Chapter 3: A Two-Dimensional Approach to Preparing Leaders

The vast array of capabilities identified as important for leaders in professional settings can be daunting. Indeed, the list of desired qualities for senior leadership positions included in job descriptions and advertisements could lead one to question whether any single individual would possess the full range of necessary qualities. Writing for Deloitte Consulting, Canwell, Stockton, Dongrie, and Neveras (2014) make the following observations:

The demands of the current environment remind us of the wide array of knowledge- and skill-sets sought in leaders across organizations.

Whether as a candidate, a potential employer, or a student of leadership, bringing some order to the expansive list of characteristics associated with leadership presents a difficult, and also an important, challenge. As discussed in Chapter 1, each company, organization, association, or sector can identify competencies that they would regard as unique to their organization and sector. Yet, some of the necessary qualities for outstanding performance also relate to leadership attributes that are likely essential across a variety of settings and sectors. This chapter will introduce the concepts of vertical and horizontal competencies, along with a two-dimensional competency model that integrates the five competency themes presented in Chapter 2. We will then apply the two-dimensional way of thinking to the context of higher education and we will provide an overview of the ways we have used this conceptual model to inform our approach to leadership education and leadership development programs.