Assessing CEOs and Senior Leaders A Primer for Consultants

This book provides an overview of theory, research, and practice in executive assessment; the contexts in which these assessments frequently take place; and commonly used tools, methods, and approaches.

Executive assessment is a specialized application of individual psychological assessment focused on executive and senior leadership positions, a population that warrants special consideration because of the unique nature of higher level leadership jobs. High-level leaders and managers can have a large and lasting impact on the health and vitality of an organization, and hiring or promotional mistakes can be costly.
 
Executive assessment generates valuable information to support decision making in circumstances characterized by uncertainty, subjectivity, and high‑stakes outcomes. The increasing pace of change in the economic and technological landscape has highlighted the need for forward‑thinking organizational leaders and consultants who provide guidance for organizations in the selection and development of such leaders.
 
Written for graduate students, practitioners, and other professionals interested in better understanding how to work with this population, this book builds on theory, research, and practice to provide an overview of senior leadership assessment, the contexts in which this type of assessment frequently takes place, and the tools and methods used. This text also discusses ethical issues and future directions.

J. Ross Blankenship, PhD, is is a consulting psychologist and entrepreneur in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Blankenship is the co-founder and CEO of Leadhr, an enterprise software platform that helps companies measure and influence their organizational culture to improve engagement, retention, and performance. His previous experience includes working in the leadership advisory group of a leading multinational executive search firm, where he consulted with clients across industries on initiatives related to executive assessment and development, top team effectiveness, and organizational culture assessment and transformation; and founding and leading the leadership assessment practice of an executive search firm where he worked with private-equity backed software companies to assess and develop high-performing executive teams. He has also previously served as Adjunct Faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) where he led leadership development programs and conducted research. He is co-author of "Coaching the Derailing Leader," in the CCL Handbook of Coaching in Organizations, and his research and writing has been published in The Leadership Quarterly and Forbes He holds an MS and PhD in Consulting Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, San Diego. 

Introduction

Chapter 1. What is Executive Assessment?

Chapter 2. Understanding the Context of Assessment

Chapter 3. Ethical and Legal Considerations

Chapter 4. How to Assess Senior Leaders

Chapter 4. Technological Developments in Assessments

Chapter 6. Professional Development and Future Directions in Executive Assessment

Glossary
References
About the Author