A Closer Look at Our Wide Array of Executive Assessments

By: Maren Perry, MA, PCC Meaningful leadership development starts with a clear understanding of an executive’s current strengths and areas for growth. That’s why, at Arden Coaching, we measure our clients’ capabilities at the start of every coaching partnership with a comprehensive evaluation through executive assessments – so our coaches can meet clients where they are. We believe these metrics are critical to setting appropriate goals and building a strategy to achieve measurable, lasting results.

Building on Strengths: Why Initial Assessments Matter

Executive assessments are more than just tests – they’re a crucial first step in building a successful coaching partnership. Think of them as an investment in your success. They provide the crucial data needed to personalize your coaching experience. By starting with a strong foundation of self-awareness, you’ll be well-equipped to achieve your leadership goals and maximize your growth potential. Once you’ve been matched with your ideal coach through our selection process, we dive into the initial assessment process. Through a series of executive assessments, we gain valuable insights into your leadership strengths, growth opportunities, communication style, and emotional intelligence. These assessments allow us to:

• Tailor the Coaching Strategy: By understanding your starting point, we collaborate with you to craft a personalized coaching plan that specifically addresses your goals and desired development areas.
• Deepen Self-Awareness: The assessment process itself becomes a catalyst for self-discovery. You’ll gain insights into your leadership style, communication patterns, and emotional intelligence, empowering you to take ownership of your development journey.
• Set SMART Goals: Ambition is essential, but without realistic goals, progress can stall. The initial assessment helps us establish SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) objectives that keep you motivated and on track.
• Track Progress: The initial assessment provides a baseline to monitor your development and celebrate your achievements. Witnessing your growth fuels continued motivation and reinforces the value of the coaching experience.

Leadership Executive Assessments 

360° Leadership Assessment

Our signature assessment provides a detailed view of your leadership skills and how you’re perceived by others. This 360° approach ensures a well-rounded understanding of your strengths and areas for growth. Depending on the executive’s goals and specific needs, they may select either a quantitative or qualitative evaluation for the 360° assessment.

Quantitative Option: The Leadership Circle™ Profile

The Leadership Circle™ Profile (LCP) is a quantitative tool designed to measure an executive’s leadership abilities and underlying beliefs, employing a robust 360-degree assessment methodology. This involves gathering feedback from approximately 10 colleagues who are selected to represent a comprehensive view from all around the leader—peers, supervisors, direct reports, and possibly other key stakeholders. These individuals complete a structured digital survey online, providing a diverse range of perspectives on the leader’s effectiveness. High scores on this tool have been demonstrated to correlate strongly with leadership success. Our coaches then use these insights to guide the leader in shifting their thinking and actions to create long-term impact.

Qualitative Option: Stakeholder Interviews

In a qualitative assessment, the executive selects 10 colleagues from different facets of their professional sphere to participate in in-depth, one-on-one interviews designed to collect nuanced feedback on the leader’s performance, habits, and how they are perceived within the organization. These insight-rich interviews provide greater visibility into the executive’s relationships and effectiveness. This method provides a rich, detailed understanding of the executive’s interpersonal dynamics and professional effectiveness. The valuable insights from your chosen assessment form the foundation for a concrete development plan co-created with you, ensuring your coaching journey is laser-focused on achieving your leadership aspirations. Hogan Assessment The Hogan assessment is widely regarded as a top leadership assessment in the coaching industry. Developed through over 30 years of rigorous research, the Hogan assessment was a pioneer in the field of scientifically measuring personality for business applications. By providing deep insights into your leadership strengths, derailers, and values, Hogan empowers you to:

• Become More Self-Aware: Gain a clearer understanding of your leadership style and its impact on others.
• Navigate Challenges: Identify potential derailers and develop strategies to mitigate their influence.
• Lead with Authenticity: Align your values with your leadership approach, fostering trust and engagement within your team.

One of the most valuable aspects of the Hogan assessment is its ability to reveal the difference between how you perceive yourself and how you’re perceived by others. This self-awareness is critical for building trust and fostering strong relationships with your team. Hogan assessments, combined with the expertise of our coaches at Arden, create a powerful foundation for transformative leadership development.

DiSC Assessment

The DiSC assessment, developed initially from the research studies of psychologist William Moulton Marston, is a powerful tool for understanding personality and individual communication styles. It categorizes people into four primary styles:

• Dominant (D): Decisive, results-oriented, and driven to take charge.
• Influential (I): Open, enthusiastic, and skilled at building relationships.
• Steady (S): Reliable, cooperative, and focused on teamwork and harmony.
• Conscientious (C): Meticulous, analytical, and driven by quality and accuracy.

Everyone possesses elements of all four styles, but the DiSC assessment helps identify which traits are most prominent in your personality. There are no “good” or “bad” DISC types – the value lies in understanding yourself and those around you. The EverythingDiSC® model offers a robust suite of tools – from Agile EQ to Productive Conflict assessments – that cater to a variety of needs. These easy-to-use tools uncover actionable insights that our clients can immediately implement for significant improvements. Through the DiSC assessment, our coaches empower clients to understand their own communication style and the styles of those around them. This newfound awareness fosters empathy and allows clients to tailor their interactions for vastly improved team effectiveness.

EQ-i 2.0® Assessment

Technical skills and intellectual ability are important qualities in leaders, but great leadership success hinges on the ability to understand and manage emotions, both your own and those of others. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the missing piece. That’s why we include the EQ-i 2.0® Assessment as one of our primary assessment offerings. Developed through over 20 years of global research, the EQ-i 2.0 offers a comprehensive assessment of your EQ, delving into five core areas critical for success in today’s work environment:

1. Self-Perception: Understanding your own emotions and motivations is the foundation of self-awareness. The EQ-i 2.0 provides insights into how you see yourself, helping you identify your emotional strengths and potential blind spots.
2. Self-Expression: Effective communication is key to building strong relationships. This assessment helps you understand how you express your emotions to others, ensuring your message is clear and impactful.
3. Decision-Making: Leaders make critical choices every day. The EQ-i 2.0 sheds light on how you approach decision-making, considering both logic and emotional intelligence. This allows you to make well-rounded choices that consider the emotional impact on yourself and others.
4. Stress Management: The ability to manage stress effectively is crucial for peak performance. This assessment helps you identify your stress triggers and develop coping mechanisms, ensuring you stay calm and collected under pressure.
5. Interpersonal Skills: Building and maintaining strong relationships is essential for leadership success. The EQ-i 2.0 provides insights into your interpersonal strengths and areas for development, allowing you to build trust and rapport with your team.

The assessment helps you identify your existing EQ strengths, allowing you to leverage them for greater impact within your team. It also identifies areas where you can develop your EQ, empowering you to create a targeted development plan with your coach.

Team-Specific Assessments

Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Assessment

A team is so much more than a group of talented individuals. In a cohesive team, individual efforts are amplified by trust and collaboration. The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ assessment provides a unique approach that evaluates a team’s effectiveness and pinpoints areas for growth. This assessment is based on Patrick Lencioni’s groundbreaking work,  “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team™” and its related assessment, “The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™.” Lencioni’s model identifies five key behaviors that are essential for building a truly cohesive and effective team:

1. Trust: Team members are open and honest with each other, fostering a sense of vulnerability and psychological safety.
2. Conflict: Healthy debate and respectful disagreement are encouraged, leading to better decision-making.
3. Commitment: Team members buy into decisions and hold themselves and each other accountable for achieving goals.
4. Accountability: Members create a culture of mutual accountability where they support and challenge each other to excel.
5. Results: The team prioritizes achieving collective goals over individual agendas, leading to superior results.

Here’s how we use leverage this assessment to empower your team to achieve success:

• Interactive Workshop: We conduct an offsite workshop to share assessment findings, explain the Five Behaviors model, and collaboratively create a clear action plan.
• Skill-Building Sessions: Your team will actively practice and integrate the key behaviors identified in the assessment through facilitated group and individual sessions.
• Ongoing Support: Follow-up offsite sessions allow us to assess progress, celebrate wins, and determine the next steps on your team’s growth journey.
• Tailored Approach: Our experienced coaches will right-size the program to seamlessly integrate with your organization’s specific needs and budget.

This tailored approach ensures that your team 1) Understands their current dynamics and 2) Learns and applies effective strategies to enhance their cohesion and productivity, setting the stage for lasting organizational success.

Additional Tools

The executive assessments and team assessments we’ve discussed – DiSC, Hogan, EQ-i 2.0, and Five Behaviors – are just a glimpse into the powerful tools Arden Coaching offers. Our experienced coaches administer a wide variety of additional assessments, including MBTI (Myers-Briggs), Judgment Index, Energy Leadership Index, Thomas Kilman conflict assessment, The Empowerment Dynamic, Enneagram, Strengthsfinder (now known as Cliftons Strengths), Immunity to Change, Firo B, and many more. Reach out to discover which executive assessment solutions are right for your organization’s needs.

Ready to Assess Your Foundation for Success?

Self-awareness and knowledge is the first pillar of self-improvement. Through Arden’s comprehensive suite of executive assessments, we provide unparalleled insights that empower you to understand yourself, your team, and your leadership style. Schedule a consultation with an Arden Coach today! This no-obligation call allows you to discuss your specific needs, explore the most suitable executive assessments, and ask any questions you may have.

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