Leadership Assessment Framework

EQ/IQ Leadership
Assessment

A proprietary framework built specifically for senior technology leadership — combining emotional intelligence with strategic capability to reveal what truly drives executive success.

10

Core Competencies

EQ & IQ combined

6

EQ Dimensions

Emotional intelligence

4

IQ Dimensions

Strategic capability

How This Framework Was Designed

Built from direct observation, in conjunction with academic input from Harvard, MIT and Kellogg.

20+

Years in technology leadership

7,000+

Senior leader interviews conducted

10

Core competencies identified

1–5

Scoring continuum for benchmarking

"Our extensive experience in this niche gives us a precise understanding of what it takes to identify, evaluate, and develop technology leaders who can truly excel in these roles."

20 Years. 7,000+ Interviews.

Unmatched depth in the global technology leadership talent market.

With over 20 years dedicated to the technology leadership space and having conducted over 7,000 interviews with Senior Technology leaders, we have a deep understanding of the global talent market for CIOs, CDOs, CTOs, and other technology executives. These leaders are among the most in-demand in today's competitive landscape, but they are also some of the hardest to evaluate. The unique blend of technical expertise, commercial acumen, and leadership abilities they must possess, combined with the ability to influence and drive transformation across organisations — requires a nuanced and rigorous approach to assessment. Our extensive experience in this niche gives us a precise understanding of what it takes to identify, evaluate, and develop technology leaders who can truly excel in these roles.

Designed for Senior Technology Leaders

A balanced framework built specifically for the demands of technology executive roles.

Our framework has been specifically designed for Senior Technology and Digital Leaders, ensuring a balanced emphasis on both emotional intelligence (EQ) and intellectual quotient (IQ). It acknowledges the unique demands of these roles, where the integration of technical expertise with emotionally intelligent leadership is critical for driving successful change.

Targeted Competencies & Contextual Behaviours

Each competency is grounded in real-world evidence, not theory.

The framework features a set of targeted competencies, each carefully selected to align with the specific challenges faced by senior technology leaders. These competencies are further supported by a series of contextually relevant behaviors that serve as tangible evidence of each competency in action. This approach allows for a clear understanding of how these behaviors manifest in real-world scenarios, ensuring that the assessment is both practical and applicable.

A Structured Scoring Continuum

A 1–5 rating system that enables benchmarking, development planning, and growth measurement.

Each competency and behavior is evaluated on a scoring continuum from 1 to 5, providing a structured method for benchmarking and assessment. This rating system enables a comprehensive evaluation of leadership capabilities, facilitating targeted development plans and a clear benchmark for growth and performance measurement.

10 Competencies. Two Dimensions.

Six Emotional Intelligence competencies and four Cognitive Intelligence competencies — each a consistent predictor of senior technology leadership success

The human leadership capabilities that drive influence, trust, and organisational momentum

01

Strategic Impact

The ability to shape outcomes at enterprise level through influence, clarity, and executive credibility — securing commitment, accelerating decisions, and aligning the organisation behind a clear direction.

02

Leading Through Ambiguity

Creating clarity, confidence, and momentum when the path is not obvious — making sound decisions with incomplete information while maintaining trust and delivery pace.

03

Simplifying & Reducing Complexity

Reducing organisational and technology friction by making systems, processes, and structures easier to run, easier to change, and easier to scale.

04

Leading and Embedding Change

Mobilising people, building commitment, and sustaining momentum so change becomes real — turning vision into adoption, and adoption into measurable outcomes.

05

Leading and Motivating Others

Building high-performing teams through trust, clarity, and authentic leadership — creating environments where people feel supported, challenged, and accountable.

06

Social Competence

Recognising, regulating, and applying emotional intelligence to build trust, strengthen relationships, and influence outcomes — staying composed under pressure and reading the room accurately.

Recommended Resources for Strategic Impact

Curated articles, podcasts and audiobooks for technology executives

Article

What Courageous Leaders Do Differently

Harvard Business Review provides a comprehensive analysis of how departments lose influence within organizations and offers strategic frameworks for regaining visibility and impact.

8 min readJan 2023
Read Article
Podcast

Building Influence Without Authority

Harvard Business Review explores practical strategies for building influence when you don't have formal authority, essential for cross-functional leadership.

30 minMar 2021
Listen to Podcast
Audiobook

Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

Sylvia Ann Hewlett's definitive guide on developing executive presence, the essential quality that distinguishes leaders and amplifies their influence and impact.

6 hoursNov 2015
Get Audiobook

Explore our complete library of 1,000+ curated resources across all 10 leadership competencies

Visit Leadership Resource Library

Ready to Understand Your Leadership Profile?

Request a full EQ/IQ Assessment and receive a comprehensive diagnostic, capability profile, and 90-minute debrief with strategic counsel.