Leadership Assessment Tool helps build IPF's future

"Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.”
--Vince Lombardi

In 2016, the Executive Leadership Team identified succession planning an essential long-term strategy for IPF. With large numbers of employees nearing retirement eligibility, planning for future leadership development is critical. However, there were very few clearly identified paths for career development available.

The project team that formed to tackle this challenge created a self-examination tool to help IPF employees advance their skills in leadership, identify their strengths and highlight areas for development.

The Leadership Assessment Tool is a series of questions that evaluate your level of development in all eight of the T-shaped competencies, representing expected behaviors of IPF leaders. The results of the assessment can be used to guide your professional development in those areas identified as needing improvement.

Your supervisor can also use the tool to evaluate your strengths and areas for development. Both results can be used to initiate conversations between you and can optionally be used to guide your development plan and performance excellence goals.

The assessment is an annual requirement for all APSA members, and optional for all other IPF employees.

The project team is also creating a series of 2-3 minute videos designed to share the awareness of the tool as well as demonstrate the ELT’s commitment to leadership development. They will highlight:

• What leadership looks like in IPF, and in each ELT area.
• The importance of leadership and its affect on individuals, teams, organizations and customers.
• Opportunities for development of your leadership skills.

The first video will be released within the next two weeks, with additional videos being released over the course of the year.

To help people understand the tool and how it can help you, lunch and learn sessions will be offered beginning Nov. 4 in the Computer Training Room (IPF 27). More details to come.