3M's leadership competency model: An internally developed solution

This article describes the development of an executive-level global competency model at 3M. The work on this model was completed in partnership with the company's top executives and a global team of in-house professionals. The competency model itself consists of 12 competencies and generalizable behavioral anchors for each competency. The applications for the work include the assessment of the level of readiness of candidates for the company's top 500 global positions, development of incumbent executives, and improved objectivity in the placement of future leaders. The article concludes by outlining some key lessons learned from this ongoing work. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.