Competency Development Guide by Edward Cripe & Richard Mansfield & Richard Gerlach

Author:Edward Cripe & Richard Mansfield & Richard Gerlach
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Workitect, Inc.
Published: 2013-10-29T14:00:00+00:00

Forward Thinking COMPETENCY 18

Definition: Anticipating the implications and consequences of situations and taking appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies.

a) Anticipates possible problems and develops contingency plans in advance

b) Notices trends in the industry or marketplace and develops a plan to prepare for opportunities or problems

c) Anticipates the consequences of situations and plans accordingly

d) Anticipates how individuals and groups will react to situations and information and plans accordingly

IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMPETENCY

By using this competency, you will be able to notice and take advantage of opportunities, especially ones arising out of trends in the marketplace. You will also be more effective at gaining and maintaining people’s support, because you will accurately anticipate and be prepared for their reactions to new information and to organizational changes. In a rapidly changing organization and marketplace, Forward Thinking is essential.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING THIS COMPETENCY

There are no special skills required to use this competency. Since Forward Thinking requires good information about the people you work with, about your organization, and about your industry and marketplace, you will need to develop and maintain access to these kinds of information. Maintain a network of contacts who can keep you informed about developments in the organization, industry and marketplace. Talk regularly to the people with whom you work, to understand their interests, concerns, and motivations.

Develop the habit of anticipating what will happen, especially how other individuals will react to situations and information. Make plans based on what you anticipate.

This competency is closely related to two other competencies: Interpersonal Awareness and Diagnostic Information Gathering. Developing those two competencies is likely to help develop Forward Thinking.

PRACTICING THIS COMPETENCY

• Read trade publications and industry journals to identify trends that may affect your company, department or unit.

• Develop and maintain a network of contacts, both inside and outside of your organization, with whom you can discuss developments in your industry and marketplace.

• Over a two-week period, take notes on how individuals with whom you work - your boss, your coworkers, your direct reports - react to situations and information. Note patterns for each individual.

• When you are planning a project, anticipate possible problems that could occur at each step, and have a contingency plan ready in case each problem develops. It is often useful to do this with other project team members.

• The next time you have potentially surprising or distressing news for someone, try to anticipate how this person will react. Identify what you can do in presenting this information to minimize undesired reactions.

OBTAINING FEEDBACK

After managing a project or event, ask others who were involved for feedback about what you could have anticipated and planned for.

LEARNING FROM EXPERTS

When you are planning a complex project, ask someone strong in Forward Thinking to review the plan with you and to help identify and plan for possible problems.

Volunteer to work on a project team headed by someone strong in Forward Thinking. Observe what this person does to anticipate and plan for solutions to possible problems.

COACHING SUGGESTIONS FOR MANAGERS

If you are coaching someone who

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