Being a technical expert in your field will have got you to a certain level in your business or career, however the more successful you are the more it is necessary to demonstrate a wider portfolio of skills.

Often you may find you are doing less of the job you are a technical expert in, and now maybe you are leading a team? Or needing to be more strategic? Or building client relationships, etc.? Maybe you want to get to the next level with your business or career but something is holding you back?

The skills required are often referred to as “behavioural” skills or competencies. Being aware of your strengths and development needs with these skills will help you progress and become a more “rounded” strategic operator. In fact developing any one of these areas will have an impact on your performance.

Try the compact questionnaire below to assess your “All-rounder” skills and identify areas to develop further.  Don’t put too much thought into the quickie questionnaire. If you want to you can separate out some of the areas for instance; if you think you are very self-aware but your self-management is quite poor then give yourself a score for each. The aim is to give you an easy way to assess your skills.

 

All-Rounder Skill Area All-Rounder Description On a scale of 1-10 ( 10 being “no room for improvement”)
Self Awareness and Self Management Develops awareness of own strengths and weaknesses and reflects / learns from experiences.  Manages emotions and actions appropriately and professionally.
Developing Self and Others Looks to continually develop self and others to improve performance.
Strategic Thinking and Commercial Awareness Looks at the bigger picture presently and in the future. Spends time developing and driving strategic goals through the business. Understand the industry, sector and business you are in, and also the wider business arena.
Change Focus and Innovation Regularly review what you do / deliver with a view to developing new initiatives, ideas and solutions in order to progress yourself, your people and your business.  Accepts the need to learn from others, manage change proactively and embrace innovation.
Team Working and Leadership Be an effective part of a team / network and proactively contribute to building a team / network.  Lead individuals and teams using a style that is motivational and empowering.
Interpersonal Skills and Communication Can build appropriate and professional relationships with a wide range of people.  Is able to utilise a flexible style with others to build relationships. Uses appropriate communication skills to ensure that people understand your message.
Achieving Results Delivers high quality results that impact on the business and drives self to achieve more whilst maintaining quality.
Service Focus  Provides a professional service to people that goes the extra mile. Demonstrates a service focus mindset.
Decision Making Using appropriate decision making processes that consider outcomes and implications. Keeps in check spontaneous decisions and high levels of changing your mind or indecision
Planning and Organising Sets objectives / strategic goals and manages self, time and resources in working towards them.

 

Additional Notes (Important!)

There is magic hidden within the Strategic Operator Model

Firstly competency frameworks were explored from every sector in the UK to determine best fit behavioural competencies for individuals and organisations.

Behaviours are the icing on the cake in terms of success in all jobs. Experience and skills / qualifications do not determine success in the way that behaviours do.

The framework also has Emotional Intelligence indicators woven into it.

The model helps to identify both strengths and development areas.

The scoring doesn’t really matter – some people score high whilst others score lower. What is important though is working out how to improve a score just by 1 point – so a 4 to a 5 or a 7 to an 8 etc.

The design of the Strategic Operator Model also means whatever you focus on to develop will have a knock on effect on the other behaviours. So as an example developing your “Planning and Organisation” behaviours will have an impact on your “Strategic Thinking”, “Decision Making”, “Leadership” etc. That’s real MAGIC!

The Strategic Operator Model can be used with all employees no matter what level (I have 5 levels). And also can be used to give constructive and objective feedback to others and also to gain 180 / 360 feedback for leaders and teams.