Capability summary: EL2

The Integrated Leadership System (www.apsc.gov.au) identifies behaviours for five capabilities. These capabilities form the basis of many jobs in the APS. To help with identifying these behaviours and how you match up against them, here’s a summary list to support your professional development.

You can use this list to:

Identify gaps in your capability set
Identify language to use in your applications
Choose appropriate examples to match this level of job.

Shapes strategic thinking

Inspires sense of purpose and direction

Translates strategy and vision into goals
Creates shared sense of purpose
Engages others in strategic direction
Encourages others’ contributions
Communicates expected outcomes
Builds shared sense of purpose
Frames objectives in meaningful way

Focuses strategically

Understands organisation’s objectives
Understands links between unit, organisation, whole of government
Considers ramifications of issues
Anticipates priorities
Develops long-term plans
Considers wide range of issues

Harnesses information and opportunities

Gathers and investigates information from a variety of sources
Explores new ideas and different viewpoints
Probes information, identifies gaps
Maintains awareness of organisation
Finds out about best practice approaches
Asks questions to uncover information
Monitors corporate priorities, business context, organisation culture
Looks for recent developments that may impact business

Shows judgement and common sense

Undertakes objective, systematic analysis
Draws accurate, evidence-based conclusions
Breaks through problems
Weighs up options to identify solutions
Explores possibilities from innovative alternatives
Presents logical arguments
Demonstrates how recommendations solve problems
Anticipates and seeks to minimise risks
Distils core issues from complex information
Identifies relationships between factors
Anticipates problems, takes steps to minimise or prevent problems

Achieves results

Builds organisational capability and responsiveness

Evaluates ongoing project and business processes performance
Identifies critical success factors
Instigates continuous improvement
Flexible and responsive to change
Builds effective team with complementary skills
Allocates resources to achieve results
Engages others in continuous improvement

Marshalls professional expertise

Values specialist expertise
Capitalises on internal and external expertise
Contributes own expertise
Manages contracts judiciously
Consults experts
Supplements internal knowledge with external technical expertise

Steers and implements change and deals with uncertainty

Establishes project plans and timeframes
Flexible and positive response to change
Shares information with others
Assists others to adapt
Anticipates change, builds contingencies
Determines course of action despite uncertainty

Ensures closure and delivers on intended results

Monitors progress, adjusts plans
Commits to quality outcomes
Ensures documentation procedures maintained
Seeks stakeholder feedback on satisfaction
Strives to achieve targets and encourages others to do the same
Identifies and addresses risks
Proactively escalates uncontrolled issues

Cultivates productive working relationships

Nurtures internal and external relationships

Builds, sustains relationships with network of key people internally and externally
Recognises shared agendas
Works towards mutually beneficial outcomes
Anticipates client needs
Responsive to client needs
Builds and sustains long-term relationships
Liaises with range of stakeholders

Facilitates cooperation and partnerships

Brings people together, encourages input
Finds opportunities to share information
Fosters teamwork
Rewards cooperation and collaborative behaviour
Resolves conflict
Consults and promotes open discussion

Values individual differences and diversity

Recognises positive benefits of diversity
Encourages exploration of diverse views
Harnesses understanding of differences to anticipate reactions
Recognises different working styles
Sees things from different perspectives

Guides mentors and develops people

Empowers by delegating
Agrees clear performance standards
Gives timely praise and recognition
Delivers constructive objective feedback
Deals with under-performance
Makes time for people, offers support
Encourages and motivates people to engage in continuous learning
Acts as coach
Works with people to facilitate their development

Exemplifies personal drive and integrity

Demonstrates public service professionalism and probity

Adopts principled approach
Adheres to APS Values and Code of Conduct
Acts professionally and impartially
Operates as effective representative
Treats people fairly and equitably
Transparent in dealings
Makes decisions for corporate good without favouratism or bias
Places aims of organisation above personal ambitions

Engages with risk and shows personal courage

Provides impartial forthright advice
Challenges issues constructively
Stands by own position when challenged
Acknowledges mistakes and learns
Seeks guidance and advice when required or uncertain
Acknowledges when in the wrong
Supports others when required

Commits to action

Takes personal responsibility for meeting objectives and progressing work
Shows initiative
Proactively steps in and does what’s required
Commits energy and drive to see goals achieved
Recognises and seeks to resolve issues impacting on work

Displays resilience

Persists with achieving objectives
Focus on achieving objectives
Responds to pressure in controlled manner
Moves forward despite criticism and setbacks
Maintains optimistic outlook
Maintains momentum, sustains effort despite criticism and setbacks ???
Demonstrates persistence
Adapts approach

Demonstrates self awareness and commits to personal development

Critically analyses own performance
Seeks feedback
Confidently communicates strengths and development needs
Reflects on own behaviour
Recognises impact on others
Shows strong commitment to learning and self development
Embraces challenging new opportunities
Acts on negative feedback to improve performance

Communicates with influence

Communicates clearly

Confidently presents messages
Clear concise articulate
Translates information for others
Uses appropriate unambiguous language
Selects appropriate medium
Structures written and oral communication to ensure clarity

Listens understands and adapts to audience

Seeks to understand audience
Tailors style and message
Listens carefully
Checks for understanding
Checks own understanding of others
Doesn’t allow misunderstandings to linger
Anticipates reactions
Is prepared to respond
Maximises personal communication strengths
Takes into account shortcomings

Negotiates persuasively

Strong grasp of key issues
Prepared
Understands objectives, strengths and weaknesses
Anticipates others’ position and adapts approach
Frames arguments
Encourages stakeholder support
Encourages debate and identifies common ground
Puts case firmly without getting personal or aggressive

Notice the strong, active verbs in this list:

Shapes, inspires, translates, creates, engages, encourages, builds, frames, considers, anticipates, develops, harnesses, explores, probes, asks, monitors, builds, evaluates, instigates, allocates, consults, steers, ensures, strives, liaises, fosters, rewards, resolves, recognises, guides, adapts, embraces, empowers, delivers, challenges, acknowledges, seeks, persists, reflects, tailors, escalates, breaks through, weighs up, capitalises on, deals with, steps in.