Competency Mapping

HR Articles - What is ?

Competency mapping can be an incredible coaching tool to assist a client in understanding themselves. It can be an awesome group coaching session in getting teams focused on what competencies are necessary for effectiveness in their position. Coaching HR Professionals is a great use of Competency Mapping to assist them in creating position results descriptions (job descriptions.)

Basically, there are three parts to a Competency Map:

1. Position to be mapped (sales rep, project manager etc.)
2. Skills learned and developed (coaching, mentoring, planning etc.)
3. Competency pool (competencies required for each of the skills)

The map is drawn with flow chart shapes. So, the Position being mapped (#1 above) could be a circle; Skills Learned (#2 above) a rectangle; the Competency Pool (#3 above) a large octagon.

Arrows link the flow chart shapes. A Position being mapped (#1 above) can have, say, three Skills that were learned (#2 above) which have two Competencies each (#3 above). This would give the competency pool a list of six competencies.

1. Position: Project Manager

2. Skills Learned: Leading

3. Competency Pool: Feedback, Directing

A career coach can take each position that the person being coached has filled. Ask questions to determine the 2-4 skills that were developed the most in each position and then create a competency pool.