9 / 9 Categories Appraised

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Result Overview

This behaviour is about consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves taking an organised and flexible approach to work to ensure you consistently meet agreed objectives to a high standard. To improve in this area, you could:

  • ensure you have a clear understanding of what is expected of you and what your responsibilities are

  • make sure you know the difference between urgent and important tasks and activities and prioritise your workload accordingly

  • set SMART targets to help you break down larger projects into more manageable goals

  • identify what is preventing you from achieving your objectives at the moment. Is it a workload issue? Are you committing enough time to projects/tasks? Track actual time spent on activities and adjust accordingly

  • look at tools that could help keep track of your projects e.g. Trello, Todoist, bullet journalling

  • review progress to date on projects, to keep momentum, motivation and remain resilient when faced with setbacks

Reading

Events/webcasts

Result Overview

This behaviour is about providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves listening and responding to client needs and feedback and being flexible in your approach to deliver consistently high services. To improve in this area, you could:

  • map out who your customers/clients are (internal and external) to clearly identify you are providing services to

  • take time to listen to, question and clarify to understand clients’ needs

  • review what you promise to deliver to customers/clients and review whether you meet these. If not, what needs to change?

  • use client feedback to drive improvements – this should be an ongoing process, so should be acted upon regularly

  • manage expectations and clearly communicate where you are unable to deliver a clients’ wants or needs to keep the relationship positive

  • learn from others: are there departments in your organisation who deliver services particularly well? What can you learn from them?

Reading

Events/webcasts

Result Overview

This behaviour is about showing commitment to your own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves planning and devoting time to your own development as well as supporting others to develop by providing formal and informal opportunities. To improve in this area, you could:

  • allocate time to reflect on your performance and development, e.g. weekly/fortnightly by completing a learning log/journal

  • record development activities in your ‘MyAUA’ area to keep track and reflect on your development

  • use our Professional Development Planner template to set ambitious and stretching development goals for continual improvement

  • identify development opportunities available at your own organisation or through the AUA – this could be voluntary opportunities as well as formal training

  • prioritise skills and behaviours you would like to improve and seek opportunities to do so

  • consider applying to attend a study tour, to learn from peers and colleagues across the globe

  • deliver a working session at an AUA conference or network event, to share your experience and develop others

Reading

Events/webcasts

Result Overview

This behaviour is about being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves being open to change and valuing the opportunities it can bring, actively encouraging it to drive improvements, and keeping a positive mindset in spite of challenges. To improve in this area, you could:

  • try to identify the opportunities in changes that are going to or are currently happening

  • challenge the status quo to identify new approaches to work activities

  • take time to consider the circle of influence. Identify what you can control or influence and let go of other things

  • ask colleagues or peers how they have approached a similar change to see if there is anything you can learn from their experience

  • try using new technologies and techniques as part of your working practices

Reading

Events/webinars/webcasts

Result Overview

This behaviour is about enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves having a clear understanding of your own role and responsibilities and how these fit in with the wider organisation you work in, as well as keeping up to date with developments across the sector. To improve in this area, you could:

  • strengthen your engagement with local AUA activity, supporting Advocates and Network Co-ordinators with their planned activity, or by taking up a role with the AUA

  • participate in webinars to learn from best practice across the sector

  • engage with colleagues across the sector using social media channels

  • remind yourself of team and/or department goals, and check that your work is contributing to them being achieved

  • attend conferences to network, learn from others and reflect on the bigger picture across the sector

Reading

Events/webcasts

Result Overview

This behaviour is about taking a holistic view and working enthusiatically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves properly understanding problems and challenges to come up with suitable solutions by working with others and trying out new approaches. To improve in this area, you could:

  • make sure you’ve accurately identified the issue you’re trying to resolve; what’s the problem? How do you know?

  • consider solutions that have been suggested by others

  • ask colleagues for their ideas and suggestions or approach a wider audience through online forums

  • use a cost-benefit analysis to help inform decisions when choosing between a number of options

  • use your networks to seek advice

  • balance new ideas with tried and tested solutions

Reading

Result Overview

This behaviour is about being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves developing and maintaining a network of contacts and keeping up to date with what is happening in your professional area as well as the importance of clear communication. To improve in this area, you could:

  • get involved with your regional network as a way to meet peers across the sector and learn from what they are doing

  • sign up for AUA member forum updates to view and get involved in the conversation

  • expand your network using different social media platforms

  • sign up for weekly blog email roundups

  • develop your writing skills by writing a blog for the AUA

  • make sure you are always prepared for upcoming meetings and presentations

Reading

Events/webcasts

Result Overview

This behaviour is about identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.

Developing: Your responses indicate that you are demonstrating some of the elements to be effective in this area but there is room for you to further develop your approach.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves using information and resources in an efficient way, minimising wasted time, money and effort wherever possible. To improve in this area, you could:

  • ask a question in the Member forums if you’re starting a new project or looking at investing in a new solution, you could learn from others who have already done the same or similar

  • expand your networks virtually and/or physically, by attending conferences, events, webinars and online discussions, for access to information and resources from peers across the sector

  • make the most of learning and information available e.g. via podcasts, webinars, TED talks etc

  • factor in staff time as a resource when reviewing work processes or considering solutions to problems

  • carry out a cost benefit analysis to consider implications of upcoming investments

  • use resources in ways that are efficient and minimise any adverse effect on the environment (including wastage)

Reading

Result Overview

This behaviour is about working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing different contributions people bring to this process.

Partial strength: Your responses indicate that you are competent within some areas of your approach, however, there are still things that you could focus on developing to further improve.

Approaches to work

This behaviour involves seeking out opportunities for collaborative work, valuing diverse viewpoints and commitment to making working relationships constructive and effective. To improve in this area, you could:

  • strengthen your working relationships with those outside of your day-to-day role e.g. as an Advocate or Network Co-ordinator

  • make sure you know where responsibility lies in project groups and for work tasks and who needs what communication. Completing a RACI grid will help address overlaps or gaps

  • ensure you’re co-operating willingly to support the achievement of team goals

  • share information that is relevant to others and keep others informed

  • consider working with a colleague to deliver a working session at a conference

Reading

  • Read this article about improving working relationships

  • Read this article about building good relationships

  • Read this article about how the RACI matrix works and how you can use it

Events/webcasts