As corporate accountability becomes a critical issue globally, the majority of HR professionals believe that psychological assessment methods should become compulsory for board level recruitment, a new survey claims.
According to research by SHL Group plc, 68% of HR professionals believe that objective personality assessment should be a compulsory element in selecting a new CEO. The research reveals a growing belief that companies live or die by the actions of the top team, with more than 60% calling for the rule to also apply to the selection of both non-executive directors and financial directors.
Assessment methods can help to identify an individual’s leadership ability through a series of scientifically proven tests and questionnaires and can also predict attitudes to risk and ability to cope under pressure, in addition to pinpointing those likely to abuse power.
The HR community seems prepared to practice what it preaches, with 68% believing that all HR directors should be prepared to sit the test.
John Bateson, CEO, SHL Group plc said: “Human error and accountability has changed the corporate landscape in recent years. Anyone who falls foul of stakeholders will pay dearly – reputation is crucial, and companies can no longer rely on the old boys network alone to select the top team. Assessment can play a role in helping companies to overcome allegations of bias.”
The research was conducted this month in the UK, US, Asia Pacific and Europe amongst 200 HR professionals.
