Competency Dictionary
Core Competencies
Communication
· Uses communication tools effectively to meet the needs of audience and/or situation (i.e., email, phone, and other methods)
· Recognizes appropriate time to communicate and tailors communication style to promote successful dialogue
· Shares information with appropriate people in a timely manner
· Demonstrates awareness of and appreciation for others’ communication styles
Openness to Change
· Embraces new work methods, and business process changes
· Responds positively to changing priorities in the work unit and/or University
· Seeks opportunities that promote efficiencies
Overall Success in Performance of Position Responsibilities
· Knowledge of job’s essential duties and capacity to perform them well
· Makes optimum use of resources (people, time and materials) to achieve positive and timely outcomes
· Focuses on work activities that add value to the University and the department while seeking to eliminate work activities that do not
Progress towards Institutional Diversity Goals
· Demonstrates respect for differing views and perspectives
· Actively works with Human Resources to develop recruiting pools which include under-represented populations (hiring managers only)
· Identifies mentoring opportunities for under-represented populations
· Welcomes varied styles in approach to work
· Works effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and organizational perspectives
Willingness to Embrace Tools that Enhance Efficiency & Effectiveness
· Demonstrates willingness to embrace technology
· Learns and uses technology to increase work efficiency
· Develops and relies on own technical skills rather than those of others where appropriate
Targeted Competencies
Ability to Work under Pressure
· Performs effectively under pressure of time and despite setbacks
· Continues to think in terms of feasibility and outcomes under pressure
· Responds sensitively in situations despite opposition
· Demonstrates grace under pressure, rather than seeking to blame or fault others
Advisory Skills
· Formulates advice and/or solutions based on experience and specific expertise
· Influences clients in the decision-making process
· Elevates complex questions and problems appropriately
· Exercises tact and diplomacy under all circumstances
· Anticipates outcomes and adjusts behavior and priorities accordingly
Analytical Capacity
· Draws distinctions between essential and tangential issues
· Ability to predict possible consequences of planned steps
· Utilizes results from a wide range of studies and/or research
· Ability to place findings in overall context
· Recognizes inconsistencies
· Analyzes problems systematically
Attention to Detail/Accuracy
· Consistently delivers an accurate and professional product
· Processes information without error
· Recognizes anomalies and thoroughly checks work
Client Relationship Management
· Maintains appropriate level of client contact and always keeps clients informed
· Follows through on commitments to clients
· Fosters/builds mutually beneficial long-term relationships
Clinical Judgment
· Ability to make decisions using critical thinking that integrates formal and experiential knowledge
· Ability to question and assess systematically the multidimensional aspects of pain and other symptoms to gain the global grasp of a situation
Collaboration & Teamwork
· Balances personal responsibility with interests of team and/or department
· Listens to other points of view and adjusts position toward achieving a group goal when appropriate
· Shares knowledge and expertise with others easily
· Supports and nurtures opportunities for collaboration and bridge building
· Resolves conflicts tactfully, enhancing relationships both within and outside the work unit
· Exhibits grace under pressure and demonstrates mutual respect
Continuous Learning/Self-improvement
· Takes ownership of self-development and continuous learning
· Applies lessons learned to work activities
· Demonstrates the ability to be self-reflective
Cultivation & Development of Relationships Leading to External Funding Sources
· Effectively researches current and prospective customers/donors
· Initiates and strengthens relationships with all constituents through a systematic cultivation plan designed to increase support for the organization long-term
· Acknowledges and recognizes customers/donors in a meaningful way, tailored to the individual and appropriate to Bentley’s mission
Decisiveness
· Ability to make decisions by taking action
· Commits to action assertively
· Oversees the full scope of decisions to be taken
Dependability
· Maintains an excellent record of attendance/punctuality
· Plans and communicates absences in advance
· Keeps commitments
Discretion/Political Astuteness
· Adroit at reading people and situations
· Capable of handling complex and highly sensitive interpersonal circumstances
· Upholds high ethical and social standards in work-related activities
· Puts high ethical and social standards into effect within the organization
· Respects and protects Confidential information
Initiative/Ability to Work Independently
· Works to remedy problems without being told by a peer or supervisor
· Persistent in overcoming obstacles
· Sees what needs to be done in relation to defined responsibilities and does it
consistently seizes opportunities when they arise
· Consistently produces quality work products under minimal supervision
· Sees what needs to be done beyond job duties and proposes or takes action
Innovation/Creativity
· Seeks out fresh ideas from a variety of sources
· Entertains and presents original solutions when discussing or presenting problems
· Takes risks in thinking and expresses novel ideas openly
Knowledge& Understanding of Creative Technologies
· Uses contemporary technologies to model and visualize solutions to creative problems, even with imperfect information
· Utilizes technology in innovative ways
Leadership
· Effectively balances University and division priorities; priorities demonstrate strong alignment between division and University priorities
· Uses performance indicators effectively to monitor progress and shares these with the Cabinet/Board
· Establishes strong credibility with the Cabinet/Board
· Enhances the credibility of the University with key constituencies and the Cabinet/Board
· Demonstrates objectivity and focus on what is best for the University
· Operates with a high degree of ethical awareness (and demonstrates an ongoing awareness of how decisions and actions are perceived from an ethical perspective)
· Understands and clearly communicates the impact and implications of decisions on others
· Makes and executes decisions that may be perceived as unpopular to others
· Demonstrates a willingness to put University first while maintaining an appropriate level of self care and resilience
· Treats people at every level of the organization with dignity and respect
Managerial Effectiveness
· Successfully recruits and develops talent
· Builds organizational strength and focuses on management succession
· Sets clear performance goals for team members and holds people accountable for meeting those goals
· Works diligently to build a diverse team and to provide professional development opportunities for under-represented populations
· Is actively committed (guidance, feedback and opportunity) to developing employees to their next level of performance/provides challenging tasks and assignments designed to stretch and develop employees
· Develops performance improvement plan for employees who need improvement
· Readily acknowledges the contributions of others
· Manages emotions in all interactions
· Appropriately addresses sub-par performance
· Understands when to intervene and when to back off
· Exercises fiscal accountability
Negotiation
· Successfully advocates Bentley’s position with external parties
· Orchestrates win-win solutions
· Exhibits both tactical and strategic understanding during negotiation process
· Encourages debate and open discussion
Persuasion & Influence
· Ability to persuade others to modify their thoughts, plans, convictions, outlooks or behavior in the desired direction
· Clarifies situations, provides insights into causes and connections
· Deals with the responses of others there and then, using his or her own arguments
· Recognizes resistance and/or opposition and consciously makes these part of his or her own reasoning
Planning & Organizing
· Determines goals, priorities and time required
· Indicates course of action and resources needed to achieve particular goals
· Arranges and allocates resources
Problem-solving/Intellectual Capacity
· Recognizes information relevant to the problem to be solved
· Studies, analyzes, and penetrates problems from multiple perspectives
· Able to balance complex competing factors and determine optimal direction/engage in big picture, long term thinking
· Makes connections between data and uses data appropriately to spark intellectual curiosity about the challenges and opportunities at hand
· Develops alternative solutions and indicates consequences of each
· Is able to develop scenario and contingency planning
Professional Expertise
· Maintains professional standing and ensures that all licensure requirements are satisfied
· Keeps up to date on professional trends through continuing education and applies this knowledge in the work environment
· Shares knowledge/expertise with others as appropriate
Professional Image & Manner
· Presents self as visitor-oriented
· Demonstrates willingness to provide service, make visitors feel welcome and accommodates their wishes
· Is courteous under all circumstances
Relationship Building
· Networks with internal and external communities in order to enhance knowledge and resource base
· Maintains contacts that benefit the unit, Department, or Institution
· Communicates with interested parties using diplomacy and tact
· Demonstrates awareness of his or her own influence and how people respond to it
Safety/Risk Management
· Understands hazards in the environment/uses protective clothing or equipment as required by job
· Demonstrates an understanding of applicable policies and procedures
· Maintains and recommends conditions that ensure a healthy and safe working environment
· Understands best practices for minimizing risk within area of expertise (including physical, legal, etc.)
Service Orientation
· Demonstrates a helpful attitude to others
· Works with those being served to get information, assess needs, and resolve issues and concerns
· Responsiveness to inquiries and requests
· Follow through on agreed upon deliverables
· Anticipates and resolves concerns before they become larger issues
Student Development Orientation
· Understands and utilizes student development theory in programs; services; and individual interactions
· Approaches students in a respectful and educational manner
· Uses assessment and best practices for continuous improvement
· Contributes to the field through participation in professional activities including research, presentations, and/or conference presentations
Revised 11/16/2011 1