5 Responses

1. Director competencies
   Nic,

   A resource that I have found helpful is a book by Bob Garratt

   The Fish Rots from the Head: The Crisis in Our Boardrooms: Developing the Crucial Skills of the Competent Director.

   It’s available from the normal sources.

   Regards

2. Behavioural competencies
   Hi Nic;

   naturally the competencies required for success depend on the type and culture of the organisation concerned.

   However, we have found the following behavioural traits and interests have consistently provided a high predictive validity of success (over 80%) for generic upper management roles;

   Essential (in order of importance)

   Takes Initiative
   Judgement (strategic)
   Wants Challenge
   Finance/Business
   Wants to lead
   Persistent
   Analytical
   Authoritative
   Planning

   Desirable (in order of importance)

   Optimism
   Infliuencing
   Pressure Tolerance
   Enthusiastic
   Diplomatic
   Collaborative
   Enlists Cooperation
   Handles Conflict
   Helpful
   Manages Stress Well
   Self-acceptance
   Systematic
   Warmth/Empathy
   Precise

   Traits to avoid (in order of importance)

   Defensive
   Blindly Optimistic
   Impulsive
   Skeptical
   Dogmatic
   Forceful Enforcing
   Harsh
   Blunt
   Permissive

   If you’d like any more information, particularly on how you measure and develop these traits, please drop me a line.

   Cheers

3. Director Development
   Nic
   The South West roll out of the IoD Director Development programme begins in January 2004.
   Managed by Leadership South West (University of Exeter) in partnership with University of Plymouth and University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

   The programme covers a range of essential skills necessary for effective board performance.

   If you would like further details please refer to http://www.leadershipsouthwest.com

   Regards

   Jackie Bagnall
   Programme Manager
   Leadership South West
   01392 413067

4. Competencies for Main and Executive Board Members
   Nic,
   If you send your address we will forward summary papers which we have developed on competencies by post, they do not travel well by e-mail as they are in tabular format. You are welcome to use them in any way, comments and suggestions are always welcome.
   Regards,
   John Pope

5. Competencies
   Hi Nick I co-authored Fenman’s Competencies Activity Pack with Roger Pattison and between us we have a number of examples of frameworks. But I would agree with other commenters here that cultural-fit is important. I do have a lot of research on the origins of competencies which were about what makes the difference at senior level and this might be of interest to you. Fenman is also running some master workshops around ‘Making a Success of Competencies’. If you would like to contact me about anyof these leads please contact me direct by email.