“A strange thing happened when I used Bob Kaplan and his Leadership Versatility Index on a recent Executive Development Program for senior managers – participants found the session “enlightening, enjoyable and invigorating”! This is not the typical reaction I get to a 360 degree instrument and there was none of the usual defensiveness with which such feedback is often received. Instead, participants were all confirming the accuracy of the results and wondering why they had not looked at themselves like that before.
The Leadership Versatility Index is a unique and innovative way to look at leadership competencies. Most instruments assess the degree to which a specific competency is present. However, the LVI looks at competencies as strengths or weaknesses, depending on their degree of use. Thus, a competency could be a strength if used appropriately, or a weakness if overused or underused. This simple, yet profound concept , forces the leader to strive for “versatility” – a state of leadership equilibrium, where key competencies are used at optimal levels for maximum effectiveness. The focus of the LVI is therefore, not to assess leadership, but to improve it.
I am pleased that Bob can share his ideas with a wider population through this book, and I hope that it will help you to make a difference in your own leadership effectiveness or in the leaders you develop.
Florette Guildford
Director, Management and Executive Development, Alcan Inc.
