Table 4-27. Continued
 Gap Mean SD
 Leadership Importance 5.4 1.5
 Leadership Proficiency .4 1 5.0 1.3
 Effective Boards Importance f 6.1 1.4
 Effective Boards Proficiency .2 15.9 1.4


 Comparisons of Importance and Proficiency Scores

 The importance and proficiency mean scores for each competency were also

 compared. The comparisons for the leadership section can be found in Table 4-28. As

 would be expected the proficiency scores are less then the importance scores, which

 would indicate that respondents feel the competencies are important for ideal county

 board members to posses, but do not feel as proficient as the importance scores in these

 competencies. The greatest gap (0.8) is found in the competency "use effective

 communication skills in media interviews", which would indicate that respondents feel it

 is important but they do not feel proficient in this skill area. "Recognize personality

 differences (as indicated by personality tests such as the Myers Briggs)" received the

 same mean score in each area (M=4.7), which demonstrates that respondents do not feel

 this competency, is as important as the others and that they are not very proficient in it.

 Table 4-28 Leadership Competencies Comparisons of Importance and Proficiencies
 Mean Mean Gaps
 Importance Proficiency
 Use effective communication skills in media 5.6 4.8 0.8
 interviews
 Use effective communication skills in writing 5.5 4.8 0.7
 letters
 Demonstrate ability to conduct an orderly meeting 5.9 5.4 0.5
 Use effective communication skills in working 5.7 5.2 0.5
 with groups
 Choose individuals to serve the organization who 5.9 5.5 0.4
 are respected in their communities
 Demonstrate knowledge of the use of goals and 5.5 5.1 0.4
objectives in an organization