Hallmarks® Background

The Need

A different concept and approach inspired the Hallmarks® research team. In the past, if a company wanted to measure their executive’s leadership skills, an outside vendor came in and administered their paper survey, took the completed survey to their corporate statistician or industrial psychologist, compiled the results in a nice binder, and finally presented it to the executive with little or no follow up. This process not only weeks and sometimes months, but cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, particularly if an entire leadership team was evaluated.

The Idea

Obviously, analytical instruments cannot replace qualitative observations of someone’s performance capability and demonstrated professional acumen over a long period of time. Decades of executive experience, research and study of countless books, journals and articles in multiple disciplines, and interviewing and observing highly effective individuals in profit and nonprofit environments by the Hallmarks® researchers led to the idea that a combination of multiple instruments chosen from over 500 tools produced by over 50 leading publishers around the world could maximize the value derived from such in-depth analysis. Then once the data is validated, it can impart specific and accurate feedback on how to achieve greater effectiveness and thus, greater productivity.

Technical Research

The following design characteristics were critical to the research and development of the Hallmarks of Excellence® in Leadership assessment:

  • Statistically validated and normed instruments
  • Proven effectiveness in clearly specified and defined areas
  • Multiple instruments, each with a specific assessment focus to provide a multi-dimensional view
  • A blended learning experience (e-learning combined with traditional training) laser-focused at the development gaps revealed through the assessment process
  • Narrative with a purpose
  • Web-based assessments to ensure efficiency and accuracy

The Results

Much like a fitness report that provides an in-depth view of an individual’s total health using a number of criteria, the Hallmarks® Personal Results Workbook offers the most clear, powerful and comprehensive view of a leader on the market today. Not only does it improve performance and carry leaders to new heights of personal and professional excellence, its scalable design allows entire teams to capitalize on their combined strengths with unprecedented accuracy and focus to produce results.