Leadership Assessments Key Terms

Know leadership assessments key terms to enhance your professional development

Human resource professionals know better than to believe that leadership is an elusive quality one must be born with. In fact, these professionals could probably list a dozen or so traits and competencies that constitute effective leadership. Most willing employees would be able to master these traits with study and practice. Here is an overview of concepts and terms that describe the most common leadership assessments:

 

Assessment instruments

Assessment instruments are objective tests that human resources professionals use to determine whether an individual possesses qualities or skills considered necessary for effective leadership.
Try: Go to Leadership Assessments to learn about a common assessment instrument known as the 360 Acumen Workstyles Assessment. This test is typical of leadership assessment instruments because it identifies specific traits and then quantifies results from testing on individuals to determine their strengths and weaknesses in order to determine their capacity for good leadership.

Jung Typology Test

This test has been a standard of human resources managers who believe that effective leaders possess certain inherent qualities.
Try: Go to Human Metrics to view a sample Jung Typology Test. Reading these questions will give you an idea of the behaviors and personal inclinations that some professionals believe indicate an individual's capacity for leadership.

Innovative leadership assessment

The innovative leadership assessment tool scores individuals on certain skills and their ability to perform certain business procedures.
Try: At Chart Your Course International you can read about the competencies that HR professionals today are focusing on as they rate an individual's capacity for effective leadership.

Leadership motivation test

One of the unwritten rules for effective leadership is that successful leaders are motivated. The leadership motivation test is designed to help individuals decide whether they truly want to lead.
Try: Mind Tools explains the theory behind a leadership motivation test. You'll learn what points to consider as you contemplate whether to pursue a leadership role. The site also allows you to take a practice leadership motivation test.

Optimal Thinking 360 Assessment

The Optimal Thinking 360 Assessment allows potential leaders to understand their particular style of thinking and their work performance levels.
Try: Optimal Thinking discusses how thought patterns and working styles of non-managerial employees can be used to rate these employees' propensity for leadership. Find out what kind of employees are considered the best people to take this assessment.

Assertiveness quiz

The assertiveness quiz has become more popular in recent years since assertiveness, as opposed to aggressiveness, is considered a crucial quality a good leader should possess.
Try: Go to Leadership and Motivation Training to take a practice assertiveness quiz. Taking the quiz will help you better understand how the positive quality of assertiveness differs from the negative qualities of aggressiveness and passiveness.

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