Case Study
A case study on improving female representation in senior roles
A client was looking to identify future female leaders with high potential within their organisation. Having identified emotional intelligence as a trait they particularly wanted to build on, they integrated Thomas’s Emotional Intelligence assessment into their Levelling Up programme. This helped them to build self-awareness, identify potential more effectively, and personalise development plans to help their future leaders improve.
Integrating Emotional Intelligence Assessments
The challenge
One of our clients had identified two clear challenges in their people strategy. Firstly, they wanted to enhance the representation of women in senior leadership roles, and secondly, they needed to increase emotional intelligence in their leadership. They tackled both issues together by integrating Emotional Intelligence (EI) assessments into their Levelling Up programme. By giving people feedback on their emotional intelligence they could help female employees to take the next step in their careers and develop a much-needed pipeline of strong leadership candidates.
The goal
Increase self-awareness: Helping participants to understand their emotional strengths, communication style, and areas for improvement.
Identify development areas: Pinpoint specific skills and competencies that could be the foundation for future leadership.
Personalise development plans: Provide tailored development plans based on Emotional Intelligence assessment results and coaching through external partners.
The solution
High potential candidates who could go on to leadership roles were identified and enrolled for assessment as part of the client’s Levelling Up programme, designed to support improved representation and equality.
The Thomas Emotional Intelligence assessment measures 12 key traits grouped into three areas: Self-Management, Self-Awareness and Relationship Management. We provided training and support to help the client explain the benefits of the assessment and to use the results correctly.
Then we administered a simple ten-minute assessment through the Thomas Assess platform, gathering data on participants' emotional intelligence levels.
Feedback and development
Participants received initial feedback to help them prepare for future coaching, while the organisation gained insights that helped them identify common strengths, development opportunities and areas for improvement.
This detail was then used as the basis for individual feedback sessions, where personalised development plans were created. With ongoing coaching in leadership and emotional intelligence, these plans are helping women step into more senior roles with confidence.
The results
Our client is already seeing a difference in the way individuals are applying their soft skills and approaching their development needs, and expects to see further benefits down the road, including:
Enhanced self-awareness: Participants have gained a deeper understanding of their emotional intelligence and adapting their leadership style.
Targeted skill development: Individuals have been able to focus their upskilling on areas such as empathy, self-regulation, and social skills
Increased representation: The client expects more women in the Levelling Up programme to progress into senior leadership roles, creating a more diverse and inclusive leadership team.
Conclusion
Integrating EI assessments into the Levelling Up programme is a strategic approach to developing emotionally intelligent leaders. By providing personalized development plans with external coaching, the organization has begun to foster an even more supportive environment that empowers women to excel.
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