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Original Date: 02/24/1997
Revision Date: 04/14/2003
Best Practice : Leadership Development Strategy
The Industrial Operations Command (IOC) recognized that the key to making improvements happen depended upon the leadership and their effectiveness as leaders, coaches, facilitators, and strategic planners. In the past, only informal leadership assessment techniques were performed. In order to develop the leadership skills and abilities within the command, a top-down leadership assessment questionnaire was developed, being first used with the Commanding General. An automated program displays data from questionnaires for analysis purposes, and for senior leadership review and use. Currently the assessments are being used at Headquarters, IOC, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Red River Army Depot, Letterkenny Army Depot, and Tobyhanna Army Depot. The questionnaire allows personnel to provide input that will be used constructively to enhance the leadership skills of management. At all of the activities, except Tobyhanna, the inputs are anonymous. The manager is required to develop an improvement plan and then share the plan with the person making the suggestion. The benefits of the assessment questionnaire include the identification of strengths in leadership skills, and abilities and areas for improvement. A mind set is fostered for continuous improvement of personal leadership strategies.
The design of the leadership assessment questionnaire is critical to its effectiveness (Figure 2-3). The questionnaire must inquire about the demographics of the population completing the questionnaire in order to adequately identify areas for improvement. Any corrective actions identified must be worked immediately to maintain credibility. Assessment results and planned improvement activities must be given to those who participated in the process. The assessment should not be conducted anonymously; it requires open, honest communications between leaders and their people on strengths and areas for improvement. Management must be willing to accept risk, be receptive to comments from employees, and be willing to take immediate action on improvements. The Leadership Assessment Questionnaire has been highly successful because of the culture that has been developed throughout the IOC and its commands.
Figure 2-3. Leadership Assessment Questionnaire
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