How can you test for leadership skills?

Leadership is a soft skill , and that makes it more difficult to assess through reading a resume or even in an interview. Candidates can say that they have leadership skills, but getting actual data about their level of knowledge and capability to be a good leader is the best way to ensure you are choosing the right applicant moving forward.

Are leadership tests difficult?

Leadership tests are not difficult in themselves; the content and structure of the assessment (multiple-choice questions) make the leadership test quite straightforward. However, the unfamiliarity of the assessment combined with the usual exam pressure does make it hard for some candidates. The situations that are presented are similar to what the candidate can expect if they get the job, so understanding their response to time and performance pressure will give a good indication of how well they will work in your business.

Who should be given a leadership test?

A leadership test can be used in the recruitment process for any occupation where leading people is an essential skill. Most recruiters tend to use the leadership test to find the best-qualified managers and supervisors, but you might also come across a leadership test if you are going for promotion too.

Is leadership an important skill?

Effective teams need good leaders, and there is more to leading than delegating. Employees want to be reassured that their manager has a finger on the pulse of the business so that they can solve any potential problems as soon as possible. Leaders are inspiring and supportive, allowing them to build effective, long-term, and lucrative relationships with other businesses, the public, and employees.

See how candidates approach leading others.

Explore how candidates approach leadership at work. Use the same questions to compare their judgement and focus your interviews.

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5 free candidate results · No credit card required

Alex MorganLeadership profile

Completed

JUDGEMENT BY TOPIC

See how they approach it.

Explore strengths and the topics to discuss further.

Supporting othersStrong judgement

Setting directionSound judgement

Handling team challengesExplore further

The judgement behind the response.
A conversation you can focus.

WHAT THE TEST EXPLORES

Workplace judgement, made visible.

Explore candidates’ choices before you ask how they would put them into practice.

8questions10minutesSituational judgementquestion format

Supporting others

Consider how candidates approach the situation.

Setting direction

Explore the judgement behind their choices.

Handling team challenges

Focus a follow-up conversation on their response.

A RANGE OF DIFFICULTY

One test. Different abilities.

Explore different situations and the judgement behind each choice.

The Leadership test presents workplace situations to explore candidates’ responses. Use the results to shape follow-up questions about relevant experience.

TESTS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES

English, plus 13 languages.

Assess candidates in the language they work in.

English
Chinese (simplified)
Japanese
Korean
Thai
Vietnamese
Indonesian
French
German
Spanish
Portuguese
Italian
Dutch
Arabic

Languages available across our test suite. Options vary by test and level.

TRY AN EXAMPLE QUESTION

Try a Leadership question.

LeadershipWorkplace scenario

A member of your team, Lawrence, has a tendency to complain and take a negative standpoint on the team's work. The quality of his work is fine and he's been with the company for almost 10 years.

However, he's been disrupting the team's productivity for a long time and morale is suffering. You've clearly communicated this feedback to him more than once in the past and given him time to change his behavior, but he hasn't.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Using Leadership in recruitment.

What does the Leadership test assess?

The Leadership test presents workplace situations involving supporting others, setting direction and handling team challenges. Candidates consider possible responses, giving you a consistent starting point for exploring their judgement and the reasoning behind their choices.

How can you use the Leadership results?

Use the Leadership results to focus follow-up questions on the situations that matter for your role. Ask candidates to explain a choice and describe a relevant experience. Their selected responses provide discussion points; they do not establish how someone will act in every real situation.

Which situations matter for your role?

Team leadershipProviding direction and supporting others.
Supervisory rolesConsidering how to handle a team challenge.
Project leadershipExplaining choices when people need guidance.

SEE THE RESULTS FOR YOURSELF

See the person behind the score.

Explore a complete sample report, from test results and candidate comparisons to focused interview questions.

View sample report

Skills breakdownCandidate comparisonInterview prompts

BEFORE YOU START

Your Leadership questions, answered.

Does the Leadership test show how someone will behave at work?

It shows how candidates choose to respond to workplace situations. A selected response does not establish how they will behave in real work. Ask for a relevant example at interview.

Which Leadership topics should matter for my role?

Start with the work the person will do. This page covers supporting others, setting direction, handling team challenges. Decide which of those areas matter for your role before reviewing results, and explore any specialist requirements separately.

Can I combine Leadership with other tests?

Yes. Add Leadership alongside other relevant tests in one assessment. Choose the combination for your role and review the total time before inviting candidates.

Can I assess real candidates for free?

Yes. Create your account, build an assessment and invite candidates. Your first 5 candidate results are free. No credit card is required.

What happens after my free results?

You pay per candidate result you unlock, rather than per test. There is no subscription or annual commitment. Check the pricing page for current rates.

How should I use the Leadership results?

Compare results against the knowledge or ability your role needs. Use them to focus interviews and practical tasks, alongside relevant experience. A test score should not decide who you hire on its own.

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