Elevating leaders: lessons from the Hogan Assessments certification workshops

Elevating leaders: lessons from the Hogan Assessments certification workshops

As someone deeply passionate about leadership development, I'm always on the lookout for ways to inspire and uplift those around me. Recently, I attended a Hogan Assessments workshop in Sydney as part of my accreditation. Two days filled with insights left me reflecting on the evolving landscape of leadership. One of the standout moments was hearing from Peter Berry, the Managing Director of Peter Berry Consultancy (PBC), who shared some truly thought-provoking perspectives. I also complemented my thoughts with PBC's research on this topic. 

Let me take you through a few key takeaways that really resonated with me:

1. Capability: bridging the gap between leadership and management

John Kotter's distinction between management and leadership is profound. Kotter paints a vivid picture: imagine managers ensuring trains run on time while leaders envision the future of transport. It's about finding that sweet spot where you're working both in and on the business—balancing the day-to-day operations with a clear, strategic vision for the future. Quite a challenge, right?

Reflect with me: Are you merely keeping the trains running on time, or are you also laying down the tracks for your organisation's future?

2. Emotional Intelligence: The heart of effective leadership

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a game-changer in leadership. The workshop reinforced the idea that while IQ might get you in the door, EQ keeps you there and helps you excel. Peter Berry's research expands this further, linking passion and motivation with outcomes from others. It's about tuning into your emotions and those of your team, leveraging that understanding to foster better relationships and drive meaningful results, and utilising tools like the Hogan personality and 360 assessments to gain insights into one's natural behavioural traits and motivations. 

Let's pause for a moment: How well are you tuning into the emotional undercurrents within your team to strengthen those vital connections?

3. Achievement Focus: balancing people, customers, operations and results

Achieving success requires a balanced focus on people, customers, operations, and results. It's not just about meeting financial targets; it's about creating an inclusive environment, listening to customers, and ensuring operational excellence. Superior performance, it turns out, is all about balancing these elements to drive sustainable success.

Think about this: Are you balancing your focus across all these key areas, or is one aspect getting more attention at the expense of others?

4. Strategic Thinking: Level 5 leadership and competitive excellence

Drawing from Jim Collins' concept of Level 5 Leadership, the most effective leaders channel their ambitions into a larger mission. The American Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework further emphasises the need for competitive leadership—understanding your strengths and weaknesses and taking intelligent risks to stay ahead.

Ask yourself: How are you channelling your ambitions into your organisation's mission, and are you taking the right risks to stay competitive?

5. Inspiring Engagement: the true measure of leadership

Leadership isn't just about achieving results; it's about inspiring your team to go above and beyond. Research from AON, Glint, and Mercer/SIROTA highlights the alarming level of disengagement in the workplace, with 24% of global employees no longer going beyond their basic responsibilities.

Leadership is the most consequential force in driving engagement, retention, and performance. WHY?! Effective leaders create a positive work environment where employees feel valued and motivated. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, innovative, and committed.

Leaders who understand and leverage their employees' strengths rather than focusing on their weaknesses can significantly improve morale and job satisfaction. This approach not only makes employees happier but also reduces turnover rates.

Let's consider this together: What steps are you taking to transform your team from disengaged to fully engaged?

Attending the Hogan assessments workshop enriched my understanding of these concepts, and I'm eager to continue exploring how we can all elevate our leadership game. How are you applying these essential building blocks in your leadership journey?

Let's connect over coffee! ☕

Whether you prefer a virtual chat or a face-to-face meeting, let's make it happen! Let's schedule a time that works for you. I'm looking forward to our conversation!