Leadership assessment needs to be conducted regularly in any organization to ensure continuous good performance. Without it, the leaders may continue to operate in the same way that they have done in the past years. Given the present situation of the business world today, what worked in the past may not necessarily work at this time, given the many innovations and difficulties that this globalized world brings.
How can you effectively conduct leadership assessment?
There should be openness in the organization. The leaders should take the lead in being open and hearing any good or bad reviews of their performance. Good feedback is good, they affirm us and indicate that we are on the right track. Yet, negative feed back is even better because they can help correct our path and show us where we are doing wrong.
The members of the organization, even the rank and file employees should be willing to provide feedback – both good and bad for the purpose of leadership assessment. When you are talking to your boss, it is never easy to break a bad news or let go of a criticism. It is far easier to trade complaints and criticisms, when the boss is not looking but it takes guts to go up to the boss and tell him where he is not doing well.
If your organization ever conducts a leadership assessment, don’t just say if you like the leader or not. Be specific. What are the areas of the leadership that you feel is going well? Which areas are not doing well? Do you have suggestions on how to improve things?
Look at productivity and performance. The overall productivity and performance of the organization is the responsibility of the leader. He or she will stand to receive the applause for a good work done. Or he will heap the criticisms for a bad job.
Results, results, results. In some organizations, there is an undying focus on processes and activities. They say, “we need to do this, we need to do that.” But good leadership identifies results and tailors a strategy to achieve those results in a given time frame. Ultimately, leaders are being judged by the results they deliver.
Workplace relationships and motivation. Although results are important, working relationships also matter. That is why, when employees are motivated well because of the rewards systems in place, then, the leader gets an A grade in motivation and workplace relationships.
Leadership assessment is usually conducted by the senior management. But at times, it is also important to involve people on the ground. Have you ever conducted leadership assessment? What other criteria could you suggest for leadership assessment?
Tags: educational leadership, leadership assessment