The 5 Most Powerful Assessments for Leaders and Businesses

How to Harness the POWER of Assessments

Human beings are natural assessment machines. Every time we walk into a room, our brains are bombarded with sensory input—but we can only consciously process about 50 bits per second of information. That means 99.999% of what we sense is filtered out before we even become aware of it.

What Are We Filtering Out?

What gets through our subconscious filters, and what gets left out? How much should we trust what we perceive? The reality is, most of what happens around us never reaches our conscious awareness—and as leaders, this can be a significant challenge.

The human brain can only consciously process about 50 bits per second of information.

Which assessments have the most impact for leaders and businesses?

Here are my top five:

1. Cognitive Ability Assessments

Cognitive ability is one of the strongest predictors of job performance, particularly in roles that require problem-solving, adaptability, and strategic thinking. A solid cognitive assessment can help identify high-potential talent in complex roles.

2. Personality Assessments

Personality traits play a crucial role in job performance and team dynamics. The Big Five personality model (OCEAN) is particularly useful in assessing key traits like:

• Conscientiousness – Self-discipline, reliability, goal-directed behavior.
• Emotional Stability – Resilience and composure under pressure.

These traits directly correlate with workplace success, making personality assessments invaluable for hiring and leadership development.

3. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Assessments

Leaders with high emotional intelligence excel in team-based roles and people management. EQ assessments measure skills like self-awareness, empathy, and social influence—critical components for leadership success.

4. Culture Assessments

A strong organizational culture drives engagement, retention, and performance. Culture assessments help leaders:

• Identify whether candidates align with company values.
• Diagnose the current state of company culture and determine areas for improvement.

This ensures that culture becomes a strategic asset, not an afterthought.

5. Job-Related Competency Assessments

These assessments evaluate the real-world skills required for a specific job. Unlike general personality or cognitive tests, competency assessments are tailored to specific industries and roles, providing a direct measure of job readiness.

The Real Power of Assessments: How You Use Data to Make Decisions

While assessments provide valuable insights, their true power lies in how leaders use the results. In over 15 years of working with leadership assessments, I’ve observed that only about 25% of their potential is fully utilized. Why?

Because many leaders aren’t fluent in translating assessment data into strategic decisions.

A report alone won’t make a decision for you. It’s up to leaders to add the necessary context—to understand what data matters most for their teams, culture, and organizational goals.

How to Increase Your Fluency in Assessments

To get the most out of assessments, leaders must develop fluency in interpreting and applying the data. Here’s how:

1. Training – Invest in learning how to think strategically with assessment tools.
2. Practice – The more you use assessments, the better you’ll understand them.
3. Application – Bring assessment insights into real-world decision-making.
4. Consistency – Small, regular applications of assessment data yield better long-term results.

The Leadership Challenge: What Are You Missing?

At any given moment, you are filtering out 99.999% of available information. That means you might be missing key insights that could help you:

• Craft better job roles
• Hire the best employees
• Develop high-impact leaders
• Build stronger teams
• Create a culture that becomes a true competitive advantage

So, take a moment to reflect: How are you leveraging the power of assessments in your leadership? What valuable insights might be slipping through your subconscious filters?

Assessments, when used intentionally, don’t just help us make better decisions, they help us build stronger, more successful organizations.

Wrapping Up

Do you have any questions about assessments? Need a good recommendation based on your particular needs? Email me anytime, and I’d love to delve into all the great things assessments can do for you.

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