Leadership assessment is about understanding and developing your leadership capability across a wide range of areas. Assessments provide a deep level of insights and powerful takeaways for both the coach and client.
As defined by Assessment Associates International, “Leadership Assessment is a process for identifying and describing an individual’s unique characteristics as they pertain to leading, managing, and directing others and how such characteristics fit into a given position’s requirements.”
Everyone one from executives to managers to on the rise individuals can use leadership assessments to adjust their own approach to leadership. It can be a powerful tool to use to identify strengths and interests or areas for potential growth and development.
Some assessments provide thorough and broad-sweeping insights, such as the 360-degree assessment. This anonymous process collects feedback about the individual’s performance from peers, direct reports, and leadership within the organization. This provides a comprehensive 360-degree view of the leader’s strengths and opportunities for growth.
Other assessments are targeted for specific areas of leadership development or focus, such as:
- Management style
- Behavioral assessment
- Strengths assessment
- Emotional intelligence
- Personal branding
- Interpersonal communication style
Determining what type of assessment to take is a highly personalized decision, and should align with the goals and strategy for development of the client. It starts with good communication between the leadership coach and client to develop a thoughtful plan.
As with any good data, it’s important that it’s ultimately actionable. With assessments, the goal is not to receive the insights and then never think about it again. As you reflect on the insights you have from the assessment, you might consider:
- What are your biggest takeaways?
- How will these insights impact you moving forward?
- Where might this present a challenge for you?
- How can you best leverage this to be a better leader?
With assessments leaders gain a much deeper perspective, which often propels them towards their goals at a much faster rate.
