|
According to an Aberdeen Group research study, a greater number of organizations are using leadership assessment tools to achieve positive results. Aberdeen, a global research company, conducts primary research studies on a wide variety of subjects for a multinational client base. In this particular project, participants recognized the value of leadership assessments without dispute. Aberdeen conducted research over a four-year period that concluded organizations using assessments in a variety of applications, such as hiring, development, succession planning and more, achieved greater overall success. In fact, Aberdeen found that approximately 75% of successful companies attributed their revenue and profitability performance to using assessments. How Leadership Assessment Tools Help Organizations First and foremost, businesses need leaders who can deliver an ongoing high level of performance. To uncover these leaders, organizations are turning to leadership assessments. These tools help identify talented employees who have the skills necessary to be developed into strong leaders. As powerful business tools, leadership assessments perform four major functions: 1. They identify individuals with the capability and interest to lead. 2. They help managers get a better understanding of the people they lead. 3. They help managers understand themselves better and how they influence their people. 4. They help employees grasp their purpose as both a leader and a manager. In addition to focusing on the interpersonal skills, personality traits and behavioral characteristics important to become a leader, leadership assessments have the potential to provide numerous additional benefits. Assessments shed light on different communication styles. They also emphasize how employees handle certain situations, such as making decisions, working within a team and settling co-worker conflicts. Performing well in these circumstances helps prepare potential leaders. Working effectively within a team and getting along with co-workers is especially valuable to a future leader within the company. Some companies have even had their employees who perform the best take leadership assessments. Then, they use their results as benchmarks for new hires. Potential candidates are compared to the leadership assessment results of these companies’ top performers to determine who might have the greatest potential for success. Trends in Leadership Assessment Use Assessments are being used to a greater extent by global companies. With businesses expanding and offices becoming more geographically dispersed, employees need to better understand each other. Technology helps the workplace become more connected, but doesn’t help people know each other on a deeper level or work together more effectively. In addition, assessments are being used to create career paths for employees. Traditionally used to identify leadership skills and enhance team development, some companies are also using assessments to focus on individual strategic opportunities. Besides the typical large organization user base, an increasing number of smaller businesses have integrated assessments into their human resource strategies. Today, companies of all sizes can leverage assessment tools to achieve significant employee development results. A strong leader can have a major impact on a business. Therefore, deciding who to hire, promote and develop can have significant consequences on the organization’s success. Any tools that can help managers make those decisions provide real strategic value. About the Author: Michael Wilk is VP of Corporate Marketing at Profiles International, a research-focused company that helps organizations worldwide create high-performing workforces. Visit us at http://www.profilesinternational.com/index.php or call 866-751-1644 for more information about Leadership Assessment.
Related Articles -
Leadership Assessment, Profiles International,
| 
