ZenithAimHigher
Building our
strengths
Communication
Teamwork Leadership
Business Sense
Customer Focus
ZenithAimHigher
Zenith means to aim higher.
This reflects the heart of how
we want to deliver our vision.
To make this happen, it is important that we continue to aim higher
as individuals by developing and building strengths.
The Zenith Strengths Model covers five key areas of strength which
you need to bring to your role. The strengths are relevant to all staff
across the organisation.
Communication >
Business Sense >
Customer Focus >
Leadership >
Teamwork >
The strengths will be used in staff appraisals to help review personal
development and performance alongside your objectives and any
specialist skills and knowledge relevant to your role.
Each strength has a list of behaviours and personal qualities that
we can all develop to help us reach our potential as individuals
and as a business.
Find out how it works >
Read our FAQs >
ZenithAimHigher
Communication
Behaviours
•I am polite and professional at
all times
•I observe carefully before
making judgements
•I am friendly and approachable
•I share relevant information with
others without overloading them
•I respond as promptly as possible
•I communicate in a clear, simple,
concise way
•I am open and honest in all
communications
•I adapt my communication style
to meet different needs
•I use the most effective methods
to get my message across
•I am aware of my impact on others
•I reflect on the way I communicate
to help me improve
•I present Leeds Fed in a
positive way
•I provide constructive feedback
in a supportive way
•I am an active listener and seek
to understand the views of others
Qualities
Polite Positive Informed Responsive
Approachable Clear Confident Open
Reflective Inclusive Self-aware
ZenithAimHigher
Customer Focus
Behaviours
•I go the extra mile for customers
•I treat all customers with respect
•I carefully consider and anticipate
the needs of customers
•I build and use my knowledge of
the business effectively to serve
customers
•I manage the expectations of
customers
•I build strong, trusting
relationships with customers
•I take ownership of problems
and seek to achieve a fair
resolution
•I provide a great service and aim
for the best possible customer
outcomes
•I listen to my customers
•I challenge discrimination, negative
perceptions and prejudice
Qualities
Responsible Helpful Caring Empathetic
Problem solving Trusted Proactive
Knowledgeable Respectful Fair
ZenithAimHigher
Teamwork
Behaviours
•I collaborate and work with my
team, other colleagues and
partners to achieve the best
possible outcomes
•I know how my role fits in to the
bigger picture of Leeds Fed
•I appreciate the contribution of
others and celebrate their
success
•I am reliable and deliver what I
promise
•I ask for and respond positively
to feedback
•I give constructive, supportive
feedback to colleagues
•I seek advice and help when I
need it
•I am flexible and help others out
when they have a heavy workload
•I value diversity and try to
understand the perspectives of
colleagues
•I am proactive in helping and
advising colleagues and supporting
their development
Qualities
Collaborative Appreciative Reliable
Conscientious Constructive Supportive
Encouraging Motivational Flexible
ZenithAimHigher
Business Sense
Behaviours
•I know how my role and
performance fits with our
business objectives
•I simplify and streamline processes
and systems whenever possible
•I meet my performance targets
and personal objectives
•I make good use of the available
technology to work as efficiently
and effectively as possible
•I produce work to high standards
in line with our goals
•I continually build my knowledge
of Leeds Federated
•I work effectively and efficiently
•I am adaptable and flexible to
meet the changing needs of
the business
•I carry out my role and represent
the organisation with integrity
•I make the most of the resources
available to me
•I actively look for and suggest
ideas to improve the business
Qualities
Business aware Efficient Systems savvy
Delivery focussed Organised Inquisitive
Resourceful Ambassadorial Adaptable
Innovative
ZenithAimHigher
Leadership
Behaviours
•I lead by example to deliver
the best possible service to our
customers
•I engage and involve others when
suggesting and implementing
changes
•I inspire and motivate others to
achieve their full potential and
deliver exceptional performance
•I have a vision for the future of
Leeds Fed
•I take responsibility for
developing myself
•I actively help to develop others
through coaching or other support
•I challenge poor performance
or behaviour
•I am intensely focussed on how
I and we can do things better
•I offer new ideas for improvement
•I take responsibility for decisions
within my remit
•I am courageous in standing up
for our vision and values
•I model Leeds Fed’s values
and culture to others
Qualities
Inspiring Role model Engaging
Decisive Courageous Values driven
Accountable Trustworthy Honesty
Improvement focussed
ZenithAimHigher
How it works
1 Show us your strengths
Before your appraisal you need to gather a range of examples to show how you
have demonstrated each strength and your manager will do the same. Although there
are several behaviours listed under each strength, you do not have to provide detailed
evidence for each one.
Before your appraisal, rate yourself from 1 to 3 on each of the strengths (level 3 is the
highest).
2 Take action
During your appraisal, you and your manager will discuss the examples you have
prepared to identify your strengths and any areas which require more attention. It should
be a balanced and honest conversation so that you arrive at a fair rating.
You will discuss your strength ratings for each of the five areas and agree actions to
support your personal development. These should reflect the level you are at.
•If you are a level 1 the actions will focus on developing the area
•If you are a level 2 or 3 you will look at ways of sustaining and building on
these strengths.
You will also review your objectives and talk about any specialist, technical
or professional development required for your role.
3 Review your progress
Your progress will be reviewed in regular 1:1s, mini appraisals and at each
annual appraisal.
ZenithAimHigher
FAQs
Can I reach level 3
in all strengths?
Yes. The Zenith Model has an aspirational set
of strengths because it gives everyone the
opportunity to reach level 3. Inevitably you
will have areas of natural strength and
others which are more challenging.
The aim is to make best use of your talents
and also to develop areas which might
need more focus.
What if I’m new in
my role?
If you are performing strongly you may
still be rated at level 3 if you can provide
examples to demonstrate it.
Will my strengths rating
change each year?
Your rating can change because it is based
on the examples you give to demonstrate
the five strengths at your annual appraisal.
The Zenith Model is designed to help you
develop, maintain and build on your
strengths.
What happens if I
reach level 3 for all
the strengths?
If you are a level 3 in each of the five key
strengths, there will still be development
opportunities to keep developing your
strengths and abilities in your role.
The Zenith Model is designed to encourage
and recognise high performance and
identify people who are outstanding.
What development
opportunities will
I get to help build
my strengths?
A variety of professional development
opportunities are available to help you
perform as effectively as possible in your
role. This could be training courses,
or in-house opportunities such as coaching,
shadowing work colleagues or working
on new projects. You can discuss your
training and development needs with your
manager at your annual appraisal.