FAS Foreign Service Professional Competencies | Interpersonal Skills - FAS Vice President

Interpersonal Skills

Sub-skills Level I (FS-04/03) Level II (FS-02/01) Level III (SFS)

Flexibility and Resilience Skilled at adjusting to changing situations and overcoming obstacles; recovers quickly from setbacks. Guides staff in adjusting to changes in the workplace; maintains personal composure under pressure. Anticipates and plans for change; deals effectively with pressure, maintaining focus and intensity and persistence, even under adversity.

Teamwork/
Team Building Participates enthusiastically, asks questions, gets clarification, shares information and keep commitments; values the ideas and contributions of others; encourages cooperation across program areas involving stakeholders, as appropriate; stays focused on goal achievement; seeks 360 degree feedback. Facilitates an open exchange of ideas; values and uses individual differences and talents; shares information; delegates responsibility; involves team members in decisions and actions; clearly communicates expectations and how results are to be achieved; identifies obstacles and implements strategies to overcome them; actively mentors, coaches and supports team members; rewards team achievements; encourages and gives constructive feedback. Inspires, motivates and guides others toward goal achievement; executes a rigorous approach to identifying inhibitors to high performing teams; ensures necessary tools for teams to work effectively; actively supports 360 degree feedback; develops staff through coaching and mentoring; fosters a climate based on mutual respect and trust.

Conflict Management Listens attentively; understands and absorbs others’ messages; correctly reads nonverbal signals; seeks to understand before seeking to be understood; summarizes others’ views accurately and confirms accuracy of understanding; able to disagree amicably and resolve problems; seeks ways to strengthen relationships out of disagreements; recognizes conflict is inevitable and views it as an opportunity for growth; assesses own limitations and seeks to improve; admits mistakes and holds self accountable. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a positive and constructive manner; asks open-ended, incisive questions to ensure accuracy of understanding; understands and respects cultural sensitivities and constraints in discussing issues and opinions; focuses on needs rather than positions as a means to resolve conflict; identifies and takes steps to prevent situations that could result in unpleasant confrontations; encourages staff to acknowledge, deal with and appreciate disagreements; assesses staff conflict management skills and ensures adequate training. Anticipates, understands and proactively manages external and internal causes of organizational conflict such as competition for resources, task interdependence and communication obstacles; ensures Agency fosters an environment and system that is conducive to managing conflicts constructively; manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a positive manner seeking compromise without sacrificing achievement of agency goals; acts as an arbitrator, when necessary; evaluates, selects and implements conflict management strategies that are appropriate to the situation.