What is TRIMA?

Figure 1

SOCIAL STYLES	COMPETENCIES	LEADERSHIP STYLES
Preferences, temperament and attitudes Valued competencies Goals, aspirations and values Predisposition to act Know how to act Intention to act Image perceived Image rendered Image desired Spontaneous self Professional self Desired self Self-concept Self-esteem Self-affirmation I am... I can... I am recognized for... Predisposition for competencies Prediction of success Assumed competencies

Integrated Approach to the TRIMA Competencies Model

The TRIMA competency-based approach is a model which comprehensively integrates three dimensions of human behaviour: preferences (Social Styles), competencies and influence (Leadership Styles). These three dimensions can be inter-related to gain insight into the strategic alignment particular to any individual. The greater the alignment among the three levels, the more likely the individual is to behave dynamically at work and to demonstrate congruity in his actions.

Figure 2

The first structure, Social Styles, defines the values, beliefs and attitudes of the individual. Social Styles provide insight into the individual's perception of the meaning of life and how he acts in relation to his preferences. Social Styles reveal the concept of self, indicate why an individual acts in a certain manner, and constitute the MOTIVATION of the person. Social Styles are thought patterns which lead the individual down a certain path in life, much like rails determine the direction of a train.

Competency Clusters act like filters to distinguish individual abilities. Competency Clusters indicate which elements an individual mobilizes in his PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT. Competency Clusters almost always play a sorting role in competency development, allowing only those elements which conform to Social Styles to continue down the track. They provide insight into the self-esteem of the individual through the question: "I am able to..."

Leadership Styles constitute the third structure. As motivational drivers, they determine areas of influence and energy. Leadership Styles provide information about the type of impact that an individual has on his environment and on others. They provide information about self-affirmation and self-expression, pillars for enhancing the visibility of the resources of an individual. Leadership Styles structure an individual's way of thinking and influence his choice of objectives and his actions. Leadership Styles basically shed light on how an individual takes action and reflect his sense of ACCOUNTABILITY.

Using the list of 150 generic competencies provided by the TRIMA analytical model, it is possible to create a personalized projection of an individual's personality on multiple levels by establishing correlations between the smaller components within a structural model. In so doing, we use a series of questionnaires and interviews to identify the following characteristics of an individual:

• Who he is (Social Styles)
• What he can do (Competency Clusters)
• What his motivational strengths are (Leadership Styles)

The TRIMA approach has an intervention framework which enables the gathering of information on which competencies an individual is proficient or deficient, their interests and their competency development potential. Identifying these competencies and comparing them to those required for a specific position make the decision-making process easier and gather all task parameters for best results when trying to match candidates and positions, doing performance evaluations, and identifying needs in training, succession planning or career management.