?
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
What are competencies?
• They are written
standards that govern the
way people do things in
this organization.
• They consist of
observable behaviors.
• They involve different
levels.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Using competencies successfully
• Use them in appraisal or performance
reviews.
• Use them to gain promotion.
• Use them for self-development.
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com
Using Competencies
Successfully
©Telephone Doctor, Inc, St. Louis, MO www.newmarketlearning.com