St. Cloud State University

Five Dimensions of Leadership Competency (Wager, 2006)

Self-Management

Wager (2006) states that, good leaders know their own values, strengths, and limitations and are able to control their emotions and behaviors. They must strive for personal development by engaging in continuous learning and being willing to seek help when needed or admit when they have made a mistake. They should be able to adapt to stressful or dynamic situations and be able to maintain a balance between their work and non-work lives

Leading Others

Leaders must maximize the potential of others and motivate them to attain shared goals. They must be able to manage individual and group performance with an understanding of group dynamics and team building. Leaders must actively listen and communicate effectively to persuade others and build consensus and trust. They should understand and be empathic toward individual’s emotions and needs and be able to resolve conflicts in a respectful manner. (Wagner, 2006)

Task Management

Leaders use task-specific knowledge and experience to guide the group to attaining its goals. Leaders must engage in problem solving, delegation, time and resource management, and eliminating barriers to performance. Leaders also must strive for results and provide feedback to ensure effective contributions from all constituents. (Wager, 2006)

Innovation

Leaders must be able to think creatively while taking initiative and calculated risks. Effective leaders have a vision beyond the immediate work of the group. This involves exploring and integrating diverse perspectives and recognizing unexpected opportunities. (Wagner, 2006)

Social Responsibility

Leaders must act with integrity, honesty, and justice. They must work in the best interest of others, showing respect and empathy for unique individual and cultural differences. Good leaders create a culture that promotes high ethical standards along with personal, organizational, and civic responsibility. Ethical leaders recognize and conduct themselves in concert with universal moral principles as well as specific values, laws, and ethics relevant to their group or organization. (Wagner, 2006)