Andrew Hill - Carroll Consulting
Over a two-year period, a competency study was conducted to better understand what senior business leaders prioritise when hiring for
high-level roles. The research involved analysing key selection criteria from actual recruitment processes, resulting in the identification
of 117 distinct attributes. These attributes were then grouped into seven overarching competencies: Collaboration, Leadership, Integrity,
Adaptability, Drive, Innovation, and Business Acumen.
The most prominent finding was the emphasis on Collaboration, which accounted for 32% of all selection criteria. This reflects a strong
preference for candidates who can work effectively with others, communicate well, and contribute to team productivity. Leadership followed
at 17%, highlighting the importance of strategic thinking, influence, and the ability to guide and inspire teams. Interestingly, Integrity
ranked lowest among the competencies. This was interpreted not as a lack of importance, but rather as an assumed baseline for senior roles,
attributes like honesty, ethics, and accountability are expected and therefore not often explicitly listed. You can access the findings here
– Competencies
Sought by Leaders when Hiring
The study also revealed that many attributes are cross-functional, appearing under multiple competencies, suggesting that certain qualities
are foundational to high performance and adaptability in complex business environments.
We are undertaking additional research into the challenges leaders are facing in today’s economic climate. If you are interested in the results from this research, we invite you to participate in the ‘One Minute Market Pulse survey - Under the Surface – What Leaders Are Really Facing – LINK TO PARTICIPATE.
All responses will be treated confidentially, and the aggregated results will be shared with participants.
