How Do You Align Competencies with Business Strategy?

Building Competencies That Drive Results

• Start with business goals.

  Before defining competencies, clarify what your organization is trying to achieve. Every competency should support a business goal.

• Define competencies in relation to your business goals.

  Instead of generic skill lists, define the competencies required to achieve your business goals. This helps with transparency throughout the company.

• Keep competency models flexible.

  Business needs change continuously. Competency models should evolve alongside strategy rather than remain static documents.

• Utilize competency mapping.

  Competency mapping can reveal hidden competencies that can be utilized in advancing business goals.

 

Putting Competency Management into Practice

• Write down competencies before creating training courses.

  Before a new course, write down the competencies employees need to develop. Communicate the required competencies to employees, allow them to ask questions, and explain to them why the competencies matter.

• Create role-specific competency profiles.

  Different roles require different capabilities. Define clear competency profiles for key roles to support consistent development and more meaningful performance discussions.

• Make competency mapping a regular process.

  Competency mapping should be done on a regular basis. For example, schedule competency mapping in tandem with development discussions.

• Review competencies as the business evolves.

  Business priorities change over time, and competency models should change with them. Regular reviews help keep learning aligned with current and future organizational needs.

Learn More About Strategic Competency Management