Luminary Search's recruitment process offers a proven and scientific approach to talent identification that has been developed and refined for over 50 years. A core component of this best-practice approach is the use of tailored psychometric assessment to identify high-calibre individuals with an ability consistently to manifest the following competencies.

In managing people, intelligent leaders:

• Understand what conclusions can be drawn from a particular exchange
• Can discern the underlying agendas and motivations of individuals and groups
• Can anticipate the probable reactions of individuals to given actions or communications
• Can accurately identify the core issues and perspectives that are central to a conflict
• Can acknowledge and balance the different needs of all relevant stakeholders

In managing tasks, intelligent leaders:

• Critically examine the accuracy of underlying assumptions
• Can articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the suggestions or arguments posed
• Understand what is known about an issue, what more needs to be known, and how best to obtain the relevant information that is needed
• Use multiple perspectives to identify probable unintended consequences of various action plan

In managing themselves, intelligent leaders:

• Pursue feedback that may reveal errors in their judgements and make appropriate adjustments
• Can recognise their personal biases or limitations and use this self understanding to improve their thinking and their action plans
• Recognise when serious flaws in their ideas or actions require swift public acknowledgement of mistakes and a dramatic change in direction
• Can appropriately articulate the essential flaws in others' arguments and reiterate the strengths in their own positions
• Recognise when it is appropriate to resist others' objections and remain committed to a sound course of action

By gathering an objective understanding of the executive's leadership capability, organisations can ensure that effective engagement, development and retention of key talent is hard-wired into the organisation with every selection decision.