Includes interpersonal understanding and customer service orientation.
| Method | Details | |--------|---------| | | Competence at Work (ISBN 0‑471‑54809‑X) – available new/used via Wiley, Amazon, or academic booksellers. | | University libraries | Many libraries provide ebook access or physical copies; some allow chapter PDF downloads for enrolled students. | | HR vendor adaptations | Many competency modeling platforms (e.g., Korn Ferry, SHRM, Workitect) license and adapt the Spencer & Spencer model; they may provide client‑facing PDF summaries. | | Public summaries | Websites like The Balance Careers , 12manage , or academic course pages sometimes host abbreviated tables of the dictionary (not the full copyrighted PDF). |
Spencer and Spencer built on this foundation, analyzing over 650 different jobs across various industries. They developed the , which uses in-depth interviews with top performers to identify the specific competencies that distinguish them from their average-performing peers. This evidence-based approach ensures the dictionary is not a theoretical exercise but a practical tool validated by real-world outcomes. It has since become an authoritative reference, cited in numerous academic papers and adopted by organizations worldwide as a guide for competency modeling.
The ability to perform a certain physical or mental task. Mental skills include analytic and conceptual thinking. Spencer And Spencer Competency Dictionary Pdf
The is used by organizations to create a "common language" for performance.
The dictionary focuses heavily on the hidden part of the iceberg. Why? Because superior performance relies on deep-seated characteristics, not just surface-level knowledge.
In the fields of human resources, organizational development, and talent management, few models are as widely respected as the . Developed by Lyle M. Spencer Jr. and Signe M. Spencer, this framework has become a cornerstone for defining, assessing, and developing workplace behaviors that lead to superior performance. | | HR vendor adaptations | Many competency
A concern for working well or competing against a standard of excellence.
The intent to make others comply with one's wishes where personal power or position power is used appropriately.
Compare assessment results against required proficiency levels for each role. This gap analysis reveals priority areas for development. They developed the , which uses in-depth interviews
The culmination of their research was the publication of Competence at Work: Models for Superior Performance in 1993, which remains one of the most frequently cited works in the competency literature. The book’s enduring relevance is evidenced by continued publication through Wiley, with a 2010 edition still in print.
One of the most enduring contributions of Spencer and Spencer is the , which provides an intuitive visual representation of how different competency characteristics relate to one another.
To better visualize this concept, Spencer and Spencer introduced the .
While the PDF versions circulating online provide convenient access, organizations committed to professional excellence should consider acquiring legitimate copies through official channels. When properly implemented, the Spencer competency framework offers a powerful toolkit for identifying, developing, and retaining superior performers.
According to Lyle M. Spencer Jr. and Signe M. Spencer, the answer lies not in what a person knows , but in how they think and act. Their seminal work, Competence at Work , introduced a model that changed HR forever. And at the heart of that model is the .
