{"id":684,"date":"2023-04-17T09:11:04","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T08:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/learning-and-development-strategy-and-all-things-assessment\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:38:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:38:18","slug":"learning-and-development-strategy-and-all-things-assessment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/resources\/learning-and-development-strategy-and-all-things-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Approaches to learning and development assessment: getting the right fit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Self-discovery is a tempting prospect. There\u2019s something irresistible about digging into our subconscious selves in order to illuminate the idiosyncrasies that shape and drive us personally and professionally. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s also an essential component of any well-planned corporate learning and development (L&amp;D) strategy.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Employee assessments<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qpeople.co.uk\/we-measure\/\">At qpeople<\/a>, we field lots of requests for employee assessments \u2013 some to whittle down unwieldy candidate pools, others to benchmark individuals\u2019 aptitudes and abilities or to measure the impact of a training programme. It\u2019s not uncommon for clients to ask for a specific type of assessment \u2013 MBTI or Saville Wave, for instance \u2013 although we\u2019d always recommend tackling any such project from a problem-solving perspective, rather than a solutions-shopping one. Here we have listed a few of qpeople\u2019s preferred psychometric tools and providers:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.safe2great.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Safe2Great<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (Growth Mindset and Leadership assessment, 360s)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/qpeople.co.uk\/we-measure\/team-assessment\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Meta Team<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (Team Development)\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psysoft.com\/eq-i-2-emotional-intelligence\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">EQ-<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psysoft.com\/eq-i-2-emotional-intelligence\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">i<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psysoft.com\/eq-i-2-emotional-intelligence\"><span data-contrast=\"none\"> 2.0 &amp; EQ360 <\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(Emotional Intelligence \u2013 Individual, Leadership, Team and 360s)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.talogy.com\/en-gb\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Talogy<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (Ability, Trait-based personality, EI, Resilience, DE&amp;I, Leadership Climate, 360s)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.savilleassessment.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Saville<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shl.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">SHL<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (Ability, Trait-based personality, Leadership assessment)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insights.com\/products\/insights-discovery\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Insights<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eu.themyersbriggs.com\/en\/tools\/MBTI?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt4qq78O1_QIVRe3tCh3lTQWCEAAYASAAEgK7ovD_BwE\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">MBTI<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (Type-based personality)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When deployed effectively, assessments will bring clarity and illumination to the challenges of recruiting, retaining and developing of a modern workforce. But how do you know which approach to take?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Psychometric testing<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Psychometric testing falls into two broad categories: personality profiling, and ability and skills testing. Carrying out this type of assessment will offer valuable insights into how individual employees work and communicate and show where they are likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/qpeople.co.uk\/knowledge-hub\/news\/talent-management-creating-a-healthy-pipeline\/\">fit and flourish in the workplace.<\/a><\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Psychometric tests are most commonly used as part of the recruitment process, in concert with interviews, skills\/knowledge evaluation and references, but they can also be helpful when conducted as a precursor to personal development or coaching, and team building. Whatever the context, it\u2019s important to review the results of any psychometric testing within a wider assessment framework to provide a rounded picture of aptitude, ability and potential.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">High-quality psychometric testing can help to:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Inform better hiring decisions based on multiple data points, such as ability and working styles.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Increase employee engagement and alignment to the culture of the organisation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Offer individuals fair, fresh and helpful personal insights.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Establish robust, effective and fair recruitment and onboarding processes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tailor ongoing development to individual employees\u2019 needs.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Minimise cognitive hiring bias by combining data and intuition.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Create a benchmark for <\/span><\/span>future hiring processes and professional development programmes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">360-degree assessments<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By contrast, 360-degree assessment is a peer evaluation system. It relies on anonymous ratings from an employees\u2019 manager, colleagues and direct reports on the subject\u2019s workplace behaviours and competencies and is designed to measure their strengths and development areas.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It&#8217;s an approach that is very much focused on behavioural characteristics such as leadership, <a href=\"http:\/\/qpeople's approach to learning and development assessments: what is the right for for your company's needs\">Emotional Intelligence<\/a> and communication styles \u2013 like teamwork, character, and leadership effectiveness \u2013 and, as such, can\u2019t measure performance goals or other objective targets like sales quotas. Rather, it harnesses peer power to drive both employee development and organisational growth.\u202fWhile some 360\u2019s have the rigor of psychometric tools, not all 360\u2019s are cut from the same cloth.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">360-feedback<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When used effectively, 360 feedback can help to:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Create actionable short- and long-term employee development plans.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Design and refine employee training opportunities.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Establish a positive feedback culture.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Promote trust, fairness and accountability.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identify and encourage in-house talent\/potential leaders.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Improve team- and relationship-building skills.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Boost employee motivation, productivity and retention.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We know from experience that cultivating soft skills \u2013 like effective decision making, relationship building, teamwork and delegation \u2013 is important for career growth and for organisational effectiveness. A 360-feedback review provides valuable insights into core skills and behaviours, often uncovering the blind spots that are impeding growth, at the same time revealing fresh opportunities for development.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-14708\" src=\"https:\/\/qpeople.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/qpeople-Feedback-1024-\u00d7-600px-1-1000x586.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"586\">Importantly, it offers the chance for people to look through an unfamiliar lens \u2013 to make sense of the world from another perspective. Some may be blithely unaware of how others perceive them and wonder why they\u2019re overlooked for promotion or are encountering pushback from colleagues, while others may be pleasantly surprised by how their peers feel about them.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With self-awareness as the goal, the evidence of multiple colleagues can provide a powerful impetus for change \u2013 either to elevate the skills and qualities that are in deficit or to amplify existing strengths. Once someone knows how they are seen, they have the choice to do things differently.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Optimising growth opportunities<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As with any assessment, the value of intel is directly correlated to the quality of the testing framework. Whatever the approach, it\u2019s vital that tests are conducted fairly and comprehensively, and that data is properly analysed and interpreted, with developmental recommendations tailored to individual needs and mapped into the organisation\u2019s broader business strategy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There\u2019s also a better prospect of change if a defined cohort \u2013 a leadership group, for instance \u2013 can experience this process together, holding themselves and each other accountable for their actions. It\u2019s important, too, to link behavioural changes to measurable outcomes. If leaders can see that an adjustment in their approach will directly affect employee performance, they\u2019ll be mindful of the consequences of their actions and more likely to stick to their commitments.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At qpeople, we know that greater self-awareness can be the key to unlocking personal growth and professional performance. Experience also shows that this impact is further intensified when it\u2019s practised at leadership level, rippling through an organisation, promoting improved employee engagement (and retention) and enhancing productivity and profitability.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At its most effective, the assessment-feedback cycle can underpin cultural transformation, empowering companies and their employees to grow and flourish, even in a challenging economic climate.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Need help with psychometrics, 360-degree assessment or your broader L&amp;D Strategy? Click here <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/qpeople.co.uk\/work-with-us\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Contact us<\/span><\/a> <span data-contrast=\"none\">to book a no-obligation exploratory chat.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Self-discovery is a tempting prospect. There\u2019s something irresistible about digging into our subconscious selves in order to illuminate the idiosyncrasies that shape and drive us personally and professionally. &nbsp;It\u2019s also an essential component of any well-planned corporate learning and development (L&amp;D) strategy.&nbsp; Employee assessments At qpeople, we field lots of requests for employee assessments \u2013 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":685,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[34],"class_list":["post-684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assessment","tag-ld-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/684\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qpeople.clickroom.website\/ae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}