Leadership Competencies: Bands 20-28
Communicates Effectively
Communicates clearly and confidently. Influences others in a way that results in acceptance and agreement. Listens
actively, while shaping conversations to ensure focus and understanding. Adapts communication style and medium to
suit the situation and the audience.
High Performance Behaviors:
• Is clear when explaining ideas and concepts to others;
communication is structured and easy to understand
• Restates and summarizes information to emphasize
key points effectively
• Ensures that information communicated to others is
current and accurate
• Writes well, using proper grammar and professional
language
• Communicates with confidence and creates a credible
impression
• Adapts communication style, content, and medium to
suit the audience and situation
• Influences others when appropriate: can make sales,
gain agreement, or get buy-in for ideas
• Actively listens, checks for shared understanding, and
addresses misunderstandings promptly
• Politely guides conversations to ensure focus on
relevant topics
Low Performance Behaviors:
• Is unclear or ambiguous when explaining ideas and
concepts to others; communication is difficult to
understand
• Communicates in a disorganized fashion so that key
points are difficult to identify
• Sometimes communicates outdated or inaccurate
information
• Makes frequent grammatical errors in writing
• Hesitates when speaking to others; lacks confidence and
credibility
• Inadequately accounts for the audience or situation
when choosing means and methods of communication
• Is frequently unsuccessful when trying to make sales or
gain agreement or support
• Causes misunderstandings and confusion; does not
check for shared understanding
• Often wastes time by failing to focus communications on
pertinent topics
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