Cathy Liska 
Interesting dilemma: coaches do not assess or diagnose. So how do assessments fit with coaching? Sometimes coaches also serve as a consultant or as someone certified in an assessment tool. Sometimes coaches have a list of websites where assessments are available. Other times coaches develop a series of questions or ranking tools to use with clients so that they assess them self. Whichever source, the idea of an assessment as a tool is clearer understanding and awareness.
There are a multitude of options for assessments. A quick search online pulls up hundreds – here are a few examples of websites with assessment tools:
Skills to Career Assessment: http://www.iseek.org/careers/skillsAssessment
Skills and Career Assessments: http://www.centraltest.com/index.php
EI, Leadership, and 360 Assessments: https://www.coachcert.com/resources/assessments/assessments-24-7.html
IQ, Relationship, Attitude and more Assessments: http://www.queendom.com/tests/index.htm
Test Skills Assessments: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/get-started.htm
Coaching a client through assessing and prioritizing their own skills is an option and one way of working with the information is a simple table:
| Skill | Skill Level | Skill Priority |
|---|---|---|
| People Skills | ||
| Assertive Communication Skills | ||
| Confidence | ||
| Time Management | ||
| Organization | ||
| Budgeting | ||
| Writing | ||
| Reading | ||
| Decision Making | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Facilitation | ||
| Conflict Management | ||
| Emotional Intelligence | ||
| Relationship Intelligence | ||
| Social Intelligence | ||
| Leadership | ||
| Change Management | ||
| Technology | ||
| Sales | ||
| Management |
Highly specialized and detailed assessments often require training to administer and review. As a coach, it may make sense to be certified in one or more for use with your clients. (Be sure to differentiate the assessment from the coaching.) Alternatively, having a partner that does the assessment and then you do the coaching works well.
Whether accessing readily available assessments, those requiring training, partnering, or coaching for a client to self assess, these tools provide awareness and insight. This in turn supports client planning and success.
