What is a competency model?

A description of the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to perform a given role well.

In detail

A competency model answers the question “what kind of person can do this job well?” It usually covers knowledge (what they know), skills (what they can do) and behavioral traits (how they work), and spells out concrete performance at different levels so that evaluation has a common standard.

For example

The competencies of a purchasing manager might include: familiarity with supplier management (knowledge), skill in cost negotiation (skill), and being data-minded and principled (behavioral traits).

How companies use it

Design interview questions from the model when hiring, identify capability gaps in training, and use it as the basis for evaluation in promotion. The model should be drawn from people who perform excellently in the role, not imagined from scratch.

Common misconceptions

Making it big and comprehensive, then leaving it on the shelf. It is only worthwhile if each role focuses on the 5 to 8 most critical competencies and they are genuinely used in hiring and development.

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