Success Profile™ Template

Build Success Profiles with the Success Profile™ Template

SIGMA’s Success Profile™ is a worksheet designed to describe the leadership talent needed for success in a critical role as part of the succession planning process. The goal of this worksheet is to outline the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies needed for this role, both now and in the future. This will provide you with a clear, comprehensive list of the requirements of a role, and can act as a comparison against which to evaluate succession candidates, ensuring a more simplified selection process. Note that this worksheet is most beneficial after you have identified the high-impact roles in your organization. Consider using our Critical Role Identification Worksheet to help you with this process. Download the Success Profile Template to begin building your leadership success profile.

Benefits of Success Profiles

Success profiles are incredibly valuable tools. Since they give you a clear picture of what each critical role entails, success profiles can help your company:

• Align job requirements with true indicators of success
• Select and hire employees who are a good fit for each role
• Establish role clarity
• Create effective onboarding programs
• Draft targeted employee development programs
• Conduct objective, effective performance reviews
• Troubleshoot areas where knowledge, skills, experiences, or competencies need development

How to Create a Success Profile 

To begin creating a success profile, choose a single focal role to begin with. When completing the succession profile form, try to separate in your mind the role from the incumbent currently in the position. There will likely be plenty of overlap, but there may be some important characteristics that are overlooked if you narrow your focus to the person currently occupying the critical role.

1. Start with Demographics

Begin with basic demographic information. Use the results from the Critical Role Identification Questionnaire to indicate eligible exit year and urgency. Next, list important role information, such as location, level, and number of direct reports.

2. List Position Criteria

Use the job description for this role to list the position criteria, including: * Necessary education * Required experience * Valuable skills * Role duties and responsibilities.

3. List Current Competencies Required for the Role

As part of the leadership success profile, list the current personal characteristics and competencies required for the job. This may include factors such as personality, ability, disposition, and skills. For advanced leadership roles, we suggest listing both the skills required for the focal role, as well as those skills required to be successful as members of the senior management team.

4. Consider Future Competencies

Consider the requirements for the future of this role, including any characteristics needed to keep up with industry trends, or any traits best suited for the future of your company. Align these competencies with strategic planning where possible. Once the success profile template is complete, you should have a clearer understanding of the requirements for success in this role. Next up in your succession process is to Nominate Successors for each critical role.

Need Help Getting Started?

SIGMA’s Succession Planning Launch  offers a simple and cost-effective way to build a robust Succession Planning process and ensure your organization’s leadership is positioned for success and prepared for the unknown.

Contact us to learn how we deliver a full year Succession Implementation Plan for each member of your leadership team in just two half-day workshops.

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