ABSTRACT
The aim of assessment in leadership development is less about checking on how well participants in courses or workshops are able to regurgitate theories and research findings and more about assisting participants in closing the gap between their existing and desired leadership capabilities. It is a process of providing feedback on participants’ progress in applying theories, concepts, and practical guidance in their own workplaces and communities. In a for-credit course, the process will include graded assignments. Whether or not grades are involved, the most effective feedback processes will be developmental, which is where coaching and mentoring come in. Coaches and mentors help leadership learners make sense of feedback contained in assessments (including the coaches’ and mentors’ observations) and decide how to use that feedback in reaching developmental goals.
