Core Competencies

Innovation / Initiative

Using information from a variety of sources, identifies immediate action needed to address current issues, seizes the opportunities to enhance performance and advance horizontal/vertical goals. Attends to imminent issue while maintaining an awareness of emerging opportunities.

Level 1: Identifies immediate action needed

• Brings issues to the attention of appropriate personnel as needed.
• Without promoting, undertakes straightforward tasks that go beyond the job's routine demands (e.g., helps others when own work is completed).
• Demonstrates openness to considering new approaches.
• Offers ideas/suggests modified approaches to address current situations or issues.

Level 2: Addresses current issues

• Tries varied approaches and solutions to resolve a problem.
• Persists when marked difficulties arise.
• Tries innovative ways to get things done, while taking steps to reduce the risks.
• Considers situations from new perspectives.

Level 3: Addresses imminent issues or opportunities

• Takes action to avoid an imminent problem or to capitalize on an imminent opportunity.
• Perseveres in seeking opportunities to advance organizational objectives in the near or intermediate term.
• Suggests innovative ways to achieve better results or add value beyond the current situation.
• Uses varied perspectives to improve approaches to current situations.

Level 4: Seizes opportunities to enhance organizational performance/advance organizational goals

• Identifies and acts on opportunities to enhance organizational outcomes or to advance organizational goals.
• Perseveres in seeking innovative solutions to complex issues despite significant and ongoing obstacles.
• Creates opportunities to undertake initiatives that will benefit the organization in the near term.

Level 5: Addresses future opportunities

• Defines and addresses high-level challenges that have the potential to advance a field of study or sector.
• Responds to emerging trends with initiatives that are aligned with the organizations vision and values.
• Anticipates future opportunities and generates innovative strategies to position the organization to take advantage of them.