What are Core Competencies?

ECQ Core Competencies are the personal and professional attributes that are critical to successful performance in the SES. There are 28 ECQ Core competencies. Twenty-two of the ECQ Core Competencies are the specific competencies for the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ). The remaining six are the fundamental competencies and are the attributes that serve as the foundation for each of the ECQ.

Do you need to address every core competency in your narrative? The answer is NO, but per OPM guidance, the SES applicant should address a majority of them.

A well-prepared ECQ statement reflects the ECQ Core Competencies (e.g., Leading Change reflects creativity and innovation, external awareness, etc.) Because the fundamental ECQ Core competencies are cross-cutting, they should be addressed over the complete ECQ narrative. It is not necessary to address them directly as long as the narrative, in its totality, shows mastery of these fundamental competencies overall. Experience and training that strengthen and demonstrate the competencies will enhance a candidates overall qualifications for the SES.

The 6 Cross-Cutting Fundamental ECQ Core Competencies

Interpersonal Skills:  Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.

Integrity/Honesty:   Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.

Written Communication:  Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Oral Communication:  Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.

Public Service Motivation:  Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns
organizational objectives and practices with public interests.

Continual Learning:  Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.

ECQ Core Competencies (remaining 22)

1. Leading Change – This ECQ involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. ECQ Core Competencies include:

  • Creativity and Innovation: Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.
  • External Awareness: Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholder views; is aware of the organizations impact on the external environment.
  • Flexibility: Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
  • Resilience: Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
  • Strategic Thinking: Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with long-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.
  • Vision: Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.

2. Leading People – Lead, people, vision, mission, goals, inclusive workplace, development of others, cooperation, teamwork, resolution of conflict, anticipates confrontations, encourages openness, manages disagreements, leveraging diversity, individual differences valued and leveraged, providing ongoing feedback, providing opportunities to learn, formal learning, informal learning, team building, inspires, fosters, team commitment, spirit, pride, trust, cooperation, motivates, group goals. This ECQ core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. ECQ Core Competencies include:

  • Conflict Management: Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
  • Leveraging Diversity: Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
  • Developing Others: Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
  • Team Building: Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.

3. Results Driven – This ECQ involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. ECQ Core Competencies include:

  • Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
  • Customer Service: Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
  • Decisiveness: Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
  • Entrepreneurship: Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
  • Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
  • Technical Credibility: Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

4. Business Acumen – This ECQ involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. ECQ Core Competencies include:

  • Financial Management: Understands the organizations financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.
  • Human Capital Management: Builds and manages the workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector workforce and a variety of work situations.
  • Technology Management: Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.

5. Building Coalitions – This ECQ involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals. ECQ Core Competencies include:

  • Partnering: Develops networks and builds alliances, collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
  • Political Savvy: Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
  • Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.