Competencies are a measure of personal skills or attributes of an employee, a required behaviour within a job role. These skills are defined skills that employees need to demonstrate in order to be able to efficiently do their job. The more competent you are able to demonstrate yourself to me usually correlates with your suitability for leadership roles and instilling leadership values on others.
Competency is a concept linking three parameters – Knowledge, Skills and Attitude. It may be that an employee has excellent interpersonal skills, but will not be considered competent at interview to join a company as, for example, a Project Manager unless their education (knowledge) and attitude fit the required competencies.
Competency Frameworks therefore can be used as a recruitment tool but also as a performance management and continuing professional development (CPD) tool.