It is said that success demands a high
level of logistical and organizational competence. While hiring employees,
every company is looking for confidence and competence in them. While giving
increments, the competence of the employee is assessed based on his or her
performance.
What
is competency assessment?
Competency is the strategic application
of certain skillset, behavioral patterns, and knowledge to excel in specific
tasks. Competency is a crucial factor in measuring the employee’s work
performance. For example, the role and responsibility of a sales executive define his performance criterion and essential qualities.
The process of assessing the performance
and capabilities of the employee with context to his required role is called competency assessment. In simple words, it’s the measurement of how competent that employee
is for the job he is doing. Therefore, competency assessment is based on a
competency model.
What
is a competency model?
Every organizational role requires
certain skill sets and attributes, which are imperative to perform successfully
in that role. The competency model identifies these attributes and provides
their overview.
For instance, Sameer is a project
manager. The characteristics of a project manager are effective communication, good decision making, leadership skills,
ability to handle pressure, and so on. In this case, the competency model will
define these characteristics, and Sameer’s competency assessment will be based
on this model.
A competency model helps the company
assess employees very rationally and analytically. Once the level of employee
proficiency is defined, it’s easier to compare it to the desired target level.
Three
elements of competency assessment
●
A competency model based on a
specific role
●
A system to facilitate
capability analytics
●
Personalized skill
development action plans
Benefits
of competency assessment
A regular and thorough competency
assessment is the backbone of a progressive company. It helps to monitor the
levels of employees’ performance and check what could
hamper the growth of the employee as well as the organization. There are many
benefits of making competency assessments an integral part of your performance
review strategy.
To
quantify the size of the skill gaps
Ravi is a supervisor who is required to
settle various types of conflicts taking place between workers. But Ravi lacks
problem-solving skills. This is a classic example of a skill gap.
A competency assessment points out these
skill gaps and quantifies their size. This, in turn, helps the employees assess
themselves and take the required steps to fill this gap.
The organization, too, understands its
limitations and moves ahead to rectify them. Thus, it is indeed a positive
journey for both the employee as well as the organization.
To
chart the future course of action
Based on the competency assessment, the organization
can initiate a thriving culture of learning, reskilling, and capacity-building.
The employees possessing the required skills can be identified and promoted.
Those who are lacking can be given learning opportunities and training.
The competency assessment tells the
company whom to retain, train, and promote. It strengthens the talent
management strategy of the company.
To
encourage consistent upgradation
In fast-paced and dynamic business
scenarios, new challenges emerge every day. New opportunities are knocking on
the door round the clock. To match the pace, employees need to be upskilled or
reskilled frequently.
A competency assessment paves the way for
this process. The performance reviews showcase the weak areas, and the company
can start the process of continuous learning and skill-building.
Some
other benefits of competency assessment are:
●
It assesses if the employee
is capable of any other role
●
It speeds up the process of
bridging the skill gaps
●
It helps in planning for the
career you want to choose
With competency assessment, the companies
can motivate and lead their employees on a fulfilling personal growth and
learning journey. Then, as they scale heights of excellence, they take the
company’s brand and vision forward confidently and competently.