Innovative Leadership
Assessment
 A leader is a person that inspires you to
take a journey to a destination you would not go to by yourself. The
traditional manager who maintains status quo leaving what he found will
not be effective in today's environment. Today's business challenges
revolve around change, innovation, passion and creativity. I
developed the "Innovative Leadership Self-Assessment" as a self-evaluation
tool for those wanting to know what competencies lead to business success
now and in the future.
As times change, leadership skills must
also change. What was successful in the past is still relevant, but
may not be everything needed for the future. Use this
assessment to rate yourself. You can also give it to others and have
them provide you an honest appraisal.
Scoring directions below.
o
Process Management-Designs and
manages processes that are efficient and effective. These processes
support the delivery of either the organization's service or the
manufacture of the organization's products. Processes move
horizontally across organizational boundaries. Score yourself higher
if you have identified your critical processes.
o
Customer Driven-One of the highest
leadership priorities is the ability to focus on the needs and
expectations of customers. Do you build and maintain relationships
with customers? Do you have metrics in place to measure customer
satisfaction and customer loyalty? (Customers can also be employees)
Add points if you know the needs, expectations and desires of your
customers. Deduct points if there are only certain select parts of
the organization having this information.
oInformation
Management-The innovative
enterprise thrives on information. There are multiple avenues and
many means of expressing the goals, plans, and status of the organization
to all people working within the enterprise. The enterprise shares
success stories, ideas with everyone. How many available
means are available to improve communication? For example, meetings,
LANs, bulletin boards, E-mail etc. Score yourself lower if there is no
organized system in place to spread information.
oChange
Management-A leader of the
organization is knowledgeable of and manages change appropriately.
Dovetails ongoing programs and management philosophies into the strategic
or business planning. Deduct more points if your last change action
created anger, resentment and frustration.
oInnovation-Makes
focused efforts to initiate new ideas and suggestions. The leader is
constantly looking at other industries and trends to see beyond the
horizon for new ways to do things. The organization does not
maintain status quo. Add one point if people from your organization
have taken site visits or benchmarked other organizations during the past
six months.
oContinuous
Improvement-Continuously improving
everything the enterprise does. Processes and procedures are constantly
being improved. Score yourself higher if you have a continuous
improvement program. Deduct one point if it is only a "suggestion
box."
oObstacle
Removal-The innovative leader
spends time pinpointing and removing barriers and obstacles obstructing
work flow. Employees feel free to go to anyone in the organization
for advice and assistance. Deduct points if you have not had an
employee survey or sensing session during the past year.
oCharts
the Course-Provides a clear
direction toward the future. Are you enthusiastic and
inspiring others to take a journey to a particular destination? If
there is no clear direction or inspiring vision, mark yourself low.
Give yourself points if people are involved in the goal setting process.
oProvides
Motivation-You have a system of
reward and recognition. Team based rewards lead to higher morale.
Employees feel that they are contributing to the vitality of the
enterprise. Give yourself two points if you have provided
recognition to a worker or team during the past five days. Reduce
points if you only recognize length of service.
oTrust
Builder-This leader allows people
to learn from their mistakes and allows risk taking. The leader who
tolerates risk taking scores higher in innovation. Bad
signs--more than two signatures on any form, too many auditors and
inspectors and time clocks.
oProvides
Purpose-Purpose gives people a
reason why they should work for this organization. People relate
best to the enterprise when they understand how their actions relate to
the big picture. The person who understands how their actions affect
the organization is more empowered to take action.
TOTAL SCORE
Scoring Directions-Rate
yourself or your organization on a score of 1(lowest)--5 (highest) for
each item. This assessment can also be used as a peer assessment by
others on your standing in the organization.
SCORING:
Excellent 55-50
Good 49-44
Average 43-33
Needs Improvement 32-0
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