Things are changing fast in the world of neuroscience. We have discovered 95% of our entire knowledge of the human brain in the last decade. The implications for employers are substantial as we can understand much better why our top performing employees are so good. We can also predict from potential new staff whether (or not) they will be superior performers too! Why is this?
Psychometric assessments have become more accurate. It follows that this enables us to obtain more accurate and objective management information about people. However many tools were either developed before these recent advances or have not been adequately updated. Watch out for them!
The better tools these days include ìjob matchingî at an advanced level where a range of relevant scales can be benchmarked to any role. This means that they can be used to predict (to a high level of accuracy) whether someone will perform to an above average level in any role. This is wonderful information to help take the risk out of recruitment or promotion.
Online technology has developed beyond simply emailing a set of responses to a person who then produces a report. Very sophisticated reports are now available within seconds of an assessment being completed.
ìTotal personî assessments are now available that cover much more than just personality or a restricted range of competencies. Itís possible to get a blend of verbal and mathematical ability/reasoning, behavioural traits and work related interest scales all within one tool. Because it covers much more ground it is more useful and relevant to the real world of work.
The whole area of assessment and testing is growing rapidly fuelled by constant demand for better management information relating to people, skills shortages and a need for solutions to problems like high staff turnover, hiring the wrong people, low productivity, poor management skills and lack of team working. All of these problems can be significantly reduced with the right assessments!
Whilst most organisations use these tools for succession planning and coaching there remains an obvious benefit for recruitment.
A vision of the future would be an organisation that uses the same tool to hire the right people, motivate them, coach them, plan their career long term and improve their productivity.
The good news is that the future has arrived! Itís possible to do this right now with a database of an organisations oft quoted ìmost important asset ìñ its people!î
For more information you can contact Jerry Wood on 01295 720365.
Future trends in Assessment and Testing
By Jerry Wood (Director of topperformers.co.uk)
