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Copyright © 1992, 1996, 2001–2003 by Robert W. Eichinger and Michael M. Lombardo. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This work is derived from the LEADERSHIP ARCHITECT®
Competency Library developed and copyrighted by Robert W. Eichinger and Michael M. Lombardo for Lominger Limited, Inc. M
Professional Leadership
Education Competency Wheel
Competency Wheel Development
Great leaders define, shape, and inspire the human experience. In a world of ideas,
we are adrift without the leaders who realize them. For this reason, effective leader-
ship is critical to the success of any organization. With each new student, new partner,
new parent, new hire, you have an opportunity to help your school district achieve
greater success. That responsibility can be overwhelming if you approach it haphazardly.
With preparation and planning, you can focus your efforts and make decisions that add
to the long-term health and success of your school district. If you are an administrator,
teacher, student, or parent, you can use the Education Competencies to define a job
profile, assess candidate competence, and plan for personal and professional growth.
Define Success with Competencies
Competencies describe the functional and behavioral qualities that an individual must
possess in order to help an organization achieve success. Each role in an organization
requires a different emphasis or mix of competencies. Microsoft worked with Lominger,
a leadership development firm, to develop the Education Competencies.
Several years ago, Lominger developed Microsoft’s own set of competencies that helped
Microsoft managers and employees build a successful organization. The competencies
provided Microsoft with a common framework for hiring and professional development
that can be described, discussed, and implemented with precision across a global company.
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Success in Education
Like the Microsoft Competencies, the Education Competencies describe the full range
of characteristics needed to help a school district achieve its organizational goals and
vision. They were developed in partnership between Microsoft, Lominger, and school
leaders from around the world.
At the core of the Education Competencies are six qualities that individuals need
in order to help school districts succeed in the 21st century. These qualities, or success
factors, are:
Individual Excellence. Ability to achieve results by working effectively with others
in various circumstances.
Organizational Skills. Ability to communicate by various means within different
organizational settings.
Courage. Ability to speak directly, honestly, and with respect in difficult situations.
Results. An emphasis on goal-oriented action.
Strategic Skills. An array of skills used to accomplish focused, longer-term goals.
Operating Skills. An array of skills used for daily management of tasks
and relationships.
These six success factors form the organizing principles for the Education Competency
Wheel, a visual depiction of the 37 Education Competencies. The success factors make
up the inner wheel and are defined by associated competencies.
For example, the success factor Courage is defined by the competencies: Managerial
Courage, Assessing Talent, and Conflict Resolution. Those three competencies describe
the attributes, skills, behaviors, and knowledge individuals need to develop and exhibit
Courage, a vital factor for individual and organizational success.
M