Working Definitions of Leadership Competencies

Self Awareness

Understanding one's skills, knowledge, experience, and dispositions as an individual both personally and professionally with respect to leadership. Also the ability to promote the same in others.

Identity Development

Consciousness of one's own socio-cultural beliefs, values, and norms within multiple contexts (home, community, work, globally) and awareness of one's social location. Also recognizing leadership as a part of one's identity within each context.

Cultural Competency

The ongoing development of global perspectives, a multicultural worldview, an inclusive disposition, cross-cultural communications skills, and respect for persons perspectives based on socially constructed differences (race, class, gender, ethnicity, ability, religion, sexual identity, age, etc.).

Contextual Literacy

Knowledge and understanding of communities, hierarchies, influences, political landscapes and privileges relevant to one's individual, community and organizational contexts and how that relates to leadership efficacy.

Civic Engagement

Development of one's social consciousness demonstrated through responsive service and/or advocacy addressing issues of public concern and social justice.

Work-Life Balance

Development and promotion of a healthy balance of one's time, attention, and growth with respect to self, family, community, and career.

Community Building

Development of an inclusive, empowering and healthy environment within teams, groups and organizations.

Critical Engagement

The consistent employment of a critical lens on one's own actions and the collective actions within groups, communities and/or organization both internally and externally (locally and globally).

Applied Ethics

Consistency of, and between, one's moral compass and the group or organization's core values relative to operational contexts.

Professional Excellence

Exemplary depth of knowledge and ongoing learning within one's discipline and in leadership studies, as well as continued professional skills development.