summary
intro
graphs
detailed results
strengths & limitations
advice
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Overall Score (score 80)
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Overall ability to effectively lead and manage others.
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John is either a natural-born manager or an extremely well-trained one. He possesses nearly all of the traits that make up a well-rounded and capable leader. When it comes to balancing the difficult tasks and decisions he needs to make as a manager, he will likely be able to cope exceptionally well. If he is currently working as a manager, his skills are probably already apparent.
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Planning (score 81)
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Determining the organization's direction.
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Planning is the managerial function that forms the basis of how an organization is run. It involves setting objectives for employees to achieve, and overall goals for the company, as well as deciding how these goals will be reached. Managers must be well-informed and on top of everything that goes on in their organization and in the business world. This allows for effective and thoughtful planning, and the ability to adjust plans when necessary.
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Conceptual Skills (score 89)
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Ability to analyze situations and formulate ideas, solutions, and theories.
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John's conceptual skills are excellent. In essence, he possesses most, if not all of the traits that encompass this ability. Managers who possess good conceptual skills know their organization inside-out. Equipped with these abilities, they evaluate every process that goes on in the company, anticipate problems before they happen and come up with solutions to solve these problems. They are always on the lookout for ways to make various functions more efficient. Refer to the results to below for information on the traits and skills that are important facets of conceptual ability.
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- John has a clear vision in mind for his organization. He is fully aware of where he wants to be and what he wants to achieve. With a clear idea of which direction he wants to head in, he can more easily make his mark or at least find a place in the business world.
- John is a very big-picture oriented person, and is able to view situations from different sides. He is able to view problems in light of long-term consequences or potential, and analyze whether there is room for growth, change, or improvement. He is also more likely to set goals with a wider scope.
- John understands the importance of setting goals, and is in the habit of doing so. This keeps his employees motivated, because they always have something to aim for. In order to execute the plans he creates for his organization and assess their success, John must continue to set goals for his team to achieve.
- Problem solving is John's strength. He seems capable of handling many of the issues encountered in management.
- John is very knowledgeable about the brainstorming process. This not only enhances the creativity of the ideas he produces, but the depth and quantity as well.
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Decision-making Skills (score 81)
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Ability to make well-informed decisions.
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John has a good approach to decision-making. As a manager, he will constantly be faced with decisions that need to be made, both simple and complex - and the more complex, the greater the need to make sure that careful consideration is taken before moving forward. Review the results below for information on the different factors that influence decision-making, and how John performs.
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- Gathering and analyzing information is an area where John is reasonably skilled. He seems to be fairly familiar with the process of obtaining and evaluating reliable information needed to execute plans, although he could improve a little more. This is an essential skill, as it will be the basis of every decision he makes as a manager.
- John knows a great deal about the decision-making process, which likely helps him to make well-considered and smart choices. A systematic approach is essential when making decisions, particularly complex ones, and involves several steps and procedures. Some decisions could be made on the fly, but on most occasions, John will be required to go through a systematic process that includes conducting research, coming up with different approaches, weighing each option carefully, and then choosing a suitable option. This is something he will likely be able to adapt to.
- John is fairly comfortable making decisions, and this comfort level will likely increase with experience and knowledge. Being comfortable making decisions is important, because it is up to John as manager to decide how to achieve goals, complete tasks, and execute plans.
- Analytical reasoning is one of John's strengths. These skills will come in handy when he encounters problems at work. The analytical reasoning process entails identifying the important information, taking a systematic approach to problem solving, and utilizing various skills in order to come up with a reasonable solution.
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Business Skills (score 74)
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Traits and skills that characterize successful business owners.
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John seems to possess many of the traits that characterize successful business managers. This indicates that if he were to decide to run a business, he would likely do quite well. Overall, he has quite a bit of business savvy that will help him do well in this field, but there is always room for improvement. Refer to the results below for information on key traits that are essential to managing a business.
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- John is generally comfortable with ambiguity. He can usually handle the uncertainty inherent in planning for the future, and in any risk-taking situation, but can have slight misgivings occasionally. Overall, while he may think about the "what ifs", he doesn't worry himself too much over these concerns. He accepts that even the best laid-out plans may not work as intended, and will require adjustments along the way.
- John is always on the lookout for new ideas and innovations. Keeping his company, technology, and methods of operation up-to-date and informing himself on the latest trends improves his chances of remaining competitive.
- John is someone who is usually quite comfortable taking risks - although he may hesitate slightly in situations where there is a high risk of failure. Overall, he is at ease taking chances, and is not likely to second-guess himself too much. Taking risks is part of the business world, and something he can likely become accustomed to.
- John is, or is likely to be, a calculated risk-taker. Acting on impulse when it comes to taking chances is not his style - he thinks things through and then takes a leap of faith, knowing he has done his best to plan for all eventualities. His ability to take smart risks will keep his organization competitive and successful in the business world.
- John has a pretty good nose for opportunity. It may not come naturally to him, but he can find business prospects fairly easily. To develop this skill further, he needs to make sure to keep himself constantly informed about changes in the business world and be even more open to potential business opportunities.
- John is able to adapt to new or unfamiliar stimuli reasonably quickly. Even if he does get caught off-guard initially, he can re-orient himself with relative ease. Staying in line with a dynamic business world is not going to be too much of a challenge for him.
- While the degree to which John will be involved in negotiations may vary depending on his field, all managers must be involved with negotiating to some degree. This is due to the fact that even resolving issues with employees and settling deadlines with clients requires the ability to negotiate. This is an area where John is doing fairly well - negotiating can become one of his top strengths if he continues to improve.
- John is likely reasonably comfortable making presentations, although his skills can be developed even more. Ideas, tasks, and motivational speeches will likely go over better if he is able to present them in an effective manner.
- John is fairly capable when it comes to technical skills. He may require some initial training, but will likely orient himself quickly with a company's equipment, technology, and/or software. This puts him at an advantage as a manager, as he will be able to adjust to a variety of different technologies as well as train others when necessary.
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Organizing (score 84)
Organizing involves the traits and skills needed to execute a plan. While Planning determines what will be done and how, this function involves ensuring that resources are organized effectively and efficiently as the plan is carried out. Decisions are made by the manager as to who does what and by when. The Organizing aspect of management ensures that goals are achieved. Refer to the results below for information on the skills and traits that encompass this function.
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- John has a knack for staying organized. He applies organization strategies consistently. This skill will help him juggle the many duties of a manager, including ensuring that projects are done on time and goals are met.
- John seems to know what it takes to manage his time effectively and likely uses some strategies to do so. He is usually able to divvy up available time in an efficient manner, but some improvement is still possible. When he does apply time management strategies, deadlines are met and timely execution of projects and plans are smoother.
- John has excellent prioritization skills. When it comes to knowing what to do and when to do it, he has no problem making smart decisions. Goals, tasks, and plans have their logical sequence, and employees are kept on track.
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Controlling (score 87)
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Assessing progress and ensuring that plans and goals are unfolding effectively.
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The Controlling function of management ensures that goals and plans are on track. Managers need to do more than simply tell others what to do - they need to make sure that the tasks they have been assigned, no matter how minor, are being done properly. The skills related to the Controlling function allow managers to gauge the effectiveness of ideas or plans they have implemented, and make tweaks if necessary.
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- John is very familiar with project management and why it is important. This knowledge and expertise helps him keep track of the progress of projects, resources being used, deadlines, and which tasks each employee is in charge of completing.
- John will strive to ensure that whatever procedures, tasks, projects, and products that his organization takes care of are completed according to the highest standards possible. He is much more likely to catch errors and to be totally at home with the structured, step-by-step approach that is required to complete a project or bring a plan to fruition.
- In order to bring out the best in his employees, John sets high but reasonable standards - he provides them with a healthy level of perfectionism to live up to. These standards push employees but do not end up making them feel hopeless and unsuccessful.
- John will actively stay informed about employee progress on tasks and projects. This will allow him to stay on top of how everything is unfolding and potentially prevent problems and errors before they happen.
- Once a task has been completed, a good manager will go over it to see whether it is in line with expectations. John consistently takes the time to measure employee output against expectations for the projects they have been working on. This can prevent sloppy or unprofessional work from going unnoticed and result in an overall better performance from his team.
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Staffing & HR Functions (score 86)
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Duties that revolve around putting together a productive staff.
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Staffing & HR functions are managerial duties that involve creating a staff that will help the company achieve its goals. This is a function where there are certain legal rules that must be followed to ensure that fairness and legal standards are upheld. The right staff can make a company great - poor hiring methods, recruitment, and training can break a company. Managers must possess a great deal of knowledge in this area in order to ensure that they have the right people for the right position.
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- John seems to have some expertise in hiring staff in a fair and legal manner, but could still further develop his knowledge in this area. Being well-informed about recruitment and hiring procedures can prevent errors with legal consequences, and help him make better hiring decisions.
- John has the knowledge and expertise needed to build a well-rounded, cohesive and motivated team. He knows how to bring out the best in his group.
- John has an excellent training approach. His comprehensive and active training process for new hires will help them adapt to their position and learn the ropes.
- Onboarding refers to the process of preparing and assimilating new employees into the company. John's results indicate that he knows a great deal about onboarding, and likely has at least some experience practicing it. Effective onboarding prepares new hires to adapt to their position more quickly, which is especially true for those who don't have a great deal of experience to fall back on.
- John has extensive knowledge of succession planning. Succession planning is the process of developing personnel internally to fit a key position at some point in the future, or at least ensuring that the company is ready with a new candidate when a position becomes available. It is essential to be well-informed about succession planning and to implement it as soon as possible, so that he will be sufficiently prepared for the future available positions or for sudden changes in his staff.
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Leading (score 73)
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Guiding and bringing out the best in others.
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While possessing strong skills in other areas related to the more technical or business side of management is important, relating to employees in a manner that fosters development and empowerment requires strong leadership ability. Good managers lead and guide others toward success. Effective management requires someone who can bring employees together under a common goal, and get everyone functioning as unit.
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Authoritativeness (score 71)
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Ability to be firm and self-assured in one's position.
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John is usually able to effectively stand his ground and command respect from others, but may hesitate on some occasions. Generally however, he can firmly take control of people and situations. The manner in which he carries himself is typically secure enough to demonstrate an air of authority to others. Review the results below for areas where improvement may be needed.
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- John seems to be reasonably prepared to take care of the less appealing realities of being a manager, like providing negative feedback or carrying out disciplinary measures. He may not like it, but he realizes that he must have the courage to sometimes be the "bad guy" if he wishes to be a manager.
- Being in a position of authority is not too much of an issue for John - he seems to be fairly comfortable taking on such a role. It's essential for him to be totally at ease in a managerial role in order to gain respect and compliance from employees.
- John is a proactive person - he acts rather than reacts. Instead of waiting for things to happen or fall into place, he makes them happen himself. He seems to understand that the best plan of action against problems is taking the initiative to prepare for them before they happen.
- John has a fairly strong level of drive. He seems to have a suitable amount of determination to push himself to go beyond his current effort and capabilities. With a little more drive, he can boost his performance and potential for success even higher, as he seems to generally want to give it his all.
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Inspiring (score 71)
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Assesses whether a person possess the traits that can instill a sense of pride and purpose in employees.
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John has what it takes to inspire his employees, and to make them take pride in the company they work for. While he could further develop the traits that encompass this factor, he is certainly on the right track. His employees will take more pride in the company and work hard under his management. Refer to the breakdown of results below for the areas in which John can improve.
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- It won't be difficult for employees to see how committed John is to their success and that of the company. He will make it a point to show his dedication to the company and its goals. This can help keep productivity and morale at a peak level.
- John can focus on a task or goal to some degree, but to do so for an extended period of time is a challenge for him. He has an inconsistent work pace. This may be more likely with long-term goals that require consistent dedication. He may sometimes struggle to stick to objectives he sets for himself or the company.
- John is someone whom employees can depend on to come through when needed. He is reliable and available for others to turn to.
- To John, self-improvement is a never-ending process. He is intent on expanding his knowledge and improving in areas where he may not have achieved his full potential. This significantly enhances his growth as a manager, and as a person.
- John usually doesn't expect perfection from himself, but he also won't settle for lower standards than he is capable of achieving. He generally possesses a healthy level of perfectionism, but needs to ensure that he consistently sets standards for himself that are challenging but achievable.
- The importance of focusing on good customer service is essential to John, and his concern goes well beyond profit. He will make it a point to highlight to his employees the value of respecting customers and doing the utmost to make them happy. He will be setting a good example, as it is factors like customer loyalty and word of mouth that keeps a company afloat.
- John is somewhat charismatic, but could use more of that energy and dynamism. Boosting his charisma will help him inspire employees more and make them want to join in and help him realize the organization's plans and ideas.
- John's attitude is usually more positive than negative, which will make it easier to inspire employees. Obstacles, stressful days, and difficult projects will be less of a challenge for employees to get through if he encourages by displaying a more upbeat attitude and positive outlook.
- John feels that for the most part, he has some control over his potential for success. It's what he does, not external circumstances, that are the determining factor. This attitude will promote the idea to employees that their hard work and effort can make a difference. A more "go-getter" attitude couldn't hurt, however.
- John is a passionate manager. He seems to truly enjoy what he does which could in turn inspire his employees.
- Practicing corporate citizenship is not a top priority for John. This involves adopting practices that are socially, environmentally, and culturally beneficial to the community that the company is a member of. Many of the most desirable employees may not want to work for an organization whose practices they do not believe in.
- John's behavior at work, at least on most occasions, is guided by a set of principles. He seems to possess some work values, and usually strives to live up to his ethical standards, which will inspire employees to do the same.
- John is an excellent coach and mentor. He has the ability to nurture employees and develop their potential, and guide them towards success.
- John likely recognizes the importance of keeping employees motivated, and seems to have a fairly good idea of how to go about doing this effectively. His ability to motivate others will help boost morale during difficult times.
- John is willing to offer rewards to employees on some occasions, most likely when he feels that it is particularly well-deserved. This could be a good to motivate employees and let them know working hard is worthwhile and greatly appreciated.
- John praises employees frequently, or at least considers it very important to do so. By regularly praising employee achievements, they will know what they are doing well, and most importantly, will be more likely to want to keep up the good work.
- John is fairly resilient, although he may occasionally find it a challenge to stay strong after particularly trying situations. While it could take him a bit of time to pick himself up after experiencing a setback, he will do so eventually, and will keep plodding forward.
- John consciously makes it a point to be fair and just to all employees, regardless of their position or background. He treats everyone with equal respect.
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Soft Skills (score 78)
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Ability to interact effectively with others.
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John's interpersonal skills are fairly good. His skills and attitude generally favor an open and friendly work atmosphere, although he can still work to improve in this area. In order to build a strong rapport with others, interpersonal skills are essential - and are not abilities that can be worked around or compensated for by other skills. John is doing reasonably well in this area, but it would be a good idea to refer to the breakdown of results below and work on any areas that have room for improvement.
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- John is respectful of and can easily accommodate diversity in his staff. He ensures that everyone is treated fairly and equally.
- John has reasonably good communication skills. While there is still room for improvement, he can communicate clearly and effectively with relative ease.
- Although there is still some room for improvement, John seems to understand what active listening involves, and strives to practice it in his interactions with others. He is less likely to miss out on important information communicated by others.
- John comports himself very well in social situations - he has stellar skills. Others likely feel that he is well-mannered and easy to interact with.
- John usually tries to take context into consideration before making judgments about other people's feelings or behavior; he will attempt to understand where their behavior might be coming from. This will allow him to obtain a clearer understanding of those he works with, and adjust his managerial approach accordingly.
- John is a relatively empathetic person, and will try as much as possible to place himself in other people's shoes, although he may occasionally have trouble doing so. Overall however, he can generally understand employees and build a meaningful rapport with them.
- John almost always resolves conflict in a mutually-beneficial way. Overall, his approach to managing conflict is very healthy. Conflicts at work are less likely to escalate because he usually deals with them head-on and effectively.
- Overall, John can maintain his patience most of the time, which makes it less likely that he will take actions that he will regret. He still has room to improve his patience even more, however. There may still be particularly trying situations or people that he finds more difficult to tolerate.
- John will usually take a moment to consider the social consequences of his behavior, but there may be a few occasions when he either has a little trouble self-monitoring, or he doesn't fully contemplate the consequences of his actions. Overall, however, he is reasonably capable of regulating how he acts in different situations, which improves his conduct at work.
- John lets others know, through words and actions, that he is an open and approachable manager. His employees likely feel welcomed around him.
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Impression Management (score 0)
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Assesses the potential for a social desirability bias when answering questions on the test.
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This scale assesses the degree to which results on this test are distorted or manipulated. Many people will try to present themselves in a better light, especially if the stakes are high.
Test-taker answers are compared to responses obtained from a large sample of the general population. When someone systematically selects socially desirable responses that are rarely endorsed by others, there is good reason to believe that a positive self-presentation bias is at play. A score that is suspiciously high may indicate that a person is lying, which may invalidate that whole test.
There was little or no indication in John's results to suggest that he was lying or trying to present himself in a favorable light.
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