Category: Results

Competency: Demonstrating Innovation

Competency Definition: The ability to generate, share, and apply original ideas to improve outcomes, solve problems, or create new value.

Abbreviation in Louisiana Jobs: DI - 26


Demonstrating Innovation

Competency Behaviors: Specific, observable actions demonstrating the competency

Forming


Struggles to demonstrate the competency; needs guidance and practice.
  • Lacks originality in idea generation and defaults to conventional or previously used method
  • Hesitates to explore new ideas or take risks; prefers safe, familiar strategies that limit innovation
  • Struggles to use creative thinking to approach problems; depends on pre-existing solutions without adaptation
  • Struggles to translate ideas into realistic action steps; concepts remain undeveloped or untested
  • Avoids adjusting course when new approaches fail; resists learning from trial-and-error or unexpected outcomes

Improving


Shows growth and increasing confidence but not yet consistently independent

Successful


Demonstrates the competency independently and reliably in routine situations
  • Produces original ideas that introduce new processes, tools, or perspectives to improve outcomes
  • Willingly tests unfamiliar approaches and takes calculated risks to improve existing practices
  • Uses creative problem-solving to approach challenges in nontraditional ways and generate alternative solutions
  • Implements original ideas, resulting in tangible improvements or advancements
  • Learns from missteps and iteratively adjusts ideas based on results, feedback, or changing condition

Exceeds


Applies the competency independently in challenging or high-impact situations, adding value or insight

Exceptional


Demonstrates subject-matter expertise, serves as a role model, and elevates standards.
  • Introduces visionary ideas that challenge the status quo and inspire others to support a shared solution
  • Embraces uncertainty and takes evaluated risks, experimenting with unconventional approaches that provide significant impact
  • Solves persistent or high-stakes problems using inventive strategies that result in significant change
  • Converts innovative concepts into real-world solutions that scale across teams, systems, or organizations
  • Views failure as a critical part of the innovation process; evolves ideas based on reflection and insight