People get there by screwing up, learning, hustling, and picking up new tricks along the way. If your company is serious about growing future leaders, you need more than a half-baked mentorship lunch and a PowerPoint on "synergy." You need a system to find out who’s got the chops, and skills testing is a game-changer for that.
Why? Because winging it based on who’s loudest in meetings (or who’s been around forever) is just lazy. Skills tests cut through the nonsense. They show you who can actually solve stuff, make decisions, and rally folks together. Fancy titles or golf course connections? In 2024, that just doesn’t cut it.
Here’s what makes skills tests a must-have:
Spotting the dark horses: Tests let you see who’s got legit potential, not just who’s been at the water cooler the longest.
No favoritism, fewer politics: Give everyone a fair shot. If you’re picking leaders based on skill, you don’t have to play the “who knows who” game.
Real feedback, not just keep improving! Tests highlight what people are good at—and what needs work. No more fluffy feedback.
Bespoke training: With real data, you can stop sending everyone to the same boring workshops. Instead, target what people actually need.
Ready for real life, not just textbooks: These tests use tricky scenarios, so wannabe leaders have to prove they can handle curveballs, not just read about them.
So, what even are the skills you want to test? Here’s the rundown
1. Decisions Under Pressure
Forget Magic 8-Balls. You want folks who can analyze problems, see around corners, take risks, and (hopefully) not tank the business. Case studies, “what would you do?” simulations…they show you who’s got it up top.
2. Emotional Smarts & Communication
Can they empathize, listen without zoning out, squash drama, and rally the troops? Or do they shrink when there’s tension in the room? Tests will call that out—no hiding.
3. Rolling With the Punches
Stuff changes constantly—so can they pivot, hustle, and try new approaches? Or are they stuck in a “but we’ve always…” rut?
4. Squad Leadership
It’s not a solo gig. Good leaders lift others up, settle beefs, figure out who does what, and get everyone working together (without resorting to bribes or threats).
5. Thinking Big & Following Through
Set goals, plan out the steps, keep things on track—sounds easy, until real life happens. Simulations see who can juggle all the moving pieces.
Getting This Off the Ground
Don’t just dump a bunch of online quizzes on people and call it a day. Tie skills tests into your actual leadership programs. Do it early—find out where people shine (and where they need help) right from the jump. Feed them real-world scenarios, not recycled case studies from 2002. Talk to them about the results, make a growth plan, and track progress over time. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t treat this as a one-and-done thing—leadership is a moving target. Keep testing, keep learning.
Skills testing works. It sifts out the posers, boosts the strivers, and preps your crew for the chaos that real leadership throws their way. Want a killer leadership bench? Mix these tests into your hiring and training, and you’ll stack the deck in your favor. If not, well, good luck picking leaders based on who has the firmest handshake.
