360° Leadership Assessments and Coaching: What are the benefits?

It is often said that as one moves upwards in the organisational ladder, roles tend to become lonelier. Few tend to volunteer feedback upwards, and even if feedback is asked for, there may always be a question as to whether that feedback is complete and as candid as it needed to be. It is also the case that any feedback received is limited by what questions were asked and how. This lack of insight into one’s own leadership skills, behaviours and mindset, often limit leaders in many organisations to their own assumptions and best judgement. 

Why carry out a 360° Leadership Assessment?

A 360° leadership assessment offers a unique opportunity for leaders to understand how they come across to their direct reports, their peers and the persons they are answerable to. The exercise hinges on confidentiality, and this is why most businesses prefer to outsource it, as it ensures that the identity of those who provide the information is safeguarded. There are various ways of how one can carry out a 360° assessment, however, most organisations opt for a mixed methodology of numerical data - collected via validated questions measuring specific leadership behaviours or traits – and qualitative data - through interviews or open-ended questions.

Why choose the Leadership Circle 360° Profile?

The Leadership Circle Profile™ (LCP) is a true breakthrough among 360° profiles. It integrates the latest research on leadership, psychological, and adult development and is considered the leading edge and global standard in assessment methodology. The authors, Anderson & Adams, developed the LPC 360° framework through their practical work with organisations and concluded that,

The LCP 360° Leadership Assessment is the only instrument that measures the two primary leadership domains — Creative Competencies and Reactive Tendencies. It measures behaviour, underlying beliefs, and assumptions — the habits of thought that run much of our behaviour. Leaders will be challenged to reflect on how their own behaviours and mindset are enabling or constraining their purpose and business performance. As leaders gain these insights, they have much higher leverage to make transformative change.

The LCP offers added insight by providing scales on the leader’s relationship vs task balance, leadership potential utilization and overall leadership effectiveness in relation to business outcomes. It also asks reviewers a set of open-ended questions which provides a richer dimension to the assessment and ensures that the numerical side of the report is supported by actual words and observations of those working around the leader being assessed. All scores are then provided in a detailed report but also summarised visually on a graph. The data is offered as percentile scores and compared to the LCP global norm base of over 350,000 leaders worldwide, giving the leader a snapshot of their leadership effectiveness on an international scale. 

The LCP has been statistically validated through rigorous, third-party analysis, including the Institute for Psychological Research and Application (IPRA) offering a formidable platform for leadership development and leadership growth.

What are the benefits of Executive Coaching after a 360° Leadership Assessment?

Executive coaching can be an invaluable resource for individuals who have undergone a 360° leadership assessment. Once the results are in, coaching steps in to harness the insights and drive personal and professional growth.

1.     Creating a Personal Development Plan (PDP): A qualified coach is trained at interpreting the feedback of the 360° assessment and translating it into a tailored Personal Development Plan (PDP). This plan becomes a roadmap for improvement, setting clear goals and milestones.

2.     Deep Reflection & Challenging Perceptions: Often, there are gaps between what individuals perceive as their strengths and how they are perceived by others. The coach prompts leaders to question their leadership style, behaviour, and effectiveness. This introspective journey allows for a better understanding of one's potential and can be a humbling but essential aspect of growth.

3.     Behavioural Change: 360° assessments often highlight behavioural patterns that can hinder leadership effectiveness. Executive coaching helps leaders break these patterns, within a safe confidential space, practice more effective behaviours, leading to tangible improvements in their leadership abilities.

4.     Guidance and Accountability: Executive coaches act as a guide, and through well-developed questioning techniques help the leader unlearn habits and build strategies for improvement. They offer a fresh, external perspective and are adept at keeping individuals accountable for their personal development. This external accountability fosters consistent and sustainable progress.

5.     Customized Support: Every leader is unique, and an effective executive coach tailors their approach to suit the individual's needs and objectives. This customized support ensures that the coaching process aligns with the specific areas identified in the 360° assessment.

6.     Improved Communication and Relationships: A significant part of leadership involves communication and relationships. Executive coaches work with leaders to enhance their interpersonal skills and strengthen their relationships with team members, peers, and superiors. This results in a more harmonious and productive work environment.

Executive coaching after a 360° leadership assessment is a powerful combination. It facilitates a deep and meaningful process of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. By guiding individuals to create a PDP, fostering deep reflection, addressing perception gaps, and providing personalized support, executive coaching helps leaders evolve into more effective and influential professionals, positively impacting their organizations and teams.

If you are interested in learning more about 360° leadership assessments and Executive Coaching, get in touch by sending an email to info@thechangeagent.eu.