Leadership Competency Questionnaire

To develop as leaders, it is important to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses. Be as honest as possible as you complete the following self-assessment. You may even want to ask colleague or your leader to complete this survey about you, as well. Once you’re done, pick 1 thing that you would like to get better at.

Instructions: For each question below, read the definition of the leadership competency and then select the corresponding box to indicate the level of expertise you feel you have in that area. Note: We also recommend asking one or more people you work with to complete this assessment on your behalf so that you receive additional perspectives about yourself.

Here are the definitions of the levels of expertise:

1. Novice = Minimal Knowledge and Experience
2. Intermediate = Can Apply Main Concepts – Has Some Training and Experience
3. Advanced = Recognized as Skilled – Significant Training, Skills and Experience
4. Expert = Recognized as an Expert who Teaches Others
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
1Boss relationships (working with/under authority)The ability to respond to, relate to, listen to, and learn from one’s leader.
2Building effective teamsThe ability to form, guide, develop, resource and support a team to effectively achieve its intended purpose.
3Communication PlanningThe ability to develop a plan to understand and meet the communications needs of your intended audiences and/or stakeholders.
4Conflict managementRecognizing and dealing with disputes in a rational, balanced and effective way.
5Cross-cultural flexibilityThe ability to live, work, and interact with people across a wide variety of cultural and social backgrounds.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
6Cross-cultural sensitivityKnowledge, awareness and acceptance of other cultures.
7Decision makingThe ability to use a rational process in making decisions.
8Defining rolesDefining and documenting clear and agreed upon responsibilities for a person.
9DelegationThe ability to appropriately assign responsibility and authority to another person to carry out specific activities.
10Developing communityThe ability to attract and motivate people to desire to serve together as a community, strengthen one another, take collective action, and generate solutions to common problems.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
11Developing othersSeeking opportunities to help others set developmental goals, encourage them, give them opportunities to apply new skills, and provide them with developmental feedback.
12Developing vision and purposeClearly defining and communicating a clear picture of a desired future that motivates others to take action.
13Ethics and values-based leadershipActing and communicating in a way that demonstrates key organizational values that show others how to behave in order to fulfill the organization’s mission.
14Financial managementThe efficient, effective and ethical management of money in a manner that helps accomplish the objectives of the organization.
15Following-up (on work, people, commitments, goals, etc)Returning to ongoing efforts or situations in order to assess the current status, needs and/or next steps.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
16Leading changeThe ability to create, build and sustain significant change in and through others.
17ListeningTo actively pay attention to and consider what others have to say.
18Managing diversityCreating and leveraging the potential benefits of a diverse group of people with unique culture, experience, skills, perspectives and giftings.
19Ministry fund raisingThe ability to utilize a variety of funding sources to effectively raise money.
20Motivating and mobilizing othersThe ability to inspire or incentivize others to take action.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
21NegotiatingThe ability to reach an agreement or compromise with others through discussion.
22Organizing and planning workThe ablity to identify and organize work into tasks to be completed by specific people, by set dates in order to accomplish an objective.
23Peer relationshipsThe ability to get along well with peers in social or work related relationships.
24PerspectiveThe ability to consider situations through the eyes or lens of others.
25Presentation skillsHaving the skills necessary to deliver effective and engaging presentations to a variety of audiences.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
26Problem solvingThe ability to use a rational process to effectively identify the root cause of problems.
27Process managementThe ability to define, document, follow, monitor and evaluate work processes.
28Recruiting staffThe ability to attract, identify, assess, and select the best candidates for a job.
29Self development/learningThe intentional process or effort one makes to continuously develop one’s own character, knowledge, skills and abilities.
30Servant MindsetA servant-first mindset that seeks to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
31Setting goals and measuring resultsThe ability to clearly define what one wants to accomplish and track the progress toward achieving the results.
32Setting prioritiesIdentifying the relative importance of each item in a list of things to get done and planning to do the most important things first.
33Strategic thinkingThe ability to come up with an effective and comprehensive high level plan or approach to accomplish a vision or purpose.
34Team leadershipThe ability to effectively work together in unity as members of a leadership team to assess, plan, manage, instruct, evaluate and make decisions.
35Technical or functional knowledgeHaving a sufficient understanding of the unique technical skills and work-specific skills necessary to lead a team in its unique context.
#CompetencyDefinition
1. Novice
2. Intermediate
3. Advanced
4. Expert
36Time managementThe abiilty to plan and manage one’s time wisely, effectively, and in alignment with one’s own life purpose and priorities.
37Understanding othersThe ability to understand and be sensitive to other people’s passions, purpose, giftings, strengths, weaknesses, personality, needs, fears, likes, dislikes, thoughts, and feelings.
38Understanding yourselfUnderstanding one’s self in terms of one’s own passions, purpose, giftings, strengths, weaknesses, personality, needs, fears, likes, dislikes, thoughts, and feelings.
39Work/life balanceThe ability to stay holistically healthy by properly proritizing and balancing the quality and quantity of time spent on various areas of one’s life such as work, family, friends, physical health, emotional health, spiritual health, and mental health.
40Written communicationsThe ability to effectively express thoughts, ideas, and concerns and engage others via written communications.
You have completed this self-assessment. Now scroll down to see your results compared to the ideal suggested competency levels for various leadership roles within YWAM.
Next Steps: The table below shows your self-assessment of your skill level for each of the competencies. To the right of that column shows the suggested skill level for various leadership roles within YWAM (emerging leader, ministry leader, base leader, multi-geographic leader).
– Cells colored in Green indicate that you are at the suggested minimum skill level for that leadership role.
– Cells colored in Yellow indicate a gap in your skill level for that leadership role.
– Cells colored in Red indicate a significant gap in your skill level for that leadership role.
Skill Levels:
1 = Novice
2 = Intermediate
3 = Advanced
4 = Expert
*Suggested Skill Level for:
#CompetencyYour Self-Assessed Score
Emerging Leader
Ministry Leader
Base/Location Leader
Multi-Geographic Leader
1Boss relationships (working with/under authority)01234
2Building effective teams01234
3Communication Planning01233
4Conflict management01234
5Cross-cultural flexibility01234
6Cross-cultural sensitivity01234
7Decision making01234
8Defining roles01233
9Delegation01234
10Developing community01234
11Developing others01234
12Developing vision and purpose01234
13Ethics and values-based leadership01234
14Financial management01233
15Following-up (on work, people, commitments, goals, etc)01233
16Leading change01234
17Listening01233
18Managing diversity01234
19Ministry fund raising01233
20Motivating and mobilizing others01234
21Negotiating01234
22Organizing and planning work01233
23Peer relationships01234
24Perspective01233
25Presentation skills01234
26Problem solving01233
27Process management01233
28Recruiting staff01233
29Self development/learning01234
30Servant Mindset01234
31Setting goals and measuring results01234
32Setting priorities01234
33Strategic thinking01234
34Team leadership01234
35Technical or functional knowledge01234
36Time management01233
37Understanding others01234
38Understanding yourself01233
39Work/life balance01234
40Written communications01233
Note: There is no such thing as a perfect leader who is an expert at all aspects of leadership. The ALLC encourages all leaders to develop their strengths and weaknesses, and to seek out other teammates and co-leaders who compliment their strengths and weaknesses.