Assessment

Abstract

We are often asked “How do you know that your leadership programs are making a difference?” Or, we will hear the query “what kind of instruments, tests, and measures do you have to assess leadership development.” These are fair questions and certainly remind us that others like professors, practitioners, parents, agency staff, and perhaps, youth leaders, want to see tangible results. More than likely, these results are expected to come from various paper-and-pencil or online measures. However, we have found that assessment of certain aspects of our leadership programs can be messy business and does not always lead to “tangible” outcomes. Getting things right takes time—sometimes years! Immediate results sometimes fade after a few weeks. Or the opposite occurs: results don’t become apparent for months or even years.

Nobody grew taller from being measured.

—Phillip Gammage