Assessments and surveys can provide invaluable information when coaching individuals and teams for development and hiring. An executive coaching engagement is a personalized and collaborative process; assessments enrich that process by providing important insights into an individual’s strengths, weaknesses, personality traits, leadership style, and other relevant aspects. When used and interpreted by a trained professional, the results help coaches and their clients identify areas for growth and create actionable goals, build trust, and provide benchmarks for tracking future progress.

The choice of assessments depends on the specific goals of the coaching engagement and the needs of the executive being coached. First, we ensure the assessment is well-researched and has published validity studies. Then we determine which assessment will add the most value to the coaching engagement. There is no point in the effort if it is unlikely to provide unique insights that will add value to the process. Among the most widely used assessment tools are the following:

Popular Assessment Tools Used in Executive Coaching:

  1. 360-Degree Feedback gathers feedback from the executive’s peers, subordinates, superiors, and at times, external stakeholders. It provides a comprehensive view of the executive’s performance and leadership skills from various perspectives.
  2. Personality Assessments include tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Everything DiSC Assessment, or the Big Five Personality Traits, which help executives understand their personality traits, communication preferences, and behavior patterns.
  3. Strengths Assessments such as The CliftonStrengths assessment (formerly StrengthsFinder) help identify an individual’s natural talents and strengths, allowing executives to leverage these qualities to improve their leadership effectiveness. Relatively new to the scene is the 6 Types of Working Genius assessment, which identifies what type of work brings the client joy and reward versus other types that may bring frustration.
  4. Emotional Intelligence (EI) Assessments measure an executive’s ability to recognize, understand, and manage their own emotions as well as those of others. The Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and the Genos Leadership self-assessment are examples.
  5. Leadership Style Assessments, such as the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), the Leadership Circle Profile or the PXT Select Leadership report, help executives understand their leadership style and its impact on their team and organization.
  6. Conflict Management Assessments help executives understand how they handle conflicts and provide strategies to improve conflict resolution skills. The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode assessment and DiSC Conflict profile are examples.
  7. Communication Style Assessments like the DISC Assessment or the Communication Styles Inventory can help executives understand how they communicate and interact with others, leading to improved communication and collaboration skills.
  8. Career Values and Motivators Assessments help executives understand their core values and motivators, aiding in aligning their career goals and decisions with their values.
  9. Behavioral Assessments like the Predictive Index (PI), Birkman or Hogan Assessments evaluate an individual’s behavioral traits and tendencies in work-related situations.
  10. Cultural Competency Assessments create understanding of one’s cultural competency and potential biases, which can be crucial for effective leadership. Instruments like the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assess this aspect.

A graphic that says "The choice of assessments depends on the specific goals of the coaching engagement and the needs of the executive being coached."At Bay Area Executive Coach, we have extensive experience using assessments and surveys in various contexts to fuel your growth and build your coaching ROI, including Everything DiSC Application Suite, 6 Types of Working Genius, The CheckPoint 360 Survey, PXT Select Assessments, The Five Behaviors Assessments, Learning to Listen Assessment and Genos Emotional Intelligence Self-Assessments, 180 and 360 Surveys. 

Your success is our success. To learn more about our portfolio of assessments and surveys, as well as our team and executive leadership coaching services, schedule a meeting with us today.

Here are more resources related to Executive Coaching 

Articles:

Case Study:

Videos:

 

Photo copyright: Featured photo is from ©Canva and edited/created through the platform.