360s, Psychometrics and Choosing the Right Tool

I completely forget to talk about it.

Recently, I was asked about 360 and psychometric assessments. It came up organically in a client conversation and it's work I love to do.

But it made me realise that I never talk about it. I've held hundreds of 360 and psychometric assessments and debriefs. Plus, I am accredited in a ridiculous number of tools, the learnings from which have all contributed to my work in different ways.

Assessments form a natural part of my coaching, partnering programs and team development programs. In fact, they’re so much a part of my world that I forget to talk about them!

I consider myself tool agnostic, I’m not here to try and push a particular solution. That’s because I'm a strong believer that no one tool solves every problem.

There are individual assessments such as communication styles, leadership, personality assessments, mental toughness and strengths. Then there are multiple 360 feedback tools for individuals, teams and organisations.

It depends entirely on the challenge you’re looking to solve. Is it to build awareness, leadership capability, communication style, team connection, team alignment, or culture development? Is it for selection or development? Individual or group?

The one I’m using most at the moment is the Hogan Personality assessment suite, because it’s ideal for senior leaders.

This is by far the most comprehensive and robust personality assessment I've come across, as it covers everyday strengths (the light side), potential derailers under pressure (dark side) as well as motivators and values. This suite is invaluable for career planning, engagement, succession or recruitment of senior leaders.

Most importantly, it’s actionable, not just interesting.

Paired with the right 360, it’s a powerful combination. You get the insights into how your personality shows up in your leadership, alongside a benchmarked view of your performance and other’s perspectives.

What’s your go-to assessment and for what purpose?