My Leadership Journey: From Progress to Improvements

Leadership doesn’t come overnight and, like anything else in life, it won’t develop unless you work at it. Leadership is an interesting subject because it’s one that’s developing itself. We’ve progressed through numerous theories since formal studies began, and we’ve still got a lot to learn about it. I underwent a series of assessments to track just where I’m at—and how I can improve.

Total Leadership Skills Assessment

Total Leadership, Qualtrics, Harvard Business Review

18 questions that could change my life. I was interested in how my ratings of the skills that bring the key principles of Total Leadership to life match those in the same position as I am (worldwide). My score was 72 out of 90. ‘Whole’ and ‘Innovative’ were both scored 25/30 where 22/30 was my outcome in being ‘Real.’ Of the three sections that make up the assessment, acting with authenticity by clarifying what’s important was my weak point—and was not something that I was immediately aware of.

Personal Values Assessment

Barrett Values Centre

Barrett uses a Seven Levels of Consciousness Model which looks much like a modified Hierarchy of Needs by Maslow. The level of growth and development within each of the levels indicates one's ability to satisfy these needs. Looking at my own model, my values indicate that my capabilities are most important to me and that I also demonstrate care for the greater good—as in making a difference. One value that stood out to me in this assessment, which I value but in some cases may be flagged as limiting or fear-based, was power. This will undermine my leadership potential were I to prioritize control or supremacy over the needs for others.

Change Style Indicator

MHS Assessments

Change is arguably the most relevant concept in analyzing today's economy. Change can be both the crisis and the solution to it—all within the same quarter. My results indicated that I am a ‘moderate originator,' which signals that I am great assuming the visionary role but will sometimes be viewed as crazy within it. The good news is that visionaries tend to predict and respond to change in a fast and comprehensive way where the downsides are that important details tend to get lost in translation and patience runs thin within team problem-solving.

Strengths Finder

Gallup

I've consistently undergone this assessment for the past 10 years at roughly four-year intervals. What I found most important is the variation among them as I mature. In the Big 5 Personality test, for instance, I transitioned from an 'F' to a 'T.' Similarly, in this Gallup survey, I noticed my gradual adjustment to 'Futuristic.' I believe this may reflect my overall fascination with the rate of technological change in the economy and, in this case, has been something I have been able to monitor over the years as my fascination grows. This may, in fact, be linked to my ‘visionary’ character.

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