Use the Right Tool for the Right Job: How Assessments Can Fuel Growth

Have you heard the saying “Use the right tool for the right job”? When I hear someone offer this recommendation, it is often because that person, usually my spouse, wants to buy more tools. However, joking aside, there is truth to the saying.

It is easiest to fix a problem with the right tool. However, in my experience working with social sector and K-12 educators and administrators, I have observed leaders apply the same strategies to every challenge. I think it is just human nature to go with what we know and to jump into trying to solve the issue at hand. However, repeatedly using the same strategy usually limits progress and can exacerbate the problem. Therefore, before we start selecting our approach to address a challenge, we need to take a step back and diagnose the real problem, and we must uncover the root cause to make lasting change.

Organizational and individual assessments are excellent diagnostic tools for leaders to have in their toolboxes. Assessments provide valuable information for individual leaders, for teams, or for the whole organization. There are many benefits to using an assessment. Here are just a few.

• Individual assessments can help leaders become more self-aware and self-reflective. These are important leadership skills, which are linked to increased productivity, innovation and creativity.
• Individual and team assessments can identify differences and similarities between individual team members regarding perspectives on team challenges and how each team member responds to challenges. Understanding and embracing individual similarities and differences, while applying proven collaboration strategies enhances teamwork and increases innovation.
• Organizational assessments can be used to engage all staff members and assist leaders in a deeper understanding of their organizational culture.
• Sharing the results of an organizational assessment can encourage employee engagement, promote a culture of transparency, and increase staff buy-in for policy and procedure changes.
• The results from organizational assessments can assist in identifying root causes, aid in decision-making, set a baseline for organizational growth, and support organizational change initiatives.

One assessment that provides all these benefits is the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), which can be used by individuals, teams, or an entire organization. The IDI® is a cross-culturally valid and reliable instrument that measures the way an individual or group experiences cultural differences and similarities. This assessment defines culture very broadly—as someone’s affiliation to a group by generation, nationality, ethnicity, gender, profession, sexual orientation, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.

The IDI® uses a constructive, developmental approach to intercultural competence and can facilitate cooperative conversations and actions directed toward growth. It shows respondents’ placement along the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC)©. In addition, the exercises provided by the IDI encourage individual self-awareness and self-reflection as well as a pathway for moving forward.

Contact Social Current to Get Started

Social Current consultants are qualified administrators of the IDI® and have extensive experience in collaborating with social sector leaders to strengthen their leadership skills and organizations. Visit our website to learn more about our IDI® and consulting solution and contact us to start a conversation about whether the IDI is the right tool for the right job to help your organization grow.