Alternative to HEXACO
— From Personality Dimensions to Strategic Competencies
Looking for an Alternative to HEXACO?
HEXACO is a six-factor personality model that extends the traditional Big Five by adding Honesty-Humility as a sixth trait. It’s widely used in academic psychology and occasionally in workplace settings for ethical behavior or integrity-focused assessments.
While HEXACO provides rich trait data, many professionals are now seeking tools that go beyond static personality profiles, toward strategic capability, real-world performance, and development planning.
That’s where the Big 5 of Strategy comes in.
What is HEXACO?
HEXACO stands for:
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Honesty–Humility
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Emotionality
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Conscientiousness
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Openness to Experience
It was developed by analyzing commonly used personality words across languages and cultures, and is used primarily in:
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Research on personality and ethics
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Studies of integrity, cooperation, and prosocial behavior
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Some selection and screening tools
Why Look for an Alternative to HEXACO?
HEXACO is robust as a research tool, but it has key limitations in professional development and strategy contexts:
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Theoretical, not practical: It describes personality traits but offers no direction for action or development.
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Static trait model: It captures how someone tends to be, but not what they’re capable of becoming.
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Low accessibility: Reports are academic in tone and often hard to apply without expert interpretation.
Big 5 of Strategy vs. HEXACO
Feature | HEXACO | Big 5 of Strategy |
|---|---|---|
Output | Scores across six traits | Personalized strategic strengths |
Use case | Research, ethics screening | Strategy, leadership, development |
Growth path | None provided | Built-in development insights |
Accessibility | Research-oriented | Self-guided and workplace-ready |
Evidence base | Language research | Applied research (1,200-person study) |
Model type | Trait-based personality model | Strategic competency model |
Who is the Big 5 of Strategy For?
The Big 5 of Strategy is built for people who need to think and act strategically, not just understand their personality.
It’s designed for:
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Professionals navigating complex environments
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Leaders driving change and transformation
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Coaches focused on strategic growth
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HR and L&D teams building real capability, not just self-awareness
Why the Big 5 of Strategy Is More Than a Trait Model
HEXACO shows how you score on traits like humility, conscientiousness, or emotionality.
The Big 5 of Strategy shows how you work, where you excel, and how you grow in strategic roles.
It gives you insight into:
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Making sense of complexity
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Setting direction and leading systems
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Getting results under pressure
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Adapting to change with confidence
All tied to clear, actionable development paths, grounded in research, ready for real-world use.
