The following is a framework of six overarching competency areas, including the demonstrable knowledge, values, and skills that serve as building blocks of those areas. This competency framework was developed through the input of several campus constituencies and can be built upon by departments to align leadership development programming in support of highly-effective faculty and staff leaders at the University of Iowa.

For more details regarding the history of the competency framework, review the Introduction to the UI Leadership Competency Framework.

1. Serving within the Institution

• Advocates the vision, mission, and values of the UI
• Engages in strategic planning
• Utilizes knowledge of policy and procedures
• Demonstrates effective stewardship of resources and practices sound fiscal management
• Fosters innovation and problem-solving
• Focuses on constituents and external stakeholders
• Collaborates inter-departmentally and inter-institutionally

2. Managing the Unit

• Links work to the mission
• Organizes work and balancing workloads
• Sets goals and focuses on results
• Uses data to assess progress toward unit and university goals
• Plans and manages knowledge transfer
• Confronts challenges and manages crisis and change
• Budgets, evaluates, and continually improves outcomes
• Makes consistently high-quality decisions

3. Leading People

• Assesses, evaluates, and develops staff
• Delegates, empowers, and manages accountability
• Instructs, mentors, and coaches
• Motivates and engages diverse styles
• Manages transitions
• Resolves interpersonal conflict
• Manages group dynamics and develops an effective team

4. Engaging Diversity

• Articulates the importance of diversity to institutional mission
• Manages the dynamics of a diverse workforce, including understanding bias and culture
• Effectively recruits, hires, and retains underrepresented staff and faculty
• Proactively implements strategies to develop inclusive environments
• Intervenes effectively in discriminatory events

5. Communicating Effectively

• Fosters open dialogue
• Builds interpersonal and organizational relationships
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence
• Manages and facilitates meetings
• Effectively presents ideas and concepts publicly
• Negotiates and influences

6. Leading by Example

• Demonstrates integrity and ethics
• Inspires trust
• Possesses personal resiliency
• Demonstrates versatility
• Takes appropriate risks and demonstrates courage
• Engages in own individual and career development
• Uses critical and creative thinking