iAdvance - ISHR Group

Leadership Assessment & Development

Our customized practice area in Leadership Assessment & Development can help organizations:

Identify critical success factors which differentiate high performers
Translate existing company values into observable behaviors that can be assessed against
Develop organization review processes to assess the talent pipeline at various levels
Calibrate talent standards globally
Train internal Human Resources Managers to conduct iAdvance Assessments
Provide third-party iAdvance Assessments for key individuals in the organization

Allow us to work with your organization to help define or clarify your talent management and pipeline development process. Our global expertise in leadership development and our familiarity with industry standards and best practices, allow us to work with you to develop a program that is ideal for your operating environment. What works at one company doesn't necessarily work at the next one. Our consultative approach recognizes that basic tenet.

iAdvance is the name we give to our talent management consulting. It is the brand we provide to one of our most effective assessment processes. iAdvance has proven global effectiveness. It is a focused and incredibly personalized look into individual strengths and development needs. It is designed to evaluate the strengths and development areas of leaders and provide feedback as to what behaviors should be leveraged, and which behaviors need to be modified, for ongoing success. Unlike other assessment tools, iAdvance focuses not only on current leadership effectiveness, but also assesses potential for larger or broader roles.

Our consulting expertise tells us that iAdvance is ideally comprised of some combination of different steps or phases such as:

Assessment Interview: An intense conversation convering personal background, education, professional experience, job satisifiers, self-assessment, and career goals.
Live 360: Thorough business references (utilizing a 360 perspective of managers, peers, business partners, and subordinates) providing feebdack as to strengths and development needs in a secure, anonymous environment.
Report Writing: Comprehensive written reports summarize and interpret the data gained through the interview and/or reference checks including background information, a detailed presentation of strengths and development needs, recommendations for improvement, and career advice.
Coaching: Intense personal coaching and feedback sessions cover the themes surfaced during the assessment process. Feedback is professionally and respectfully delivered with a focus on actionable development plans.

Benefits of iAdvance Leadership Assessment & Development Consulting:

Management clarity - standardized critical assessment factors allow leaders to consistently calibrate talent globally and identify depth and gaps in bench strength of talent across the organization.
Improved retention and morale - employees selected for a Leadership Assessment feel the impact of the company investing in their long term development.

Overall? Personalized and comprehensive with amazing results.

"Undoubtedly a life altering experience" ... "my Aha! moment"... "I finally understood it, and what to do about it" ... "everyone should be given this opportunity."

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X-Raying the GE Process

(as published in the Harvard Business Review)

Ram Charan's enlightening article on CEO Succession Planning in the Harvard Business Review portrayed GE's acclaimed Tandem Assessment process. This approach is similar to the process deployed by Incite Strategies. Many of Incite Strategies' Leadership Assessment Consultants were initially trained at GE and employed as human resource leaders and Six Sigma Black Belts. The Incite Strategies' team has conducted assessments for GE, The Home Depot, and numerous other companies throughout the world.

As the article reveals, "Every year, GE selects a different set of 20-25 leaders who might grow into CEO's or top functional leaders and sits each one down for a three to four hour session with two human resource heads from outside the person's own business unit. The HR executives trace the budding leader's progression from early childhood (where he grew up, how his parents influenced his style of thinking, what his early values were) through recent accomplishments. They then conduct an exhaustive, fact-finding mission both inside and outside the organization, including 360-degree reviews, massive reference checks, and interviews with bosses, direct reports, customers and peers. Largely eschewing psychology, tandem assessments concentrate on observed, measurable performance within the business."

The Incite Strategies iAdvance "by-product" is a comprehensive document that charts the high-potential's work and development over decades. The report itself is both praiseworthy, recognizing the most meaningful milestones and accomplishments of each candidate, while also being supportive of opportunities for improvement. Personalized and intense feedback sessions with each leader complete the process ensuring that key strengths continue to be leveraged, while development needs are properly addressed.

An eye-opener for both management and candidate alike, Incite Strategies' "leadership biography" is a clear indicator of what the organization can expect from its leadership "potentials" while giving the professional a unique, third-party perspective on which skills and behaviors to focus on for future enhancement. It's like handing rising leaders "a mirror" while it also "broadens their support network," according to the Harvard Business Review.