By: Forbes Coaches Council

Source: Forbes

Published: May 1st, 2018

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses as an executive can only help you become a more effective leader. Though undergoing a round of assessments may seem like a futile attempt to tell you what you already know about yourself, these tests can be quite relevant in the information they provide.

Assessments can give you insight into areas where you need to focus more attention and help you reinforce the skills that you excel at. The results may surprise you and will certainly allow you to be more successful as an executive within your organization.

Eleven members of Forbes Coaches Council weigh in on the one assessment they highly recommend executives take. Here is what they recommend:

1. CliftonStrengths

CliftonStrengths is one of the most impactful assessments I have taken in an effort to learn more about me. It truly empowers you to live your best life. Through this assessment, you discover what it is you do best naturally, not forced. Your focus is not on what you need to improve, but rather on how you can develop your strengths. - Dr. Sharon H. Porter, Perfect Time SHP LLC,

2. EQ-i 2.0 For Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a key indicator of leadership performance. And when leaders lead well, organizations do well. The EQ-i 2.0 is a valid and reliable tool that measures the way you perceive and express yourself, develop and maintain social relationships and cope with challenges. The clear measurements and guiding competencies make this tool a must-have in my executive coaching engagements. - Loren Margolis, Training & Leadership Success LLC

3. Energy Leadership Index Assessment

The Energy Leadership Index Assessment provides a unique lens on self-awareness and emotional intelligence, two key ingredients for any leader. Situational awareness of yourself and others is critical for a leader to respond appropriately to the people in their charge. Understanding where you are at any moment and how you respond to stress can make all the difference. - Larry Boyer, Success Rockets LLC

4. The Leadership Circle

The Leadership Circle assessment provides an executive with feedback on how others experience their leadership; the real power comes from the perspective and insights gained around reactive tendencies. This is a critical tool in helping executives shift from reactive to creative leadership by diving into the assumptions behind those reactive tendencies and engaging in creative leadership skills. - Amy Douglas, Spark Coaching, LLC

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5. The Passion Profiler

One of my advisers works with Purpose Linked Consulting to administer the Passion Profiler™, a validated psychometric instrument to identify one's unique passions. Executives would benefit to help better themselves in their career. If you are not living out of your passions, it means you cannot inspire others as effectively. What could be more important in this world of disengagement? - John M. O'Connor, Career Pro Inc.

6. Kolbe Indexes

I work with a local organization that provides Kolbe Indexes to everyone I hire and sometimes my clients, as well. It is a fantastic tool because it gives insight into the amount of energy a person naturally has for any given task, and helps me shape business in a way that is very people-forward instead of the "machine" of business. - Heather Pinay, Authentically: Business & Life Solutions

7. Neethling Brain Instrument

Neethling Brain Instrument (NBI), based on "whole brain thinking," is by far the most enabling and validated assessment for individuals, focusing on the eight dimensions of thinking. The report highlights an individual’s preferred thinking style and informs them of methods to nurture the dimensions less used, therefore driving an individual to activate the whole brain for maximum impact. - Deep Bali, Recalibrate.world

8. Emergenetics

A psychometric assessment that is grounded in neuroscience, Emergenetics is a great tool with a ton of depth. Separating out thinking preferences and behavioral preferences, Emergenetics is able to communicate and differentiate the complexity of cognition in an easy to understand model and tool. Great to use with individuals and teams. - Kristin Constable, Winning Defined By You

9. Everything DiSC Workplace

When choosing assessments, there are lots of great choices but it is important to choose the right tool for the specific need. If I had to pick one it would be the Everything DiSC Workplace profile for a simple reason. People succeed or fail based on relationships, and relationships are built one conversation at a time. Start with the conversation and build from there. - David Galowich, Terra Firma Leadership LLC

10. TINYpulse

Your most important asset is your people. To keep people engaged, you need to maintain a healthy, vibrant, warm, welcoming culture and show your employees you truly care about them. Get a sense for how employees are doing on a continual and consistent way using an anonymous employee engagement tool such as the one TINYpulse offers. - Beth Kuhel, Get Hired, LLC

11. Hogan

First distinguish between real tests and masquerading fortune cookies. Select an assessment that is psychometrically sound, situationally relevant and provides actionable insights. Hogan assessments check all the boxes. They answer a range of questions related to leadership strengths and weaknesses, reputation, preferred work settings and uniquely-underlying derailers. - Mitchell Shack, Centauric, LLC