Performance-Based Competency Model for United Way CEOs
Goal
Create an outcome-based competency model as the foundation for United Way America's executive leadership selection, development, and succession planning.
Challenges
- To achieve United Way of America's (UWA) mission and future strategy required a standard set of CEO competencies linked to organizational outcomes to enable more focused CEO development
- United Way of America includes 1,400 community-based United Way organizations, each of which is independent, separately incorporated and run by United Way CEOs managed by their own Board of Directors
- In this environment it is difficult to gain the agreement and buy-in of board members, CEOs, aspiring CEOs, and executives at UWA
Solution
Cognitive's approach was to:
- Lead the project to define and validate performance-based competency model to drive organizational results using Performance DNA, an outcome-based analysis methodology
- Work closely with United Way of America's CEO, COO, and organizational development/performance management personnel to gain buy-in and address concerns related to previous work efforts relating to competency development
- Facilitate an overarching strategy to tie performance-based competencies in with key strategic initiatives at United Way, including Brand Management and Community Relations.
- Conduct CEO focus groups to get feedback, competency criticality rankings, and buy in for the competency model
- Presentations at the United Way CEO functions to communicate about the model and how it was developed, paving the way for a successful rollout of the model.
Cognitive Value Added
- Highly skilled expertise in outcome-based interviewing, analysis, and competency development and validation
- Provided input on the selection of a group of top-performing executives, using metrics that demonstrate success and were linked to United Way of America's new strategy
- Trained the United Way of America team in Performance DNA interviewing methodology
- Conducted extensive interviews with CEOs across the country
- Analyzed data to identify critical skills, capabilities, and personal traits to develop draft model
- Validated and refined the model, working with United Way CEOs and other key stakeholders.