You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: The Power of Assessments in Unlocking Performance

 When applied thoughtfully, the power of assessments can transform your self-awareness into actionable insight that improves leadership performance.

Let’s be honest: you don’t know yourself as well as you think. We all have blind spots, hidden strengths we haven’t fully tapped, or behaviors quietly holding us back. Until you face them, you can’t lead yourself—or anyone else—effectively.

Most leaders think they’re self-aware, but research tells a different story. You’re performing every day—in meetings, on calls, in presentations—but do you know how others truly experience you? That’s where the power of assessments comes in.

Leadership Is Theater

Think of leadership as a stage. On the “front stage,” you show your polished self, the confident communicator, the experienced professional, the person you want others to see. That’s the performance everyone notices.

But behind the curtain lies the real story. Backstage is your thinking style, natural behaviors, values, and motivations. This hidden side drives everything you do and shapes how your team experiences your leadership. The best leaders understand both—the performance and what’s happening behind the scenes.

High-quality assessments pull back the curtain. They reveal patterns you might not notice yourself and show how your behaviors, motivations, and thinking style influence your impact. When applied thoughtfully, the power of assessments can transform your self-awareness into actionable insight that improves leadership performance.

Choosing the Right Assessment

Not all assessments are created equal. Some are scientifically validated, practical, and insightful. Others provide little value beyond surface-level observations. Choose wisely. And beware of assessment overload; one well-selected, reliable tool is often enough to unlock meaningful insight.

But remember: taking an assessment alone doesn’t improve performance. Leadership is a verb. Insights must be followed by action. The real transformation comes when you take your results and work with a coach to turn them into tangible changes in behavior, communication, and decision-making.

Understanding Human Bias

Sometimes people unintentionally “edit their responses” on assessments, answering in ways they think are ideal rather than how they’d behave in reality. The best assessments account for this, flagging potential inconsistencies so leaders and hiring managers can explore them further. This is not about passing or failing; it’s about ensuring insight is accurate and actionable.

Why the Power of Assessments Matter

If you want to lead at your highest level, self-awareness is non-negotiable. The power of assessments reveals what’s happening backstage. Coaching helps you take action based on those insights. Together, they sharpen your leadership presence, improve team interactions, and accelerate performance.

At Catalyst Point Leadership Advisors, we are certified practitioners of the PXT Select Assessment, one of the most scientifically validated and practical tools available. We use it not to label people, but to uncover what’s beneath the surface and help you act on it.

Are you ready to step backstage, uncover what’s really driving your performance, and lead with clarity, confidence, and impact?

Reach out to Catalyst Point today. Let’s pull back the curtain and help you deliver your strongest performance yet.