A competency model is a concise picture of an organization's most critical competencies, i.e. knowledge, skills and attributes. A competency model provides a catalogue of the leadership traits required by organizations in their managers. A well designed competency model sends a clear message to the organization about specific attributes that are valued at a particular point in time. Individuals benefit from a development checklist against which to benchmark. Competency models give individuals a target at which to aim.

Feedback is an essential element in any successful learning experience. 360 feedback instruments ask for feedback on a leader's behavior from multiple, relevent sources. Generally, the leader asks his or her manager, direct reports, peers, and selected others to assign ratings on predetermined aspects of leadership or performance. The feedback allows the leader to identify talents and development needs as viewed from a variety of perspectives.

These instruments build on our knowledge that learning is enhanced whenever individuals recieve some sort of behavioral feedback. A 360 feedback process is most effective when the behaviors that are assessed are in sync with a relevant, well designed competency model.

Companies are demanding tangible results from their investment in leadership development. Consequently, many "best practice" companies employ "action learning" as a leadership development tool. Action learning requires that individuals, usually working in teams, tackle a real business problem. What differentiates action learning from other problem solving groups is the dual emphasis on solving the business problem and reflecting on lessons learned. Learning typically occurs about the business, themselves as leaders and their style and behavior as team members. These "learning by doing and reflecting" programs on "real work" for the business increase one's capabilities on key leadership dimensions. Action Learning is based on the adult learning principle that most motivation for learning comes when the lessons are immediately applicable to one's life.