This article was written by Dorothy McKee, Owner, Dorothy McKee Consulting.
This month marks the completion of a year-long research project with a team of leading UK-based academics and management consultants. The research idea, to develop a new leadership styles questionnaire, was supported by Invest NI through the Innovation Grant Scheme.
The demand for a newly designed leadership questionnaire emerged through academic research findings and my experience in delivering leadership development programmes over the past twenty years.
Consultancy assignments with leaders from across multiple sectors indicates that while leaders find self- assessment tools of value, some of the styles measured are no longer fully relevant to the complexity and ambiguity leaders face. Many leadership questionnaires were developed before the full implications of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, hybrid working and the impact intergeneration and diverse workforces were understood. This means that often transfer of the learning from the leadership profiles into organisational practice fails to materialise.
The research team were also cognizant of the risks associated with promoting an “ideal leadership style”. The newly developed questionnaire supports leaders adapt their leadership approach to suit different contexts. The questionnaire focuses on building on strengths and increasing awareness of areas that may require further development.
Research on Leadership and Leadership Development
Academic literature highlights a significant gap in leadership diagnostics that evaluate the quality of leadership execution and impact (Fischer 2023). This research emphasises the need to distinguish between leadership styles and their organisational impact. Rather than categorising leadership as “good” or “bad” there is an increasing emphasis on what leaders do in practice.
Research by Bonner et. al (2024) at Ulster University further identifies:
- A well-established causal link in research between the quality of leadership and organisational growth
- Strong correlations between effective management and improved outcomes, including higher sales performance, profitability and organisational sustainability
- A clear need for specialised leadership diagnostic tools to support leadership development in businesses in Northern Ireland
This research was featured at a NI Chamber Leadership Event in 2025, reinforcing the growing demand for modern leadership development solutions.
Additionally, findings from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Good Work Index 2025 recommends that employers and people professionals must place greater emphasis on supporting line managers to develop strong people management capabilities.
The Development of the Leadership Questionnaire
Following a period of rigorous academic research of leadership trends and an evaluation of existing leadership assessment tools, the research team has developed a questionnaire and interpretation framework focused on the following ten themes.
- Decision Making
- Digitally Enhanced Leadership
- Emotional Intelligence
- Agile Thinking
- Innovation and Continuous Improvement
- Capacity to Influence
- Cultural Fluency and Sensitivity
- Building and Maintaining Trust
- AI and Digital Ethics
- Your Story as a Leader – Bringing Others with you
The consulting team partnered with business leaders throughout the development and testing phases of the project. The questionnaire was piloted across a wide range of sectors including IT, Health, Media Services, Financial Services, Hospitality, Civil Service, Retail sector, Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical sector, Food and Drink sectors, Construction, Education and legal services.
More than 30 business leaders from Belfast and Dublin attended two co-design workshops and provided valuable insights and feedback.
The research aimed to capture the realities of leadership in today’s environment. Attention was given to understanding leadership in the context leaders face.
Early Feedback from Industry Leaders
Initial feedback from participants involved in the co-design process has been extremely encouraging.
“The questionnaire looks good. The questions are very relevant to today and the future”
“I feel it will be of value to leaders and when completed will provide useful feedback for development with specific areas of focus”
“I think this is a very useful tool. In my capacity as Chair of the Industry Advisory Board for AMIC at Queens, a lack of strong leadership is undoubtedly behind disappointing engagement and participation by SMEs in the Northern Ireland innovation ecosystem”.
“My initial observation of the draft questionnaire is that it is really comprehensive and covers key topic areas which will provide incredible insightful data”
“I like the freshness and relevancy of the questionnaire”
“The questions are thought-provoking and challenging (in a good way)”
“It looks good and gives a sensible process and creates self-reflection on styles”
Partner With Us to Shape the Future of Leadership Development for Business Success
We are currently working with selected organisations to pilot and implement this new leadership diagnostic. This is an opportunity to provide your leaders with cutting-edge insights while contributing to the ongoing development of modern leadership practice.
This leadership questionnaire helps improve leadership of all types to:
- recognise areas of challenge
- recognise areas for growth
- continually improve and advance their careers
- assess when it is time to hand over and think about succession planning
To learn more about how the questionnaire can support your leadership development strategy, succession planning, or executive coaching programmes, contact our team to arrange a demonstration or pilot assessment.
If you are interested in exploring partnership opportunities, please feel free to make contact through email dorothy@dorothymckee.com or by calling us at 07703 460618.
