
Best Strategic Competency Assessment for Managers
The Best Strategic Assessment for Managers in 2025
The role of a manager has changed. Today’s managers are expected to do far more than supervise teams. They must navigate complexity, drive change, make strategic decisions, and deliver results across shifting priorities.
Yet most assessment tools still focus on personality traits or communication styles; not the actual capabilities that define effective, modern management.
If you’re looking for a tool that reflects today’s demands, the Big 5 of Strategy offers something different: a practical, research-based assessment of strategic competencies.
Why Managers Need a Different Kind of Assessment
In today’s AI-driven and fast-paced world, managers are operating in environments shaped by:
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Uncertainty and rapid change
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Cross-functional systems and hybrid teams
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AI integration and shifting decision authority
The best assessment for managers should:
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Go beyond traits and styles
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Measure how they think, act, and adapt
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Highlight areas for development and growth
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Align with leadership frameworks and real-world strategy
Most personality tests can’t deliver on that.
Introducing the Big 5 of Strategy
The Big 5 of Strategy is a modern assessment tool designed to evaluate how professionals, especially managers and team leaders, perform in complex, dynamic settings.
It assesses five key capabilities:
Grasp the Present:
Analyze context and make sense of challenges
Shape the Future:
Set vision and align decision to goals
Move the System:
Influence teams, processes, and cross-functional efforts
Deliver the Results:
Execute consistently and effectively
Adapt to Change:
Adjust fast and lead through transformation

Why It Works for Manager Development
The Big 5 of Strategy helps organizations and individuals:
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Identify development areas beyond soft skills
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Understand how managers approach complexity and pressure
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Create targeted coaching or training plans
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Equip managers with language and insight to improve performance
It’s used by:
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HR and L&D teams in manager capability programs
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Coaches and consultants working with mid-level leaders
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Managers who want actionable insight, not vague personality categories
Compare to Other Tools
Tool | What It Offers | Where It Falls Short |
---|---|---|
MBTI | Communication styles | Not linked to strategic delivery |
DISC | Team interaction patterns | Doesn’t address decision-making or change |
CliftonStrengths | Natural talents | No view into management complexity |
Big 5 of Strategy | Strategic competency insight | Newer to market, but directly aligned to modern management challenges |

