Competence Levers

So many programs focus on only one leverage.

You get knowledge, or you're motivated,

or you're given resources,

or your skills are developed.

You now have the secret to

real value development:

combine all the leverages.

Here's how.

  • The four Competence Levers—Clarity, Motivation, Skills, and Resources—enable smarter, faster growth by connecting efforts to measurable Value-Added Outputs.

  • True motivation must come from within; self-generated drive creates lasting progress and energizes meaningful personal and professional development.

  • Using The My Value App, users can build and adapt a living Competence Levers plan that tracks growth and aligns with real business outcomes.

Some people seem to believe that

magic eight balls

answer all the world's questions.

Here are other lies they may believe.

You need to know, so you can live the truth,

and build real value.

  • True competence requires continuous effort—attitude, skills, and experience—not one-time training or certifications.

  • Relying solely on employers or formal education limits growth; real competence develops through intentional, real-world learning and strategic personal planning.

  • The Competence Levers tool empowers individuals to overcome self-improvement myths by linking development efforts directly to measurable Value-Added Outputs.

Working with a plan, you increase the odds

of getting something done.

Without a plan, it's possible

you might not even finish a sente

  • A personalized development plan begins with a clear opportunity statement tied to measurable Value-Added Outputs and Relevant Business Results.

  • Effective plans include personal motivation, one or two targeted skills, and at least three types of resources for meaningful skill development.

  • Tracking progress in The My Value App ensures visible growth, making your development efforts measurable and aligned with real workplace value.

Competence development begins with clarity.

Without clarity, you don't know

what to improve that will add value.

This chapter shows the role clarity plays

in building competence.

Have I been clear enough

about the reason for clarity?

  • Clarity ensures development efforts target the right obstacles by using Career Opportunity Statements and Individual Mesh analysis to define success clearly.

  • Progress should be measured with Value-Added Output metrics and strengthened through feedback, removing guesswork from personal growth.

  • Overcommunication with managers about goals and results increases alignment, unlocking new opportunities and driving meaningful career advancement.

Motivation is a biggie.

Perhaps you're thinking

the organization should motivate you.

You'd be wrong.

Here's why.

  • True motivation is internal and purpose-driven, fueled by personal growth, value creation, and long-term fulfillment—not external rewards like bonuses or praise.

  • The My Value App supports motivation by making personal value visible and providing consistent feedback to energize meaningful development efforts.

  • Motivation becomes sustainable when it’s based on intrinsic drivers—solving problems, learning skills, and making an impact—not fleeting outcomes or unrealistic goals.

You know how to attend a class.

Building a skill is very different

from taking a class.

Here's an overview of how the best

skill builders build skills.

  • Skills are built through active use, not passive learning—demonstrated performance tied to measurable Value-Added Outputs is what defines real competence.

  • Skill development follows four steps: build a strong foundation, specialize, practice with feedback, and apply skills in real-world situations.

  • The My Value App tracks skill-building progress, linking learning directly to visible results that matter in your career growth.

One of the biggest complaints employees have is

that they do not have enough resources.

Competence creates new resources

that lead to greater competence.

Here's how to think completely different

from most employees,

and be seen as far more competent

than they are.

  • Resourceful professionals don’t wait—they use, enable, or create resources to increase value and overcome obstacles with creativity and initiative.

  • Time, money, and education are key resource types; optimizing or investing in them accelerates meaningful growth and career development. With the Meaningful Competence

  • Toolkit, users can track value and innovate solutions—transforming resource gaps into leadership opportunities.

You're fully leveraged with

clarity, motivation, skills, and resources.

But what happens if,

for some lousy reason,

you skip a leverage?

  • Real transformation happens when all four Competence Levers—Clarity, Motivation, Skills, and Resources—are used together to drive measurable career growth.

  • Clarity focuses your path, motivation fuels persistence, skills enable contribution, and resources empower execution—all working in synergy to produce value.

  • Staying fully leveraged with the Meaningful Competence Toolkit shifts you from managing a career to building visible, validated, and meaningful professional success.

In my career, I've left several things behind.

I left training records in every company.

What did I learn? When?

Memory joggers, like just a course title,

can sometimes bring back knowledge.

  • Tracking personal training—including informal learning—ensures growth is remembered, applied, and clearly demonstrated during reviews or future opportunities.

  • The My Value App helps organize and recall training resources, boosting confidence, development planning, and resume quality with documented experiences.

  • A personal record of learning validates your continuous growth and supports the core of Meaningful Competence: visible progress that sets you apart.