Leadership Competency Model

The ability to actively champion or influence an idea or position when needed; demonstrate support for faculty, staff, and organizational interests

• Extends trust to others
• Conveys confidence in employees’ ability to be successful, especially at challenging new tasks
• Supports and promotes faculty and staff interests
• Understands and facilitates the tenure, promotion, and permanent status process
• Supports fair treatment and opportunity for all
• Challenges practices or policies that may be exclusionary
• Speaks out on issues of concern to the organization in order to exert influence on decisions affecting the university
• Supports and promotes organizational interests
• Takes the lead and champions an idea or position

The genuine ability to relate to all people; unpretentious, polite, sharing credit, unafraid to admit mistakes

• Is approachable
• Shares credit
• Admits mistakes
• Shows respect for others
• Willing to sacrifice personal goals for organizational goals
• Realizes that personal success is connected to team success

The ability to lead by behavior and example that others can emulate

• Exemplifies professional behavior and image
• Shows loyalty
• Maintains consistency between words and actions
• Honors commitments
• Admits mistakes
• Possesses and applies technical knowledge and skills needed to make decisions and perform at a high level
• Stays current on practices and trends in area of expertise and plans, responds accordingly
• Sets and demonstrates high professional standards
• Reflects an ongoing commitment to and appreciation for diversity
• Is sought out as a resource to provide advice or solutions
• Leads by example

The skill of perceiving, understanding, and managing emotions and feelings effectively

• Knows self
• Recognizes and considers the impact of own mood, biases, convictions, and behavior on others
• Seeks to listen and understand others’ feelings and perspectives, and responds accordingly
• Builds rapport with others
• Hears, accepts, and integrates feedback from others
• Controls and filters emotions in a positive way
• Effectively manages relationships
• Displays optimism and seeks alternatives when facing challenges
• Creates routines to manage stress
• Reacts appropriately-doesn’t over- or under-react to a situation

Adhering to moral and ethical principles; soundness of character

• Maintains and fosters ethical behavior in all business activities and decisions
• Gives consideration to the rights and viewpoints of others
• Strives to do the right thing without prompting
• Acts in a manner that is fair, forthright, and honest
• Keeps confidences
• Models and reinforces ethical behavior in self and others
• Builds trust at all levels of the organization
• Follows through on commitments
• Carries their share of the workload
• Perceived as responsible, reliable, trustworthy
• Reliably maintains confidential and sensitive information

The ability to clearly explain decisions and the process or motivations involved

• Tells the truth
• Admits and fixes mistakes promptly
• Provides accurate information in a timely manner
• Makes decisions publicly, when possible, to instill trust
• Facilitates access to information
• Explains decisions
• Ensures that motives are clear (no hidden agendas)
• Uses discretion when necessary

The ability to listen actively; to impart thoughts, views, information, and ideas persuasively and adaptively

• Clearly and effectively expresses thoughts, information, views, and ideas using both formal and informal methods
• Ensures minority opinions are heard
• Actively listens to others
• Maintains an open-door policy
• Adjusts style and format based on audience
• Regularly invites dialogue with and candid feedback from others
• Masters multiple methods to convey information
• Ensures key issues are addressed
• Delivers information quickly and effectively up, down, and throughout the organization
• Plans and delivers communications that are impactful and persuasive
• Delivers proactive communications on key issues
• Articulates a shared vision
• Creates a compelling and inspirational picture of the future
• Maintains visibility

The ability to shape decisions, behaviors, or outcomes within the organization

• Understands the formal and informal workings of the organization
• Understands and interprets internal and external forces affecting the job
• Knows organization’s mission, history, stakeholders, and customers
• Knows the “pace of business”
• Understand how the organization operates, its goals, and the external factors that influence the success of the organization
• Uses tacit knowledge
• Uses the pace of work to achieve goals
• Understands the political climate and operates effectively within the climate
• Seeks and incorporates diverse stakeholders’ interest
• Understands the components of change management and able to lead the team through the process of change
• Communicates effectively about the reasons for change, provides support and resources, and manages the transition process to ensure successful implementation
• Addresses resistance to change
• Understands the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex issues.
• Creates opportunities for cross-department dialogue, brainstorming, and problem-solving.
• Builds strong relationships and partnerships between departments

The ability to clarify and articulate direction, priorities, and a shared vision

• Fosters an ongoing dialogue about the team’s vision and purpose
• Develops and communicates goals that align with the organization’s vision and purpose
• Sets clear expectations and establishes a course of action to achieve goals
• Sets priorities
• Thinks proactively
• Anticipates and prepares for roadblocks
• Builds an inspirational and compelling shared vision and sense of core purpose
• Fosters an ongoing dialogue about the organization’s vision and purpose
• Seeks out diverse perspectives when developing strategy
• Analyzes the organization’s position relative to similar institutions and develops strategy based on current position
• Creates a climate of creativity to achieve organizational goals
• Understands how vision and purpose in other areas of the organization interrelate with own area
• Inspires the broader organization to share their vision

The ability to adjust in response to changing circumstances

• Demonstrates a willingness to adjust plans or approaches in response to changing circumstances
• Uses challenges and setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve
• Creates an environment where experimentation and innovation are encouraged
• Seeks and listens to feedback from diverse perspectives

The ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information to make informed decisions or form reasoned conclusions.

• Learns from mistakes
• Knows when to speak and when to listen
• Can perceive climate and respond accordingly
• Understands the impact and implications of decisions
• Weighs costs, benefits, risks, and possible rewards when assessing a situation
• Makes timely and sound decisions
• Addresses a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach
• Uses facts and available information to develop logical assumptions
• Recognizes discrepancies and inconsistencies between facts and/or data
• Draws correct inferences from information
• Asks good questions and probes all sources of answers and feedback
• Recognizes the appropriate problems to work on
• Marshals resources needed to work on a problem
• Looks for creative and innovative solutions
• Knows when to close a discussion and move to a decision
• Seeks and values input from diverse groups when making decisions
• Considers different options and weighs the pros and cons before making a final decision

The drive for results and efficiencies that achieve intended, measurable outcomes

• Able to determine appropriate processes to get things done
• Knows how to organize people and activities to ensure favorable outcomes
• Understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow
• Finds or creates ways to measure performance against goals
• Establishes efficient structures, processes, and teams to meet objectives
• Maintains commitment to goals
• Seeks out and implements organizational techniques for optimal performance
• Follows tasks through to completion and takes responsibility for results
• Completes projects within specified time and budget parameters
• Meets deadlines
• Measures results to stated goals
• Integrates technology to improve efficiency or effectiveness
• Mobilizes appropriate resources to achieve goals
• Considers return on investment prior to starting a new project
• Takes calculated risks
• Uses best practices to apply specialized knowledge to organizational problems
• Works across organizational boundaries to achieve desired results
• Concentrates on outcomes rather than activities

The ability to create a culture based on clear standards and the expectation that personal responsibility is the norm across all work units

• Accepts personal responsibility
• Expects personal responsibility from “higher-ups,” peers, and employees
• Articulates standards
• Ensures people execute at a high standard of work
• Is consistent
• Willing to have difficult conversations when needed
• Creates a culture of a high standard of work
• Fosters culture of responsibility between departments or work units

Involves overseeing the day-to-day activities and processes of the organization

• Understands funding and budgeting model and applies this to balance competing demands for resources
• Understands key financial indicators
• Uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities
• Establishes and implements sound financial management practices and controls
• Manages budget within set parameters
• Maintains a fair and legal work environment by understanding and complying with university, state, and federal requirements such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and anti-discrimination
• policies and legislation
• Understands and complies with university policies, procedures, and regulations
• Supports UF’s EEO principles
• Able to understand and map existing processes
• Identifies bottlenecks, pain points, and inefficiencies as opportunities for process improvements
• Creates clear service standards and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional service

The ability to assess staffing needs and foster an effective process to recruit, interview, select, and retain to meet long-term organizational needs

• Assesses current and future staffing needs based on organizational goals and budget realities
• Understands and uses effective interviewing questions and techniques
• Creates and facilitates a process to recruit, interview, select, and onboard qualified faculty and staff
• Explores transferrable skills and competencies in support of successful job performance
• Recognizes and identifies strategies to avoid potential impact in the recruiting, interviewing and selection process
• Practices strategies that support effective hiring at UF

The firm determination to do something in spite of obstacles to achieve organizational results

• Willing to state an opinion, have a conversation, or take charge of a situation despite potential opposition
• Willing to make a decision in difficult or ambiguous situations, especially when time is critical
• Gives people candid and helpful feedback
• Approaches challenging tasks with a willing attitude
• Willing to assert authority when necessary to facilitate change, face issues, overcome an impasse, or ensure a resolution
• Willing to have difficult conversations when needed
• Creates an environment where it is safe to give feedback and offer a different perspective
• Keeps own feelings and perspective in check to focus on the greater good
• Steps back and actively listens to different perspectives during challenging situations
• Willing to acknowledge when they do not have the answer or make a mistake

The capacity to empower and develop others and provide effective performance feedback

• Committed to the development of others
• Delegates responsibility and authority to the lowest appropriate level
• Identifies and nurtures talents in others on a one-on-one basis
• Provides open, honest feedback and accurate information
• Addresses performance issues promptly
• Provides direction and meaning to people’s work
• Reinforces/redirects behaviors as needed
• Encourages continuous learning
• Removes barriers by providing the appropriate tools and resources to achieve goals
• Adjusts coaching style to best serve the individual

The ability to foster collaboration, communication, and cohesion among individuals within a group to achieve shared goals and maximize collective performance

• Fosters interdisciplinary, interdepartmental cooperation
• Encourages teamwork
• Provides opportunities to collaborate across work units
• Shares knowledge and information
• Obtains cooperation from others
• Encourages creative thinking
• Provides opportunities for the team to take appropriate risks
• Encourages team to take ownership of results
• Leads by example by helping out when needed
• Makes sure team members have the appropriate resources
• Involves the team to establish clear processes and procedures
• Involves the team in setting goals, communicating vision, and establishing priorities for the team
• Understands and defines roles and responsibilities of each team member
• Conducts regular meetings with the team to check in on goals, provide feedback, discuss concerns, and answer questions
• Provides autonomy
• Holds team members accountable
• Open to feedback and considers different perspectives