Tyler Robinson is Chairman of Young Government Leaders, and Director of the Portfolio Risk & Reporting Division at the Export-Import Bank.
During Super Bowl week you may have heard folks talk about someone being “fundamentally sound.” Those are the players that can be consistently relied upon to do the basics of the game and do them well, especially under duress. In sports the fundamentals are crucial for success and are practiced every day. In leadership this is no different. So, what are the fundamentals of leading in the federal government?
The executive core qualifications (ECQs) give us some guidance on this. In my previous post, I discussed in general the five ECQs (Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, and Building Coalitions). In addition, there are six fundamental competencies, which serve as the foundation for these ECQs. At any level of leadership, from the Senior Executive Service (SES) down, these fundamental competencies will be critical for your success as a federal leader.
What are the Fundamentals?
As with many fundamentals the following may appear to be self-evident. However, that doesn’t mean they should be ignored or discounted. Little differences separate the highly talented from the great. The Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Guide to Senior Executive Qualifications describes these six fundamental competencies. Below are descriptions by OPM along with ideas on how to grow in these that I have learned, observed, and experienced.
Interpersonal Skills
Description: Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
How to Grow: Surround yourself with others who excel in this area. Watch how they interact with different people. Little things like eye contact and having a genuine interest in the other person can go a long ways. Also, try stepping out of your comfort zone. Professional organizations help. I chose to get involved with Young Government Leaders (YGL), but there are many good ones out there.
Oral Communication
Description: Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
How to Grow: This one comes down to learning by doing. Find opportunities to practice, be it in a meeting or speaking outside of work. However, listening is as important if not more so than speaking. Try repeating back to the person you are speaking with what you think you heard them say. This lets them know you listened and avoids miscommunication.
Integrity/Honesty
Description: Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
How to Grow: Self-awareness is critical, be aware of what and how you communicate. Strive to be someone worthy of trust and respect from others, let your yes be yes and your no be no. For a more detailed discussion see this essay I wrote.
Written Communication
Description: Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
How to Grow: Similar to oral communication, this is improved through practice and receiving feedback from others who are excellent in this area. Knowing your audience is critical, there are times to write in depth and other times where a paragraph is all you have.
Continual Learning
Description: Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.
How to Grow: I believe you should focus on shoring up your weaknesses, but spend more time on strengthening your strengths. There are many ways to learn such as classroom training, on-the-job training, experiential (hands-on) assignments, on-line courses, seminars or conferences. Create a leadership development plan and think through what you can learn this year. At YGL we are in the process of creating YGL University as we try to help others in this area.
Public Service Motivation
Description: Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.
How to Grow: Actively take time to consider the ways you serve the public and how you can serve them better. This motivation will go up and down, but being aware and taking periodic time to self-reflect will help.
Lastly, never cease seeking growth in these areas as there are always ways to grow. Each of the five ECQs have their particular fundamentals, which I will discuss in future essays, but these six are foundational for having a successful career as a federal leader.
The fundamentals of the executive core qualifications
