Leader Competence: In the Interest of Greater Impact
Why This Matters
Leader competence is the combination of capability, skill, interest, and required behaviors that enable a leader to effectively guide, influence, and inspire their team or organization toward achieving its goals. All four of these are essential.
Leader competence is the combination of capability, skill, interest, and required behaviors that enable a leader to effectively guide, influence, and inspire their team or organization toward achieving its goals. All four of these are essential. What I find in many organizations is there is an imbalance in the approach to developing leaders by focusing on just a few of these elements.
▶ Capability: This is the innate potential to perform a specific role. Without the inherent capability for a task, no amount of training will be sufficient.
▶ Skill: Skill is composed of technical knowledge and practiced performance. Competence is achieved when both capability and skill are present. Leaders must continuously refine their skills through practice to maintain and enhance their competence.
▶ Interest: Passion for the work greatly influences the time and effort a leader is willing to invest in practice. The more interested a leader is, the more likely they are to engage deeply and frequently in honing their skills.
▶ Required Behaviors: These are the specific actions and habits that must be consistently practiced. The quality of practice matters. Leaders must focus on practicing with accuracy and consistency to develop competence.
Professional coaching can play a pivotal role in helping leaders develop these areas. Here are actions a leader can take with the support of a coach:
𝟭. Assess Capability: Work with a coach to identify inherent strengths, blindspots, and areas for growth. This self-awareness is crucial for targeting development efforts effectively.
𝟮. Enhance Skills: Engage in continuous learning and seek feedback to improve technical knowledge, core skills, and practiced performance. A coach can provide valuable insights and strategies for skill development.
𝟯. Foster Interest: Discover and cultivate a greater passion for the work. A coach can help connect personal values and interests to a professional role, potentially increasing motivation and commitment.
𝟰. Practice Required Behaviors: Focus on developing the habits and actions that lead to success. A coach can provide guidance in practicing with accuracy and consistency, ensuring efforts lead to meaningful improvement.
By leveraging professional coaching, leaders can better understand and develop their competence, leading to improved performance and greater effectiveness in their roles.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀
“The Role of Coaching in Leadership Development.” Harvard Business Review, 2019.
“Motivating Employees: How Leaders Can Inspire Action.” Gallup, 2020.
“Effective Leadership Through Coaching.” Center for Creative Leadership, 2022.