3 Better Core Competency Model Guidelines to Follow

Better Core Competency Model Guidelines
At some point, most companies define a list of desired core competencies they believe spell success in their organization to help standardize and focus hiring, learning, performance management, succession planning and career development. We decided to explore if there were better core competency model guidelines to follow in order to support a more powerful end-to-end talent management strategy.

Are Your Core Competencies Making You Incompetent?
Sadly, our research found that the majority of our clients either did not have competency models or, if they did, they were either outdated or not used.  Part of the problem is not many leaders review their core competencies to be sure they are relevant and being used to improve people AND business performance.  It seems that far too many competency models make sense in theory to organize and link people programs but are not directly relevant to current business priorities.

What’s Wrong with Core Competency Models These Days?
The easy answer is that they are an underutilized, outdated, and isolated mechanism. But it goes beyond that. While the original intent may have been pure, most core competency model guidelines remain on the shelf because they are:

• Too complicated.
• Too generic.
• Too far from what matters most to the business.

Our organizational alignment research found core competencies tend to grow to an unwieldy number that is then exacerbated by various levels, functions, and proficiency ratings. The result is often something that only HR can understand and does not easily or directly tie back to what mattered most to moving the business and people strategies forward. Complicated, generic, and weak competency models are not a practical tool for those on the frontline who are actually responsible for making decisions about what to do and who to:

• Hire.
• Manage.
• Engage.
• Develop.
• Retain.
• Promote.
• Develop.

3 Better Core Competency Model Guidelines to Follow
Here are three better core competency model guidelines for building a better competency model that WILL be used as you select, onboard, develop, and manage talent:

1. Keep Core Competencies Simple
   First, forget about trying to cover every competency needed to handle all the capabilities for success. Prioritize and focus. Twenty core competencies clearly stated does not equal simplicity.

   Initially, focus on the critical few high performance competencies required to be a high performer in your unique organizational culture to best execute your business strategy.  Whenever possible, use research-backed and validated competencies from leadership simulation assessments, people manager assessment centers, and sales rep assessment simulations as a starting point.

2. Keep Core Competencies Relevant
   For core competencies to matter, they must be integral to driving the business strategy forward in a way that makes sense within your marketplace for talent and customers.  Review the core competency list regularly vis-à-vis the business strategy and desired corporate culture.  Identify what matters most in terms of hiring, firing, rewarding, and performing.

   If you cannot tie each competency to a current or future strategic initiative, think about changing or removing it.

3. Keep Core Competencies Specific
   Don’t take the easy route and adopt generic competencies. Make the skills, behaviors, and knowledge specific to your short- and long-term strategies.  Effective competencies should fit your unique culture and reflect the working and personality styles of the employees you want at your particular organization — not the employees that could fit anywhere.

   If you cannot tie each micro-behavior to something that truly matters, think about changing or removing it.

The Bottom Line
When you can design core competencies with active involvement from your key stakeholders that are business outcome-focused and that differentiate you from the competition, you will have a core competency model that is truly effective at attracting, developing, engaging, and retaining top talent.

To learn more about what you need before you design better core competency model guidelines, download The Research-Backed Talent Management Recipe for Success