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279.  The Leadership Assessment Tool we're ALL using wrong, with Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Juliette Alban-Metcalfe
Episode 279

279. The Leadership Assessment Tool we're ALL using wrong, with Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Juliette Alban-Metcalfe

Why everything you know about personality tests is wrong, and what actually drives successful leadership

Truth, Lies and Work · HubSpot Podcast Network

February 26, 202645m 10s

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Show Notes

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets organisational culture.

In the corporate world, we are obsessed with personality. We use DISC, Myers-Briggs, and Enneagrams to "colour-code" our colleagues and predict who will be a great leader. But what if we’ve been looking at the wrong data?

In this episode, we sit down with Juliette Alban-Metcalfe, a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and CEO of Real World Group. Juliette is at the forefront of leadership research, building on the groundbreaking work of her mother, Professor Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe.

Juliette argues that personality only explains a tiny fraction of leadership success. Instead, the real "magic sauce" is behaviour—the specific, observable actions that leaders take to engage their teams and foster success.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Personality vs. Behaviour: Why what you do matters infinitely more than who you are according to your personality test results.

  • The "Accidental Manager" Trap: Why founders and technical experts often struggle to transition into leadership and how 360-degree feedback can bridge the gap.

  • Predictive Validity: The science behind why leadership behaviours can predict up to 60% of a team's motivation and fulfilment.

  • Psychological Safety: How to use assessments to build trust and development rather than fear and judgement.

  • Actionable Advice for Leaders: Two simple things every leader can do today to immediately improve team engagement.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re "not a natural leader" or if you're an HR professional frustrated with the lack of ROI from personality workshops, this episode is a masterclass in the science of what actually works.


🔗 Connect with Juliette

LinkedIn: Juliette Alban-MetcalfeWebsite: Real World Group


📬 Connect with Al & Leanne

LinkedIn: Truth, Lies & WorkAl Elliott: LinkedInLeanne Elliott: LinkedInEmail: [email protected]Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat


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