9 / 9 Categories Appraised
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
ensure your team is clear of work requirements, responsibilities and deadlines
regularly monitor progress and provide updates to colleagues involved in team projects
give credit to others for their contribution to achievements of objectives and goals
Reading
Read this article on programme and project management tools and techniques to help you plan and prioritise your workload
Read this article on setting SMART targets
Events/webcasts
Grow your Lean skills and register for a Lean Six Sigma training and development course
Attend the Introduction to university finance processes and planning webinar
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?
look into any service specific frameworks or standards available that you could use to benchmark your service delivery
review your service areas and whether you have the rights/enough resource in each area
review what you ask in your feedback and how you gather it. Do you need to make any changes to increase the amount of feedback you get?
Reading
Read this article to learn more about how to build an inclusive environment
Read this article about professional services operating models to review your own area:
Events/webcasts
Attend the Handling Student Complaints webinar
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
ensure equal access to development opportunities for all
apply to become a mentor (for the PgCert, AUA mentoring or at your own institution)
ask those you manage to reflect on their skills gaps and what they would like to develop
Reading
Read this blog for an introduction to the AUA CPD Framework
Events/webcasts
Watch Leading with kindness webcast
Watch this video introduction to the AUA CPD Framework
Take a look at our upcoming events and webinars
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
make sure you recognise, respect and acknowledge others’ responses to change
communicate change to colleagues in a positive manner through influencing and persuasion
Reading
Read this article on developing a growth mindset
Events/webcasts
Watch our recorded webinars from the Managing Change conference
Attend the AUA Change Network Open Forum
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
connect with colleagues across the sector using social media channels
attend conferences to network, learn from others and reflect on the bigger picture across the sector, and encourage colleagues to do the same where possible
make sure your team is aware of its longer-term goals and how these fit with department and organisation objectives
apply to represent the AUA at an international conference, with one of our partner organisations
write a blog or career story to enhance others’ sector knowledge
Reading
Catch up on latest from the AUA
Sign up to receive WonkHE emails
Events/webcasts
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?
ask colleagues for their ideas and suggestions or approach a wider audience through online forums
consider solutions that have been suggested by others
use a cost-benefit analysis to help inform decisions when choosing between a number of options
participate in action learning sets to gain support in finding solutions
use your networks to seek advice
balance new ideas with tried and tested solutions
support your colleagues to find their own solutions instead of providing all the answers
seek input from your colleagues to develop shared solutions
make sure you’re giving colleagues space to be creative and try out new approaches to work
Reading
Read this article on carrying out a cost-benefit analysis
Reading
Read more about Mentoring and consider becoming a mentee to learn from the direct experiences of others and get a different perspective on specific work problems.
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:
become an advocate or network co-ordinator to expand your own networks and support others’ networking
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 roundup
write a career story to share your experience with others
ensure that your own behaviour and approach to work provide a positive role model to your colleagues
Reading
Take a look at our Good Practice Guides: Report writing and writing clearly
Events/webcasts
Watch this webinar on building resilience
Watch the AUA’s 23rd Annual Lecture on Changing the lens on mental health
This behaviour is about identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets.
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 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
consider cost benefit analysis implications of decisions
use resources in ways that are efficient and minimise any adverse effect on the environment (including wastage)
review your workload and consider whether there are any tasks that you could/should delegate. You may also benefit from carrying out this activity across your team
when collaborating with others on a project, try to balance additional skills, ideas and knowledge gained with additional staff time
ensure all meetings are necessary and properly managed so that they are productive and time efficient
Reading
Read this article on carrying out a cost-benefit analysis
Read this article which includes useful pointers about running effective meetings
Events/webcasts
Grow your Lean skills and register for a Lean Six Sigma training and development course
This behaviour is about working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing different contributions people bring to this process.
Well developed: Your responses indicate that you are very effective in this area, and that this is a real strength.
Approaches to work
This behaviour involves seeking out opportunities for collaborative work, valuing diverse viewpoints and commitment to making working relationships constructive and effective. You could build on and share your strengths by:
collaborating with a colleague to deliver a working session at a conference
applying to participate in study tour or other group project outside of work
applying to become a Trustee or Board member to shape and develop