The core competency of culture 5SHARES Core competencies define our business capabilities and distinguish us from competitors. They are hard to replicate, they provide member benefits and can be leveraged to expand profits. When you think about core competencies, what comes to mind? Adaptability, critical thinking, or conflict resolution are a few of the main contenders. Whether they are embedded in the organization or inherent in the employee, core competencies can allow credit unions to remain successful for decades. There are many skills that can give us a competitive business advantage. We can easily make the business case for things like managing performance, paying attention to communication, or building collaborative relationships.