ManageBetter’s Definitions for 30+ Competencies
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At ManageBetter, we classify our feedback phrases across 30+ categories.
When searching for phrases in ReviewBuilder, users will have the option to filter phrases based on competency as well as by mastery level. Searching for phrases based on these parameters will allow for more detailed, accurate, and precise feedback, and ultimately more clarity for those receiving feedback.
Read our definitions on how we categorize each one of the 3,000+ phrases in our database.
Accountability
Definition
Taking responsibility for the outcomes of their own or team's actions.
Progression
⭐ Denial. Refuses accountability by denying, blaming, making excuses, or waiting for someone else to own the situation.
⭐⭐ Accepts. Acknowledges one’s responsibility of a problem, but takes limited action to make it better.
⭐⭐⭐ Owns. Owns the problem, proactively addresses it, and generates satisfactory and sometimes impressive results.
Related terms
Ownership
Never says “that’s not my job”
Accept and delegate responsibility
Adaptability 💧
Definition
Adjusting to new conditions and accepting change.
Progression
⭐ Open. Comfortable with new situations and taking on new projects.
⭐⭐ Rapid adoption. Makes an impact quickly, getting some noteworthy wins.
⭐⭐⭐ Flexible. Comfortable learning new skills or taking on a new role to be successful in the new environment. Doesn’t stick with the same approaches or skills that worked previously.
Related terms
Dealing with ambiguity
Embracing uncertainty
Attendance 👩🏫
Definition
Showing up on time. Attendance also indicates one’s participation level.
Progression
⭐ Good. Does not miss meetings at an abnormally high rate and very professional about upcoming absences.
⭐⭐ Perfect. Never misses a day.
Related terms
Presence
Contribution
Commitment
Coaching
Definition
Helping others succeed by improving skills, reaching goals, and building knowledge.
Progression
⭐ Available. Makes oneself available for coaching. However, only states concepts not explain them.
⭐⭐ Expert . Explains, and often illuminates concepts, rather than states.
⭐⭐⭐ Subgroup. Proactively brings ideas and knowledge to other teams.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Organizational. Proactively develops training for the entire organization. Also proactively amplifies positive role models and behaviors to the rest of the organization.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Adaptable. Can adapt coaching for a range of audiences from novice to expert. Adept at making difficult concepts easy to understand.
Related terms
Mentorship
Encouragement
Collaboration 🤝
Definition
Working with others to achieve a common goal efficiently and effectively.
Progression
⭐ Active. Active team participant. Not passive or restrained. Others believe this person makes a meaningful group contribution.
⭐⭐ Facilitator. Proactively takes responsibility for the group experience, including clarifying individual responsibilities and holding others accountable.
⭐⭐⭐ Leader. Takes group ownership to the next level by working outside of formal team meetings to remove obstacles, checking in on the well-being of individual team members, and holding individual members accountable.
Related terms
Cooperative
Reliable
Selflessness
Teamwork
Team-oriented
Conflict Management ⚔️
Definition
Resolving disagreements between two or more parties.
Progression
⭐ Reactive. Addresses conflicts, when prompted.
⭐⭐ Diplomat. Superior ability and initiative in resolving conflicts.
Related terms
Fair
Mediator
Level-headed
Continuous Improvement 💡
Definition
An ongoing effort to make products, services, or processes more efficient and effective.
Progression
⭐ Suggester. Shares ideas infrequently with insignificant impact.
⭐⭐ Seeker. Always investigating new ideas to improve products or processes.
⭐⭐⭐ Courageous. Willing to propose audacious or relevant ideas that others mock or otherwise do not support.
Related terms
Constant improvement
Critical Thinking 🧠
Definition
Evaluating information to discover patterns, insights, issues, and solutions.
Progression
⭐ Synthesizer. Consistently breaks down topics into important points. Identifies missing facts and logic. May suggest next steps to resolve issues, but not consistently.
⭐⭐ Genius. Thinks through problems in a unique, comprehensive way, recognizing insights that most miss.
Related terms
Strategic thinking
Logical thinking
Analytical
Thorough
Customer Focus
Definition
Ability to understand, consider, and prioritizing customers’ needs.
Progression
⭐ Customer focused. Proactively reaches out to customers and listens to their needs.
⭐⭐ Relationship builder. Builds excellent relationships with customers and works diligently to meet their needs.
Related terms
Customer-centric
Customer obsession
Customer delight
Transforming lives
Decision-Making
Definition
Ability to draw logical conclusions and make sound decisions after careful consideration.
Progression
⭐ Logical. Takes a thoughtful, logical, and objective approach to making decisions. As a result, demonstrates better judgment than most. And is rarely criticized for pursuing self-interest.
⭐⭐ Exhaustive. Shows superior judgment, primarily because one makes effort to disprove beliefs and seek a wide range of perspectives.
Related terms
Judgment
Being right
Being decisive
Execution 🏁
Definition
The act of taking an idea and actually making it happen.
Progression
⭐ Gets things done. Completes tasks on time and with high quality. Tasks never feel incomplete. Others do not feel the need to remind or otherwise chase one for their deliverables.
⭐⭐ Efficient. Others are impressed with one’s work pace and volume.
⭐⭐⭐ Visible. Proactively informs others of one's work progress so that others are not alarmed or surprised.
Related terms
Getting things done
Deliver results
Transforming lives
Achievement
Expertise
Definition
Mastering a particular topic or job function.
Progression
⭐ Adopts. Actively learns and adopts processes and tools.
⭐⭐ Specializes. Is the go-to person for knowledge, process, tools, or technology.
⭐⭐⭐ Evangelizes. Researches new techniques or technologies, pioneers new processes, and introduces them to the team.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Masters. Deep, unparalleled knowledge of an area.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Creates. Creates and designs new processes or technologies that are widely used internally or externally.
Related phrases
Willingness to learn
Applies expertise
Growth Mindset 🌞
Definition
One's belief that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.
Progression
⭐ Growth-oriented. Believes that abilities are not fixed and that one can always improve.
⭐⭐ Resilience. Not only determined but also bounces back from setbacks and failures.
⭐⭐⭐ Self-Directed Curiosity. Finds interest, passion, and purpose in any task, and as a result can persevere longer than others.
Related terms
Positive attitude
Open-minded
Humility
Initiative
Definition
Being proactive in applying extra effort, achieving unexpected results, or proposing useful solutions.
Progression
⭐ Acts. Suggests opportunities for process, tool, or feature improvements without being asked.
⭐⭐ Owns. Works with teams to establish a new process, tool, or initiative. Takes ownership of important initiatives, systems, or processes that others neglect.
⭐⭐⭐ Impact. Drives a new change, based on their own initiative, that makes a substantial (and often exponential) impact on the business.
Related terms
Bias for action
Entrepreneurial spirit
Innovation 🧬
Definition
One’s ability to improve an existing product, process, or service for the better.
Progression
⭐ Comprehensive. Looks at problems from nearly all angles and develops new approaches to solutions.
⭐⭐ Change Agent. Not only generates solutions but implements those solutions for lasting, meaningful change.
Related terms
Improve
Invent and simplify
Integrity 🎖️
Definition
Being honest and showing strong morals.
Progression
⭐ Representative. Consistently reflects company values in personal actions.
⭐⭐ Role model. A role model for the company's values.
Related terms
Trustworthy
Having a backbone
Disagree and commit
Diversity & inclusion
Cultural diversity
Honest
Interpersonal Skills
Definition
Interact with others in a productive manner.
Progression
⭐ Flexible. Achieves successful results by adapting one's work style to the audience and situation.
⭐⭐ Force multiplier. Knows how to make people comfortable and bring out the best in them.
Related terms
Approachable
Articulate
Leadership
Definition
Guiding others in a positive direction, irrespective of whether one is a manager.
Progression
⭐ Learner. Benefits from others’ leadership. Makes a point of absorbing and learning quickly.
⭐⭐ Supporter. Supports team members to be successful.
⭐⭐⭐ Mentor. Mentors others to accelerate career development. Also encourages others to participate.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Facilitator. Coordinates team members toward a common goal, facilitating communication, feedback and discussions.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Visionary. Excels in leadership roles by providing a vision, plan, and resources.
Related terms
Thinking big
Listening Skills 👂
Definition
Paying attention and understanding what others are saying.
Progression
⭐ Focused. Listens actively to what others say.
⭐⭐ Owner. Takes responsibility to clarify what the other person is saying.
Related terms
Attentive
Receptive
Management Skills
Definition
Managing a group to produce results in an effective manner.
Progression
⭐ Observer. Can point out relevant feedback customized to a specific individual or situation.
⭐⭐ Career planner. Can specify a prescriptive plan for career improvement, specific to the individual.
⭐⭐⭐ Morale booster. Deftly manages team emotions especially during difficult transitions.
Related terms
Growth mindset
Hiring
Showing respect
Multitasking 🤹♀️
Definition
Handling more than one task or project at a time.
Progression
⭐ Tolerant. Juggles multiple projects but the strain and loss in quality is evident from time-to-time.
⭐⭐ Thriving. Seamlessly juggles multiple projects and increasing demands.
Related terms
Parallel processing
Can juggle multiple priorities at once
Organization 🗄️
Definition
Having an efficient or orderly approach to tasks.
Progression
⭐ Follows. Follows team processes, resulting in consistent outcomes.
⭐⭐ Enforces. Enforces team processes. Communicates the benefits and tradeoffs of those team processes.
⭐⭐⭐ Challenges. Challenges the status quo, looking for ways to improve processes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Adjusts. Makes evolutionary adjustments to team processes, taking in feedback and directing teams through changes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Defines. Defines the right processes, appropriate to the team, goals, and situation.
Related phrases
Delegates tasks effectively
Logically organizes work
Personal Development 🌱
Definition
One’s ability to grow professionally through learning, applying, improving, and mastering important skills.
Progression
⭐ Tries. Defines and follows progress plans, but does not achieve the desired results.
⭐⭐ Thrives. Sets career plans and quickly creates positive change and results.
Related Terms
Learning
Being curious
Learning fast
Problem Solving 🧑🔬
Definition
One’s ability to find solutions, especially around difficult issues.
Progression
⭐ Enhances. Solves problems with a mentor’s or manager’s guidance.
⭐⭐ Designs. Solves problems of medium to large complexity, fairly independently, with some expert review.
⭐⭐⭐ Owns. Owns problem solving including on-going monitoring of a solution and its acceptable quality level.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Evolves. Evolves the solution so it can support future needs and scenarios.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Leads. Leads a solution’s excellence and develop plans to prevent failure.
Related terms
Analytical
Creative
Credible
Productivity 💪
Definition
Produce results by a specific time period.
Progression
⭐ Focus. Knows how to focus and avoid distractions. Moves at a quick pace.
⭐⭐ Negotiates. Skillfully communicates priorities and non-priorities and makes sure others buy-in.
⭐⭐⭐ System-wide innovation. Helps the team become more efficient by helping them focus and optimize their workflow.
Related phrases
Consistent
Focused
Goal-oriented
Research 🕵️
Definition
Gather and analyze information to gain meaningful insights
Progression
⭐ Relevance. Effectively finds relevant research in a short period.
⭐⭐ Unique. Identifies research that others have not yet seen.
⭐⭐⭐ Comprehensive. The audience never feels that stones have been left unturned.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Insightful. Feels smarter and empowered.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Next steps. Research has a clear purpose with actionable next steps.
Related phrases
Analysis
Quality of Work ⭐
Definition
Producing an end result that meets or exceeds what was desired.
Progression
⭐ Reliable. Delivers quality work often by modeling their work on an existing example, template, or coworkers’ instruction.
⭐⭐ Evolutionary. Delivers work output that is unexpectedly unique & beneficial. Makes a small incremental impact on the business.
⭐⭐⭐ Role model. Positively impacts others’ ability to do their best work including proactive coaching or instituting new processes focused on work quality.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Revolutionary. Delivers results that is extraordinary and unexpected. Makes a substantial impact on the business.
Related terms
Setting high standards
Dive deep
Reliability
Definition
The quality of performing well, consistently. Reliability can also indicate trustworthiness.
Progression
⭐ Steady. A steady, reliable team member.
⭐⭐ Wow. Displays exceptional performance day after day.
Related terms
Trustworthy
Dependable
Can be counted on
Under promise, over deliver
Self-Awareness 👤
Definition
Understanding one's strengths, weaknesses, triggers, motivators, and emotions.
Self-awareness also includes understanding how one's actions and words affects others.
Progression
⭐ Self-aware. Is aware of one's strengths, weaknesses, emotions, motivators, or triggers, but does not fully understand how one's actions and words can influence others.
⭐⭐ Empathy. Very self-aware and the effects of his or her actions and words on others.
Related terms
Mindful
Attentive
Conscious
Technical Skills 📐
Definition
Using specialized knowledge or skills to accomplish a task.
Progression
⭐ Intermediate. Has some technical expertise, but has not yet acquired sufficient skill to be considered an expert.
⭐⭐ Deep expert. Demonstrates deep knowledge and proficiency in multiple domains.
Time Management ⏱️
Definition
One’s ability to use time effectively.
Progression
⭐ Short-Term Management. Makes good use of time on a daily and weekly basis.
⭐⭐ Long-Term Management. Makes good use of time including a weekly or annual basis.
Related terms
Meets deadlines
Productive
Verbal Communication 🗣️
Definition
Conveying information clearly and concisely through spoken words.
Progression
⭐ Informative. Regularly shares verbal information. Makes sure that the status of tasks or projects is clearly communicated.
⭐⭐ Articulate. Expresses complex ideas and topics effectively. Known for resolving contentious discussions and creating a common understanding.
⭐⭐⭐ Influential. Uses verbal communication to shape decisions and behaviors favorably for the company. Always delivers the right information to the right people at the right time.
Related terms
Oral communication
Interpersonal communication
Public speaking
Written Communication 📝
Definition
Expressing information effectively and succinctly through written words.
Progression
⭐ Clear. Regularly shares written information. Ensures everyone stays updated on task or project status.
⭐⭐ Eloquent. Conveys difficult or ambiguous ideas with ease and clarity. Is often the go-to person to resolve stalled or contentious written discussions.
⭐⭐⭐ Persuasive. Uses written communication to gain support and influence decisions in a way that benefits the company. Consistently delivers the right information to the right people at the right time.
Related terms
Writing
Documentation
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