By Jillian Broaddus and Chuck Cusumano
Socrates, when asked to sum up what all philosophical commandments could be reduced to, he allegedly replied: “Know thyself.” Lao Tzu followed this sentiment, reiterating, “He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
We, at the Joshua Group, have based much of our philosophy of “helping you do what you do better” on the foundation of self-assessments. After all, how can you get where you want to go if you don’t know where you’re starting?
We currently have a handful of proprietary assessments available for free – whether you want to determine your communication style or your degree of confidence when it comes to growth – in addition to facilitating strengths-based surveys, 360- and 180-degree feedback assessments, and more. Essentially, if you want to “know thyself,” we want to help!
Over the years, we’ve surveyed thousands of leaders, and coached through millions of data points. Through it all, here are the top 8 benefits we’ve found of self-assessments:
Maximize your strengths – One of our favorite assessments on new coaching clients is the Gallup CliftonStrengths/StrengthsFinders. Through a quick, 45-minute survey, users reveal their greatest strengths, as well as their greatest category – relationship building, executing, influencing, or strategic thinking – of strengths. Too often, feedback surveys only hone in on areas of improvement; however, perhaps even more important is the ability to do what you do – better!
Target your weaknesses – Of course, the flip side also needs to be acknowledged. Our favorite evaluation tools to get into the nitty-gritty of where you need to improve come in the form of 360-assessments. We specialize in custom-built 360s, so you can ask those closest to you exactly what areas need to be worked on to have the most highly-functioning team, leaders, and organization possible. Without open, anonymous feedback, it can be hard to know how we’re truly doing.
Feel more confident – Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is the key to confidence! Whether you’re celebrating your strong points or working through challenges to grow, you’ll be a more confident leader with the knowledge of where you stand under your belt!
Maintain a growth mindset – Certainly, there is a subset of self-assessment users who garner their results, file them away in a storage cabinet, and gain no value from the entire experience. However, the vast majority – at least in our experience – use self-assessments to grow, develop, and improve! When paired with coaching and training, self-assessments are the start to growth and betterment.
Stay engaged – Routine evaluation is a sign to yourself and those around you that you are engaged, open, and growing. A stagnant leader stops learning; a growing leader keeps evaluating.
Create realistic goals – Like we mentioned in the intro to this blog, how will you know where you’re going if you don’t know your starting point? Self-assessments serve as a “YOU ARE HERE” marker on a roadmap, which ultimately allow you to determine the end route to your desired destination.
Encourages reflection – One of the most valuable ways a leader can spend his or her time is through self-reflection: time to put the busyness aside and truly think about what is working well, what isn’t, and what needs to happen to stay on track for your individual, team, and business goals. Self-evaluations force this reflection period to take place, as you work through your feedback reports.
Become a better team player – Individual assessments benefit far more than the individual: as you learn more about yourself, you’re sure to become a better leader, a better teammate, and a better contributor – especially when the feedback is coming from your peers, such as in a 360! So, show your people you care about yourself and your relationships!
How can we help you grow? Please reach out to us at hello@thejoshuagroup.net to learn more about our assessments, and to see what’s coming down the pipeline!