The 9 Leadership Tests Nobody Escapes

How many would you pass?

Years ago, I asked an executive a simple question during a coaching session.

“What leadership book has influenced you the most recently?”

Without hesitation, he rattled off several impressive titles.

Then I asked a second question.

“Good. Now tell me specifically what you changed as a result of reading those books.”

Silence.

He stared at me for a moment and finally admitted, “Honestly… probably not much.”

That conversation has stayed with me for years because it exposes one of the biggest misconceptions about leadership:

Leadership is not about what you know.
It’s about what you consistently do.

And every leader whether you’re a CEO, manager, business owner, parent, teacher, coach, or team leader is being tested every single day.

Not by titles.

Not by personality.
Not by charisma.

But by behavior.

After decades of speaking, coaching executives, consulting with organizations, and studying leadership, I’ve become convinced that effective leaders consistently pass nine critical tests.

As you read through them, give yourself a score from 1 to 10 on each one:

10 = Excellent
5 = Average
1 = Needs serious work

Be honest. Self-awareness is where leadership growth begins.

► 1: Vision Driver

Great leaders create a compelling picture of a better future and they keep moving toward it even when others resist or doubt them.

They don’t merely maintain the status quo. They challenge it.

At the same time, effective leaders balance big-picture vision with practical reality. They understand enough about the details to know whether the vision is actually being achieved.

Leadership Question:

Are you actively driving toward a better future… or mostly reacting to today’s problems?

Score yourself: ___

► 2: Goal Setter

Visions inspire people. Goals organize action.

Exceptional leaders don’t merely hope things improve someday. They write down clear, specific goals because they know written goals dramatically increase follow-through and accountability.

And contrary to popular motivational clichés, effective leaders do more than “wish upon a star.” They create a plan.

Leadership Question:

Do your goals exist mostly in your head… or are they written, specific, and measurable?

Score yourself: ___

► 3: Action Focuser

Leadership is not measured by intentions. It’s measured by execution.

Leaders take action. They also help others take action. They ask questions like:

“How are we going to get this done?”

They don’t waste time making excuses, blaming circumstances, or protecting their ego.

In the end, strong leaders care more about results than recognition.

Leadership Question:

Are you consistently moving important things forward… or talking about them more than doing them?

Score yourself: ___

► 4: Change Maker

One of the fastest ways to become irrelevant is to become comfortable.

Strong leaders pursue improvement constantly. They challenge phrases like:

“We’ve never done it that way before.”

In fact, the best leaders are learners. They read. They study. They seek ideas.

But here’s the real test:

They actually apply what they learn.

That’s why I often ask executives not merely what they’ve read recently, but:

“What changes have you made because of what you read?”

That question usually gets very quiet.

Leadership Question:

Are you truly growing and changing… or simply collecting more information?

Score yourself: ___

► 5: Communicator

The best leaders communicate consciously and consistently.

They think before they speak. They communicate with people throughout the organization not just their inner circle.

But perhaps most importantly, they listen well.

They stop assuming they understand and start asking more questions.

They practice what communication experts call paraphrasing:

“So let me make sure I understand what you’re saying…”

That simple habit prevents countless misunderstandings.

Leadership Question:

Do people genuinely feel heard, understood, and respected after talking with you?

Score yourself: ___

► 6: Positive Influencer

Attitudes spread.

That’s why great leaders understand that their attitude often sets the emotional tone for the entire team, family, or organization.

Years ago, W. Clement Stone said:

“The sale is contingent upon the attitude of the salesperson, not the attitude of the prospect.”

The same principle applies to leadership.

Leaders who constantly complain, panic, or become cynical drain energy from everyone around them.

Strong leaders remain realistic but hopeful. They refuse to give up prematurely. And when difficulties arise, they project steadiness instead of emotional chaos.

People are always watching the leader.

Leadership Question:

When pressure rises, do you spread confidence… or anxiety?

Score yourself: ___

► 7: People Developer

Weak leaders try to control people.

Strong leaders develop people.

The best leaders actively look for potential in others and help them grow.

They understand that leadership is not about accumulating personal power.

It’s about multiplying the strengths and abilities of the people around them.

In fact, one of the greatest indicators of leadership success is this:

Are other people becoming stronger because of your influence?

Leadership Question:

Who is growing specifically because you invested in them?

Score yourself: ___

► 8: Mistake Learner

Mistakes are inevitable.

The real issue is whether we learn from them.

Great leaders do not waste enormous energy trying to appear perfect. Instead, they focus on extracting lessons from setbacks, failures, and disappointments.

One executive I worked with often told his team:

“I don’t care what happened nearly as much as I care about what we learned.”

That mindset transforms mistakes into growth opportunities.

Effective leaders also avoid constantly using the word “they.”

Instead of:

“They messed this up.”

They ask:

“What can WE learn from this so WE improve moving forward?”

Leadership Question:

Do you treat mistakes as failures… or as feedback?

Score yourself: ___

► 9: Performance Rewarder

People repeat what gets recognized.

That’s why strong leaders consistently reward excellent performance, initiative, responsibility, problem solving, and growth.

And they understand something many leaders forget:

Unrewarded performance often disappears over time.

The best leaders notice effort.
They notice improvement.
They notice problem solvers.

Whether it’s an executive, customer service representative, assistant, maintenance worker, or volunteer effective leaders understand that success is always a team effort.

Leadership Question:

Do people around you feel appreciated for the value they bring?

Score yourself: ___

Your Leadership Score

Add up your total score.

80 – 90: Excellent. Keep sharpening your influence and mentoring others.
50 – 79: You have leadership potential, but there are clear areas for growth.
Below 50: Don’t be discouraged but do get intentional. Leadership skills can absolutely be learned and strengthened.

The truth is this:

Most people want the benefits of leadership without embracing the disciplines of leadership.

But leadership is not a title. It’s a daily test.

And every conversation, every setback, every decision, and every relationship is grading us.

The encouraging news?

You can grow.

You can become more influential, more effective, more respected, and more impactful than you are today.

That’s one of the reasons I developed NEXT-LEVEL YOU – a practical growth community focused on communication, confidence, leadership, and real-world application.

And right now, you can become a Founding Member at an incredibly low cost that is locked in for life. Click here

Because insight without implementation changes nothing.

And leadership growth doesn’t happen accidentally.

It happens intentionally.

Dr. Zimmerman’s Tuesday Tip 1346 👉 The 9 Leadership Tests Nobody Escapes

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