Using the SOQ for Leadership Training

The climate for creativity and change is strongly linked to leadership.  This intervention illustrates the use of climate data over time in an organization that was interested in developing up-and-coming leaders in the organization.  The SOQ was used as part of an on-going leadership training program to help a cross-cultural group of participants understand the impact of their leadership behavior on people’s perceptions of the workplace.

The SOQ was administered to participants prior to attending the program.  The questionnaires were sent to CPSB for scoring and analysis.

Since this was a training program context, the SOQ results were positioned for training purposes and at a variety of levels of analysis.  Participants received their individual scores to provide them with feedback about the environment in which they will return after the program.  They also received the results for the entire group to compare with their personal perceptions.  Since this was an on-going training program, individuals also examined overall averages from all the previous groups attending the program.  Finally, they examined overall averages from SOQ work conducted in the entire organization.

Implications and Actions.   Specific connections between organizational climate and the role of leadership in establishing and maintaining climate were examined.  Participants used this information to better understand their impact on creative productivity and the readiness of their work context to accept and manage change.

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